Wheatstone’s Selection of Elegant and Fashionable Country Dances, Reels, Waltzs &c for the Ensuing Season 1808, Book 1
Listen to Lady Ann Stewart’s Strathspey as a midi ormp3
Download the pdf
Transcribed and arranged by Roland Clarke
Country dance: Duple minor longways.
| A1 | 1-4 | 1st and 2nd couples set twice on the side. |
| 5-8 | 1st and 2nd couples right hands across. | |
| A2 | 1-4 | 1st and 2nd couples set twice on the side. |
| 5-8 | 1st and 2nd couples left hands across. | |
| B1 | 1-8 | 1st couple lead down the middle and back to second place. 2nd couple moving up. |
| B2 | 1-8 | All turn by the right hand. All turn by the left hand. |
The strathspey had emerged as a distinct dance type by the late 1700s. It continued to grow as a popular country dance form and spread throughout Britain and into the western world. It was danced at a much brisker pace than generally accepted today.
Setting step. The step known today as the Glasgow Highlanders’ step was formerly a common strathspey setting step. This step was published by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society as the suggested setting for the Country Dance Glasgow Highlanders and has now become so closely associated with this dance that it has adopted this name. 1
It beautifully suits Lady Ann Stewart’s Strathspey, as it occupies the required four bars of setting. However, four bars of standard strathspey setting is equally acceptable.
Bar 1
1 Step on RF in 4th position.
2 Hop on RF and bring LF to rear leg position.
3 Step back on LF in its original position.
4 Hop on LF and bring RF to front leg position.
Bar 2
1 Step on RF in rear 5th position.
2 Step to the left on LF.
3 Step on RF in crossed postion.
4 Hop on RF and bring LF to rear leg position.
Repeat with the LF leading.
Lady Ann Stewart is perhaps Lady Anne Harriet Stewart (c. 1770-1850), who married Lord Spencer Stanley Chichester. She was the daughter of Sir John Stewart, 7th Earl of Galloway. 2
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Sources
1Flett, J.P. & T.M. Traditional Dancing in Scotland, Routledge and Kegan Paul, Great Britian, 1964.
2 Surenne (Dance Music of Scotland), 1852; pp. 74-75.
The Fiddler’s Companion © 1996-2009 Andrew Kuntz
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/LADYA_LADYF.htm
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