Footnotes to "Instructions for Hyde Park"

[1] The original music is given in common time, and in Playford's patented "movable G clef". I have taken the liberty of moving the clef back where it belongs. As for the time signature, it would actually be in 6/4. I have halved the values of Playford's notes (changing quarter notes to eighth notes, etc) and rewritten the music in 6/8 time.

[2] A square is formed, with one couple at each side, the man on the lady's left. The couple nearest the music, and the couple facing them are known as the head couples. The other two couples are the side couples. If possible, people doing this dance for the first time should take side positions, since each step is done first by the head couples and then repeated by the side couples.

[3] The instructions are numbered by the measures of the music. (So, for example, the initial `forward and back a double' takes four measures for each pair of couples.) Each triplet in the music will generally correspond to a single step in a moderately brisk walk, so the music should be played at about 50-60 measures (not beats) per minute.

[4] This being an English Country dance, start with the right foot. Although it is optional, most dancers give their opposites a slight bow when they meet in the center.

[5] Going into the center, it is necessary to take very small slips (slides). Many dancers take just two slips instead, counting the opening and closing of the legs as one beat each.

[6] The dancer of the opposite sex opposite whom you are standing for most of the dance is your opposite. Pivot a quarter turn in place (back to your original orientation) to face your opposite, and take both hands in yours.

[7] Take four full slips, going between the inactive couples. They will stand apart to let you through.

[8] Start turning away from your opposite. (The first quarter turn will have you face the direction in which you were just slipping with your opposite.) Keep turning, smoothly, in an arc, as you walk back to your original place.

[9]This reverses the previous cast. Start turning towards your partner. (The first quarter turn will have you facing your partner.) Keep turning, smoothly, in an arc, as you walk to meet your opposite, till you meet just behind the side couple on your side of the square.

[10] The instructions for this step differ slightly from Playford's. Playford has the couples crossing instead of casting. The change was deliberate: the figure, as given, violates a number of esthetic rules of English Country dance. The Playford instructions require a break in the flow of the dance in order to get the active couples into their places, instead of making the entire figure one smooth motion. They also require an awkward asymmetry in the timing, since the second half of the active couples' path would have too few steps for the music. I would not be so bold as to say that Playford wrote the dance incorrectly, but I do believe that the steps given here are in better keeping with English Country dance style as it is and was practiced.

[11] Turn another quarter turn, in continuation of the cast, and take your opposite's hand. You are now ready to go into the square, through the side couple. Note that you are now improper: The man is now on the lady's right.

[12] As though you are playing "London Bridge".

[13] The logic of the dance suggests to me that the side couple should trade places by turning to the left, but do whatever feels comfortable. The head couples, in their turn, should definitely trade places by turning to the left, as this continues their previous motion.

[14] This is the one hard figure in the dance, but people have no trouble with it once it's learned, so go over it until you've got it. When you go through the arch and meet your partner inside the square, give your partner the hand with which you were just holding your opposite. That means that you will be improper, with the man on the lady's right. Now back into your original position (albeit in your partner's old place), so that the lady has to make a quarter turn and the man has to go around her, making a three-quarter turn.

[15] Remember, you were just standing improper, so this turn puts you proper again.

[16] Since the side couples traded places earlier, they will be proper with respect to their opposites. When you go through the arch, give your partner the hand with which you were just holding your opposite. That means that you will be proper, with the man on the lady's left. Now you back into your original place, so that the lady has to make a quarter turn and the man has to go around her, making a three quarter turn.

[17] Since you will be skipping in front of your partner, turn towards her, but not all the way towards her. (The turn is not a step; it is not allocated time. You turn towards your right at the beginning of this step because that is the direction in which you will be skipping.) Skip naturally, in time with the music. Don't rush the music: You should get back to your partner at the end of the eight measures, and not have to stand and wait. (If you do get back early, bow.)

[18] That is, go left around the circle, skipping in front of your partner, behind the second lady, in front of the third, and behind the fourth, arriving at your partner's side.


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