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Taught/practised on:

2012 April 29 th

The main figure in the only Hugh Thurston dance published by the RSCDS, is traditional in origin, based on the cross-over reels found in dances like “Maxwell's Rant”. This dance was previously published in Hugh Thurston's "Sixteen Scottish Country Dances 1945-1967." Here are the second 16 bars in the original version: 17-20 The 1st couple cross over, giving right hands, and cast off one, the 2nd couple moving up to 1st place [same as Book 22 but no setting] 21-24 All 6 turn partners once round with both hands (using the pas de basque) 25-32 The 1st couple lead down one, crossing over as they do so; cast up one (the man round the 3rd man, the woman round the 3rd woman); lead up one; and cast off one (round the 2nd couple) [same as Book 22 bars 21-28, but the dance phrase does not cross the musical phrase] Sadly one cannot teach the original version, now that there is an RSCDS version. Given Hugh's ambivalence towards RSCDS editors, it is ironic that the RSCDS Publications Committee chose to alter this dance so that all three couples are moving on bar 32 and again on bar 1 at the beginning of the next repetition. This to Hugh was the mark of a poorly conceived or constructed dance. Also the Publication Committee called it a reel, but suggest jig music, so is it a reel or a jig?

THE LAST OF THE LAIRDS  (J8x32)  Hugh Thurston  RSCDS Book 22  1- 8 1s cross (& each subsequent dancer crosses) to dance reflection reels of 3 on opposite sides  9-16 1s cross back (& each subsequent dancer crosses back) to dance reflection reels of 3 on own sides 17-24 1s set, cross RH & cast 1 place, cross down between 3s & cast up to 2 nd  place on own sides 25-32 1s lead up between 2s & cast down 1 place, 2s+1s+3s turn RH Notes: Bars 1-16 are theoretically impossible - from where everyone is after 4 bars, and what is supposed to happen on bar 5, you find the 3s would cross in front of the 1s, which is quite clearly not the intention. 1s must speed up to enable the 3s to cross behind them, and then slow down so that they don't start the 2nd reel early. The 3 couples cross on bars 1, 3, and 5 of the phrase respectively. A good dance for teaching the basic rule of "always going between the other two dancers" in a reel. Bars 17 - 28 must be treated as a 12 bar phrase - the trick is to try and get the set, cross, cast, cross down though the 3s and cast up into 2nd place done in 8 bars, leaving 4 bars to dance up to the top and cast off into 2nd place. It works a lot better if 1s gives LH as they cross down through the 3s, (and if 1L doesn't hang back). 2s do not step up until bars 27-28.