Dances in The English Dancing Master (John Playford, 1651, London)

An online copy of the original may be found here.

Table of Contents

• Facing Couples
  • Facing Couples proper
  • Facing Couples Becket proper
• Duple Minor
  • Duple Minor proper
• Longways
  • 3 Couple Longways proper
  • 4 Couple Longways proper
  • 4 Couple Longways with the 3s, 4s improper
  • 5 Couple Longways proper
  • 7 Couple Longways proper
• Circle
  • Triangle / 3 Couple Circle
  • Square / 4 Couple Circle
  • Circle as many as will
  • Circle as many as will
  • Sicilian Circles
• Custom
  • Custom
• Trios
  • Custom3

Facing Couples

Facing Couples proper

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Argeers ~ Playford Ball		John Playford 1651 John Playford 1994 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Facing Couples multi part
Argeers ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912	Bare Necessities	Facing Couples multi part
Argeres		John Playford 1651 John Playford 1994 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Facing Couples multi part
Cuckles all a Row		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 George Williams 2022	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	Facing Couples multi part
Cuckolds all a Row ~ Barraclough		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Michael Barraclough ~2017	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	Facing Couples multi part
Cuckolds all a Row ~ Lovelace		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 George Williams 2022	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	Facing Couples multi part
Cuckolds all a Row ~ Sharp		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	Facing Couples multi part
Cuckolds all Awry ~ Barraclough		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Michael Barraclough ~2017	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	Facing Couples multi part
Cuckolds all Awry ~ Sharp		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	Facing Couples multi part
Harts Ease		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Facing Couples
Heart's Ease		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Facing Couples
Heartsease		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Facing Couples
Hey, Boys, up Go We (Sharp)		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	Facing Couples multi part
Hit and Misse ~ Hume		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2023	Colin Hume	Facing Couples
Hit and Misse ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Facing Couples
Hit or Miss		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Facing Couples
Hit or Miss		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2023	Colin Hume	Facing Couples
Parson's Farewell ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Facing Couples multi part
Rufty Tufty		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Facing Couples
The Wedding Night		John Playford 1651 John Playford 1994 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Facing Couples multi part

Facing Couples Becket proper

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Parson's Farewell ~ Hume		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2020	Bare Necessities	Facing Couples Becket multi part

Duple Minor

Duple Minor proper

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Bobbin Jone		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Colin Hume 2013	Colin Hume	Duple Minor
Bobbing Joe ~ Hume		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Colin Hume 2013	Colin Hume	Duple Minor
The Friar and the Nun		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912	Colin Hume	Duple Minor
The Fryar and the Nun		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912	Colin Hume	Duple Minor
My Lady Cullen		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911	Colin Hume	Duple Minor
Petticoat Wag		John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1989	Bare Necessities	Duple Minor multi part
Row Well, Ye Mariners ~ Bolton		John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1992 Playford Assembly	Strong Roots Bare Necessities	Duple Minor
The Taylor's Daughter		John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1989	Bare Necessities	Duple Minor multi part

Longways

3 Couple Longways proper no progression

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Labour in Vain		John Playford 1651 John Playford 1994 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways multi part
Labour in Vain ~ Hume		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 1995	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
Labour in Vain ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912	Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways multi part
The Old Mole ~ Hume		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2025	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
The Old Mole ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
Shepherd's Holiday ~ Hume		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 1995	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
Shepherd's Holiday ~ Playford Ball		John Playford 1651 John Playford 1994 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways multi part
Shepherd's Holiday ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912	Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways multi part

3 Couple Longways proper

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Adson's Saraband ~ Playford Ball		John Playford 1651 John Playford 1994 Playford Ball	Brett Larsen	3 Couple Longways multi part
Adson's Saraband ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912	Brett Larsen	3 Couple Longways multi part
All in a Garden Green ~ Modern		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
All in a Garden Green ~ Playford		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
The Beggar Boy		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways
The Boatman ~ Pat Shaw		John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1966	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways
The Boatman ~ Playford Ball		John Playford 1651 John Playford 1994 Playford Ball	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways
The Boatman ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways
Chestnut		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways
Dove's Figary		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways
Drive the Cold Winter Away ~ Bolton		John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 2003	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Edinburgh Castle ~ Hume		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2023	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
Edinburgh Castle ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways multi part
Grimstock ~ Davies		John Playford 1651 Rhodri Davies 2020	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
Grimstock ~ Hume		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2020	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways
Grimstock ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways
Jack Pudding ~ Playford		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Colin Hume 1998 Playford Assembly	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
Maiden Lane		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp (mod) 1912 Playford Assembly	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
The Merry Andrew ~ Playford		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Colin Hume 1998 Playford Assembly	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
Millison's Jigg ~ Bolton		John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 2000	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
Millison's Jigg ~ Hume		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2011	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways
Millison's Jigg ~ Williams		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2021	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
Scotch Cap ~ Hume		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2023	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
Scotch Cap ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways multi part
Step Stately		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways multi part
Upon a Summer's Day ~ Playford Ball		John Playford 1651 John Playford 1994 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways
Upon a Summer's Day ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways

4 Couple Longways proper no progression

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
The Health ~ Pat Shaw		John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1964	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part
The Health ~ Sharp#1		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part
The Health ~ Sharp#2		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part
The Merry Frolic ~ Pat Shaw		John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1964	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part
The Merry Wassail ~ Pat Shaw		John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1964	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part
The Merry Wassail ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part
The Merry Wassail ~ Sharp#1		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part

4 Couple Longways proper

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Ay Me ~ Playford Ball		John Playford 1651 John Playford 1994 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part
Aye Me ~ Callens		John Playford 1651 Philippe Callens ~2018 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part
Aye Me ~ Playford Ball		John Playford 1651 John Playford 1994 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part
Aye Me ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part
Broom, The Bonny, Bonny Broom ~ Pat Shaw		John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1972	Bare Necessities	4 Couple Longways multi part
Broom, The Bonny, Bonny Broom ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	4 Couple Longways multi part
Drive the Cold Winter Away ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part
Goddesses		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Assembly	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways
The Merry, Merry Milkmaids		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball	At Home Bare Necessities	4 Couple Longways multi part
The Symphony		John Playford 1651 Philippe Callens ~2018 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part
The Symphony		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part
The Symphony ~ Playford Ball		John Playford 1651 John Playford 1994 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways multi part

4 Couple Longways with the 3s, 4s improper

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Lull Me Beyond Thee		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	4 Couple Longways multi part

5 Couple Longways proper

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Step Stately ~ Hume		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 1995	Colin Hume	5 Couple Longways multi part

7 Couple Longways proper

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Row Well, Ye Mariners ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912	Bare Necessities	7 Couple Longways multi part

Circle

Triangle / 3 Couple Circle

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Jenny Pluck Pears		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	3 Couple Circle multi part
Mundesse		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922	MGM and Reunion	3 Couple Circle multi part

Square / 4 Couple Circle

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Fain I Would ~ Hume		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume	Bare Necessities	Square multi part
Fain I Would ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Square multi part
Hide Parke		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Square multi part
Hyde Park		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Square multi part
If all the World were Paper ~ P. Shaw		John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1964 Playford Assembly	Colin Hume	Square multi part
If all the World were Paper ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Assembly	Colin Hume	Square multi part
Kettle Drum		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019	MGM and Reunion	Square multi part
Mage on a Cree ~ Pat Shaw		John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1961	Colin Hume	Square multi part
Mage on a Cree ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	Square multi part
Newcastle ~ Barraclough		John Playford 1651 Michael Barraclough 2001	Colin Hume	Square multi part
Newcastle ~ Hume		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2016	Colin Hume	Square multi part
Newcastle ~ Revels		John Playford 1651 Santa Barbara Revels 2024	Colin Hume	Square multi part
Newcastle ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	Square multi part
Newcastle United		John Playford 1651 Michael Barraclough 2001	Colin Hume	Square multi part
Parthenia ~ Hume		John Playford 1651 Colin Hume	Bare Necessities	Square multi part
Parthenia ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Square multi part

Circle as many as will

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Gathering Peascods		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	Circle as many as will
Halfe Hannikin ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Assembly	Colin Hume	Circle as many as will
Marriners		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2024	Strong Roots Bare Necessities	Circle as many as will
Row Well, Ye Mariners ~ Williams		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2024	Strong Roots Bare Necessities	Circle as many as will
Halfe Hannikin ~ Cook		John Playford 1651 Tom Cook Playford Assembly	Colin Hume	Circle as many as will

Sicilian Circle

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Halfe Hannikin ~ Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Assembly	Colin Hume	Circle as many as will
Row Well, Ye Mariners ~ Bolton		John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1992 Playford Assembly	Strong Roots Bare Necessities	Duple Minor

Custom

Custom

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Dargason		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Custom
Jack Pudding ~ Lovelace		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 George Williams 2021	Colin Hume	Custom multi part
The Merry Andrew ~ Lovelace		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 George Williams 2021	Colin Hume	Custom multi part
The Sedany		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	Bare Necessities	Custom

Trios

Custom3

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Confesse, his Tune ~ Cecil Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912	Colin Hume	Custom3 multi part
Confesse, his Tune ~ Hume		John Playford 1651	Colin Hume	Custom3 multi part
Confesse, his Tune ~ Palmer		John Playford 1651 William Palmer 1987 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	Custom3 multi part
Confesse, his Tune ~ Pat Shaw		John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1960	Colin Hume	Custom3 multi part
The Court Lady ~ Cecil Sharp		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912	Colin Hume	Custom3 multi part
The Court Lady ~ Palmer		John Playford 1651 William Palmer 1987 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	Custom3 multi part
The Court Lady ~ Pat Shaw		John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1960	Colin Hume	Custom3 multi part

This list contains all dances in the book which I have animated (and which first appeared in this edition of the Dancing Master) for a complete list of dances in the book see here.

This website is copyright © 2021-2026 by George W. Williams V
My work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Most of the dances have more restrictive licensing, see my notes on copyright, the individual dance pages should mention when some rights are waived.