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Up a double, Siding, Arming
The English Dancing Maſter

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

Table of Contents

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W

A

À la Mode de France
À la Mode de France ~ BarracloughJohn Playford 1651
Michael Barraclogh ~1995
no music4 Couple Longways
À la Mode de France ~ PalmerJohn Playford 1651
William Palmer 1987
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312
À la Mode de France ~ Pat ShawJohn Playford 1651
Pat Shaw 1964
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312
À la Mode de France ~ Playford BallJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp (mod) 1911 Playford Ball
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312
À la Mode de France ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312
À la Mode de France ~ WilliamsJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2022
no music4 Couple Longways
Adson's SarabandJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
Brett Larsen3 Couple Longways
All in a Garden Green
All in a Garden Green ~ ModernJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2919
no music3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
All in a Garden Green ~ PlayfordJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2919
no music3 Couple Longways
Aniseseed Water RobinJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
no musicDuple Minor
ArgeersJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
At Home
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
ArgeresJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
At Home
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
Aye Me
Aye Me ~ CallensJohn Playford 1651
Philippe Callens ~2018 Playford Ball
no music4 Couple Longways
Aye Me ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
no music4 Couple Longways

B

The BathJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2021
no musicDuple Minor
The Beggar BoyJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
By Choice
Bare Necessities
3 Couple Longways
Blew CapJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2021
no music3 Couple Longways
Blew Cap for MeJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2021
no music3 Couple Longways
Blue Cap for MeJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2021
no music3 Couple Longways
The Boatman
The Boatman ~ Pat ShawJohn Playford 1651
Pat Shaw 1966
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
3 Couple Longways
The Boatman ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
3 Couple Longways
Bobbin JoneLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Colin Hume 2013
Colin HumeDuple Minor
Bobbing Joe
Bobbing JoeLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp 1912
no musicDuple Minor
Bobbing Joe ~ HumeLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Colin Hume 2013
Colin HumeDuple Minor
Broom, The Bonny, Bonny Broom
Broom, The Bonny, Bonny Broom ~ Pat ShawJohn Playford 1651
Pat Shaw 1972
At Home
Bare Necessities
4 Couple Longways
Broom, The Bonny, Bonny Broom ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
At Home
Bare Necessities
4 Couple Longways

C

Cast a BellJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2021
no musicDuple Minor
Cheerily and Merrily
Cheerily and Merrily ~ BoltonJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 1991 Playford Assembly
no music4 Couple Longways
Cheerily and Merrily ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
no music4 Couple Longways
The Cherping of the LarkJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2021
no music4 Couple Longways
ChestnutJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
3 Couple Longways
The Chirping of the LarkJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2021
no music4 Couple Longways
Chirping of the Nightingale - PlayfordJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2919
no musicCircle as many as will
Confesse, his Tune
Confesse, his Tune ~ Cecil SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
Colin HumeCustom3 permutation: 121
Confesse, his Tune ~ PalmerJohn Playford 1651
William Palmer 1987 Playford Ball
Colin HumeCustom3 permutation: 121
Confesse, his Tune ~ Pat ShawJohn Playford 1651Colin HumeCustom3 permutation: 121
The Country CollJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor
The Court Lady
The Court Lady ~ Cecil SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
Colin HumeCustom3 permutation: 121
The Court Lady ~ PalmerJohn Playford 1651
William Palmer 1987 Playford Ball
Colin HumeCustom3 permutation: 121
The Court Lady ~ Pat ShawJohn Playford 1651Colin HumeCustom3 permutation: 121
Cuckles all a RowLovelace Manuscript ~1649
George Williams 2022
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
Cuckolds all a Row
Cuckolds all a Row ~ BarracloughLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Michael Barraclough ~2017
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
Cuckolds all a Row ~ LovelaceLovelace Manuscript ~1649
George Williams 2022
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
Cuckolds all a Row ~ SharpLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
Cuckolds all Awry
Cuckolds all Awry ~ BarracloughLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Michael Barraclough ~2017
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
Cuckolds all Awry ~ SharpLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples

D

DaphneJohn Playford 1651
Tom Cook Playford Assembly
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
DargasonJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
Custom
Dissembling LoveJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922
no music3 Couple Longways
Don PedroJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor
Dove's FigaryJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
3 Couple Longways
Drive the Cold Winter Away
Drive the Cold Winter Away ~ BoltonJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 2003
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Drive the Cold Winter Away ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922
Colin Hume4 Couple Longways
Dull Sir JohnJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
no musicSquare
Durham StableJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no music3 Couple Longways

E

Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle ~ HumeJohn Playford 1651
Colin Hume 2023
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways
Edinburgh Castle ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
Strong Roots
Bare Necessities
3 Couple Longways

F

Fain I Would
Fain I Would ~ HumeJohn Playford 1651
Colin Hume
At Home
Bare Necessities
Square
Fain I Would ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
At Home
Bare Necessities
Square
The Fine CompanionJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
no musicSquare
The Friar and the NunJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
Colin HumeDuple Minor
The Friar in the WellJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922 Playford Ball
no music6 Couple Longways
The Fryar and the NunJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
Colin HumeDuple Minor

G

Gathering PeascodsJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
Colin HumeCircle as many as will
The Glory of the West
The Glory of the West ~ BoltonJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 2000
no musicFacing Couples
The Glory of the West ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
no musicFacing Couples
GoddessesLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Assembly
no music4 Couple Longways
Graies Inne MaskeLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Fried de Metz Herman 1995 Playford Assembly
no music3 Couple Longways
The Green Man ~ PlayfordJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no music3 Couple Longways
GreenwoodLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp 1916
no music3 Couple Longways
Grimstock
Grimstock ~ HumeJohn Playford 1651
Colin Hume 2020
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways
Grimstock ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways
The GunJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor

H

Halfe Hannikin
Halfe HannikinJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp (mod) 1916 Playford Assembly
no musicCircle as many as will
Halfe Hannikin ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Assembly
no musicCircle as many as will
Halfe Hannikin ~ SicilianJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Assembly
no musicCircle as many as will
Harts EaseLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
Strong Roots
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
Have at thy Coat, Old WomanJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2021
no musicDuple Minor
The Health
The Health ~ Pat ShawJohn Playford 1651
Pat Shaw 1964
Colin Hume4 Couple Longways
The Health ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
Colin Hume4 Couple Longways
An Health To BettyLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Charles Bolton 1985
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
Heart's EaseLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
Strong Roots
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
HeartseaseLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
Strong Roots
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
Hemp-DresserJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 1986
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
Hey, Boys, up Go We (Sharp)Lovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
Hide ParkeJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
At Home
Bare Necessities
Square
Hit and Misse
Hit and Misse ~ HumeJohn Playford 1651
Colin Hume 2023
Colin HumeFacing Couples
Hit and Misse ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
Hit or Miss
Hit or MissJohn Playford 1651
Colin Hume 2023
Colin HumeFacing Couples
Hit or MissJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
Hockley in the HoleJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 2341
The HuntsmanLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp 1916
no music3 Couple Longways
Hyde ParkJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
At Home
Bare Necessities
Square

I

If all the World were Paper
If all the World were Paper ~ P. ShawJohn Playford 1651
Pat Shaw 1964 Playford Assembly
Colin HumeSquare
If all the World were Paper ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Assembly
Colin HumeSquare
The Irish LadyJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
no musicDuple Minor
Irish TrotJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
no musicDuple Minor

J

Jack Pudding
Jack Pudding ~ LovelaceLovelace Manuscript ~1649
George Williams 2021
Colin HumeCustom permutation: 231
Jack Pudding ~ PlayfordLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Colin Hume 1998 Playford Assembly
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Jack-a-LentJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922
no music3 Couple Longways
Jenny Pluck PearsJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
3 Couple Circle
Jog OnLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp (mod) 1916
no musicDuple Minor
Jog On, My HoneyLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp (mod) 1916
no musicDuple Minor
Jogg OnLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp (mod) 1916
no musicDuple Minor

K

Kemp's JiggJohn Playford 1651
Douglas & Helen Kennedy (mod) 1929
no music3 Couple Circle
Kettle DrumJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2919
Old Friends
MGM and Reunion
Square

L

Labour in Vain
Labour in VainJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
3 Couple Longways
Labour in Vain ~ HumeJohn Playford 1651
Colin Hume 1995
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways
Lady Lye near MeJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2021
no musicDuple Minor
Lady SpellorJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
no music4 Couple Longways
Lady SpillersJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
no music4 Couple Longways
LavenaJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor
The London GentlewomanJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 1986
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
The London MaidJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 1986
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
Lord of Carnarvon's Jigg
Lord of Carnarvon's Jigg ~ Pat ShawJohn Playford 1651
Pat Shaw 1959
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 3412
Lord of Carnarvon's Jigg ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 3412
Lord of Carnarvon's Jigg ~ WittmanJohn Playford 1651
Wittman ~1986 Playford Assembly
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 3412
The Lost HeartJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922
no music3 Couple Longways
Lull Me Beyond Thee
Lull Me Beyond TheeJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
At Home
Bare Necessities
4 Couple Longways
Lull Me Beyond Thee ~ Pat ShawJohn Playford 1651
Pat Shaw 1960
no music4 Couple Longways

M

Mad TomLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Fried de Metz Herman 1995 Playford Assembly
no music3 Couple Longways
Mage on a Cree
Mage on a Cree ~ Pat ShawJohn Playford 1651
Pat Shaw 1961
Colin HumeSquare permutation: 3412
Mage on a Cree ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
Colin HumeSquare permutation: 3412
The Maid Peept out at the WindowJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922 Playford Ball
no music6 Couple Longways
Maiden FairLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Pat Shaw 1962
no musicDuple Minor
Maiden LaneJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp (mod) 1912 Playford Assembly
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Mayden FayreLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Pat Shaw 1962
no musicDuple Minor
The Merry Andrew
The Merry Andrew ~ LovelaceLovelace Manuscript ~1649
George Williams 2021
Colin HumeCustom permutation: 231
The Merry Andrew ~ PlayfordLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Colin Hume 1998 Playford Assembly
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
The Merry Frolic ~ Pat ShawJohn Playford 1651
Pat Shaw 1964
Colin Hume4 Couple Longways
The Merry Wassail
The Merry Wassail ~ Pat ShawJohn Playford 1651
Pat Shaw 1964
Colin Hume4 Couple Longways
The Merry Wassail ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
Colin Hume4 Couple Longways
The Merry, Merry MilkmaidsJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
At Home
Bare Necessities
4 Couple Longways
The Milk-maid's BobJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2021
no musicDuple Minor
The Milke-Mayds BobbJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2021
no musicDuple Minor
Mill-FieldJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922
no musicSquare
Millison's Jigg
Millison's Jigg ~ BoltonJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 2000
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways
Millison's Jigg ~ HumeJohn Playford 1651
Colin Hume 2011
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways
Millison's Jigg ~ WilliamsJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2021
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Mr. Webb's Fancy
Mr. Webb's Fancy ~ BoltonJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 1991 Playford Assembly
no music4 Couple Longways
Mr. Webb's Fancy ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
no music4 Couple Longways
MundesseJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922
Old Friends
MGM and Reunion
3 Couple Circle
My Lady CullenJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
Colin HumeDuple Minor

N

New Bo-Peep
New Bo-Peep ~ BarracloughJohn Playford 1651
Michael Barraclough ~2017
no musicLongways as many as will
New Bo-Peep ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
no musicLongways as many as will
The New ExchangeJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no music3 Couple Longways
New New NothingJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor
Newcastle
Newcastle ~ BarracloughJohn Playford 1651
Michael Barraclough 2001
Colin HumeSquare
Newcastle ~ HumeJohn Playford 1651
Colin Hume 2016
Colin HumeSquare
Newcastle ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
Colin HumeSquare
Newcastle ~ Sharp/HumeJohn Playford 1651
Comparing Cecil Sharp (1911) Colin Hume (2016)
no musicSquare
Newcastle UnitedJohn Playford 1651
Michael Barraclough 2001
Colin HumeSquare
The Night PieceJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922
no music3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Nonesuch
Nonesuch ~ BarracloughJohn Playford 1651
Michael Barraclogh ~1995
no music4 Couple Longways
Nonesuch ~ PalmerJohn Playford 1651
William Palmer 1987
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312
Nonesuch ~ Pat ShawJohn Playford 1651
Pat Shaw 1964
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312
Nonesuch ~ Playford BallJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp (mod) 1911 Playford Ball
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312
Nonesuch ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312
Nonesuch ~ WilliamsJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2022
no music4 Couple Longways

O

An Old Man is a Bed Full of BonesLovelace Manuscript ~1649
George Williams 2021
no music3 Couple Longways
The Old Man with a Bed Full of BonesLovelace Manuscript ~1649
George Williams 2021
no music3 Couple Longways
An Old Man, a Bed Full of BonesLovelace Manuscript ~1649
George Williams 2021
no music3 Couple Longways
The Old MoleJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways
Once I Lov'd a Maiden FaireLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Pat Shaw 1962
no musicDuple Minor
The Oyle of BarleyJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 1989
no music3 Couple Longways

P

Parson's Farewell
Parson's Farewell ~ HumeJohn Playford 1651
Colin Hume 2020
At Home
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples Becket
Parson's Farewell ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
At Home
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
Parthenia
Parthenia ~ HumeJohn Playford 1651
Colin Hume
At Home
Bare Necessities
Square
Parthenia ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
At Home
Bare Necessities
Square
The Passionate LoversJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor
Paul's SteepleJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor
Paul's WharfeJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor
Pepper's BlackJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp (mod) 1922
no musicCircle as many as will
Petticoat WagJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 1989
Fast Friends
Bare Necessities
4 Couple Longways
Pickadilla
Pickadilla ~ BarracloughJohn Playford 1651
Michael Barraclough ~2017
no musicLongways as many as will
Pickadilla ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
no musicLongways as many as will
Pickadilly
Pickadilly ~ BarracloughJohn Playford 1651
Michael Barraclough ~2017
no musicLongways as many as will
Pickadilly ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
no musicLongways as many as will
Picking of StickesLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
no music3 Couple Longways
Picking Up SticksLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
no music3 Couple Longways
Prince Rupert's MarchJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1916
no music4 Couple Longways
Punk's DelightJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor
The Punk's Delight (The New Way)John Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor

R

Rose is White, and Rose is RedLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp (mod) 1922
no musicCircle as many as will permutation: 456123
Roses White, and Roses RedLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp (mod) 1922
no musicCircle as many as will permutation: 456123
Row Well, Ye Mariners
Row Well, Ye Mariners ~ BoltonJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 1992 Playford Assembly
Strong Roots
Bare Necessities
Circle as many as will
Row Well, Ye Mariners ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
Strong Roots
Bare Necessities
7 Couple Longways
Row Well, Ye Mariners ~ Sharp/BoltonJohn Playford 1651
Comparing Cecil Sharp (1912) Charles Bolton (1992)
no musicSquare
Rufty TuftyJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
By Choice
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples

S

Saint Martin'sJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
no musicFacing Couples
St. Paul's SteepleJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor
The SarabandJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor
Saturday Night and Sunday MornJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922
no musicDuple Minor
Scotch Cap
Scotch Cap ~ HumeJohn Playford 1651
Colin Hume 2023
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways
Scotch Cap ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
Strong Roots
Bare Necessities
3 Couple Longways
SedanyJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
Custom
The Shaking of the SheetsJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922
no music3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Shepherd's Holiday
Shepherd's Holiday ~ HumeJohn Playford 1651
Colin Hume 1995
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways
Shepherd's Holiday ~ SharpJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
3 Couple Longways
Sir Nicholas CullyJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor
SkellamefagoJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor
The SlipJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922
no music4 Couple Longways
A Soldier's LifeJohn Playford 1651
George Williams 2022
no musicDuple Minor
Spanish Gypsie
Spanish Gypsie ~ LongwaysLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Bernard Bentley 1971
no music4 Couple Longways
Spanish Gypsie ~ SquareJohn Playford 1651
Bernard Bentley 1971
no musicSquare
The Spanish JeepsieLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Bernard Bentley 1971
no music4 Couple Longways
The SpanyardJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no music4 Couple Longways
Staines MorrisJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
no musicLongways as many as will
Stanes MorrisJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1911
no musicLongways as many as will
Step Stately
Step StatelyLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways
Step Stately ~ Duple, Hume (Old Style Progression)Lovelace Manuscript ~1649
Colin Hume 1995
Colin HumeDuple Minor
Step Stately ~ HumeLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Colin Hume 1995
Colin Hume5 Couple Longways
Step Stately ~ Hume (3 in 7)Lovelace Manuscript ~1649
Colin Hume 1995
Colin Hume7 Couple Longways
Step Stately ~ PalmerLovelace Manuscript ~1649
William Palmer 1987
no music3 Couple Longways
StingoJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 1989
no music3 Couple Longways
The Symphony
The SymphonyJohn Playford 1651
Philippe Callens ~2018 Playford Ball
no music4 Couple Longways
The SymphonyJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball
no music4 Couple Longways

T

The Taylor's DaughterJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 1989
Fast Friends
Bare Necessities
4 Couple Longways
Tom a BedlamLovelace Manuscript ~1649
Fried de Metz Herman 1995 Playford Assembly
no music3 Couple Longways
Tom TinkerJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor

U

Up Tails All
Up Tails AllJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
no musicCircle as many as will
Up Tails All ~ BoltonJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 1985
no musicSquare
Up Tails All ~ Sharp #1John Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
no musicCircle as many as will
Up Tails All ~ Sharp #2John Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
no musicCircle as many as will
Up Tayles All
Up Tayles AllJohn Playford 1651
Charles Bolton 1985
no musicSquare
Up Tayles AllJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
no musicCircle as many as will
Up Tayles AllJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
no musicCircle as many as will
Up Tayles AllJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912
no musicCircle as many as will
Upon a Summer's DayJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
Colin Hume3 Couple Longways

V

The Valiant CaptainJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no musicDuple Minor

W

The Wedding NightJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball
At Home
Bare Necessities
Facing Couples
The WhirligigJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Assembly
no music3 Couple Longways
The WhishJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922
no music3 Couple Longways
The WishJohn Playford 1651
Cecil Sharp 1922
no music3 Couple Longways
WoodycockJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
no music3 Couple Longways
Number
of dances
Number
of interpretations
Number
with music
10415265

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.

John Playford's The Engliſh Dancing Maſter of 1651 is the first published book in the English language presenting both the figures of dances and the tunes for dancing them. This is all the more surprising because it was published in the Parlementary War when theaters were closed and later Christmas was banned.

This is not to say that Playford invented these dances, some of them, for instance Sellenger's Round, Sedanny, and Stanes Morris are mentioned in Shakespeare's time (see The Lively Shape of Dancing: Dances of Shakespeare's time). Playford, or more likely some nameless dancing master (or two) simply recorded the dances that were current in his time.

It is clear from the complexity of some of the dances, and some of the figures that they were part of a long tradition and did not spring de novo from Playford's brow.

You should not expect to find here the correct way these dances were danced in Playford's time. To some extent that is something we cannot ever know. But also there was no single way of dancing even then. If you look at The Lovelace Manuscript — an annonymous, undated manuscript from a library at Harvard, which appears to have been written in the 1640s — you will find some of Playford's dances described differently. Sometimes the differences are minor, sometimes major. Clearly, even in 1651 there were different ways of dancing the same dance.

Not only was there no correct way of dancing these dances in 1651, but the language has changed since then, we don't even know what Playford is telling us to do. When Cecil Sharp reconstructed many of these dances in 1912 he found many terms which had fallen out of use. What does "Sides All" mean? Sharp came up with a figure, and later came up with a different figure. Is either correct? Who knows?

Or take the word "salute", Sharp interprets it as an honour (bow/courtesy) — which certainly fits the modern meaning of the word, but if you look at The Lovelace Manuscript it becomes clear that, at that time and in the context of dancing, "to salute" meant "to kiss"

Furthermore, Playford is not always a clear as he might be. My favorite example is from Row well ye mariners, Playford describes the dance as:

Lead up a D. forwards and back · That again : First man two slips cross the Room one way, the woman the other · Back again to your places : Fall back both · Meet again : Clap both your own hands, then clap each other's right-hands against one another's; clap both your own hands again, then clap left-hands, then clap both hands again, then clap your breasts, then meet both your hands against one-another · The same again, only clap left-hands first :

First man sides with the next wo. and his wo. with the next man, doing the like till you come to your own places, the rest following and doing the same.

The dance consists of two 16 bar parts. The first is well defined, but for the second we have only that people should "side" (whatever that is) with their neighbors and then (somehow) progress. Now siding is a move which takes 4 bars and leaves one where one started. It does not progress and it leaves 12 bars of music unaccounted for.

So Playford's dances must be reinterpreted, and different modern interpreters have different ideas. Many of the dances shown here have multiple modern interpretations. Probably none is exactly the dance Playford knew, but don't hold that against them, they are still fun to dance.

The dances here are rather different from the dances which evolved 100~150 years later in the Regency Period. There are very few triple minor dances in this list (perhaps only Step Stately and it's a very odd triple minor).

Most of these dances contain the three standard introductory figures: "Up a Double", "Siding", and "Arming" — or USA dances. This idiom of dancing is also found in the Lovelace Manuscript, but the last example I have animated dates to 1670. Many of the dances are not progressive. Regency dances were almost entirely longways, but Playford's dances run the gamut from longways to circles, squares to lines and to strange triangles. Even when Playford does use a standard duple minor longways format he usually has multiple different figures for the same tune, and the dance consisted of dancing each figure until everyone was back where s/he started before the next figure would begin. This idiom also died out, and the last example I have animated is Devonshire House from 1698.


The scans of all of Playford's dance descriptions can be found:

This website is copyright © 2021,2022,2023,2024 by George W. Williams V
Creative Commons License 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.