Seattle Branch
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society

  Ft. Worden Dances Details

The Fiddle Sound

A 32-bar Strathspey for 3 couples in a 4 couple set
(8 times through)

Bars

1 - 4

    

C1 set to each other and turn with both hands once round and out to the sides.
5 - 8

 
C1, C2, C3 set at the sides (taking hands); turn partner with both hands once around.  C1 and C3 finish with nearer hands joined ready for 6 hands round.  (see note 1 below)

9 - 12

 

 C1, C2, C3 6 hands round to the left, ending in original places.
 13 - 16

 

C1 set to each other; cast off one place, end facing first corners.  C2 step up on bars 15-16.

17 - 24

 

 

C1 turn first corners by the right hand for 3 bars, pass partner by right shoulder (1 Bar), turn second corners by right hand, pass partner by right shoulder, ending in second place facing out.  (see note 2 below)
25 - 32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 C2, C3 dance right shoulder reels of three on sides (8 bars), while C1 casts to the right around partner’s first corner to start the reel.  Then first man dances through the top and across through second place on the opposite side while first woman dances through the bottom and across through second place on the men’s side.  C1 then continues by dancing right shoulder around their own first corner position, through the bottom (man) or top (woman) and across to end in second place on their own side, ready to repeat the dance from the new position. (“Paperclip” reels, see note 3 below)
  Dance Notes:

1.

 On bars 5-8, C1 and C3 will open up after their turn and end with nearer hands joined inside the set on either end, ready to flow into the circle.  There should be no stopping before the circle.  The circle in bars 9-12 is quick; the circle should be small and traveling steps long.

2.

 For best results on bars 17-24, the figure should be phrased: 3 bars to turn first corner, 1 bar to pass partner, 3 bars to turn second corner, 1 bar to pass partner.  At the end of bar 24, C1 should remain facing out, ready to dance to their right.

3.

Paperclip Reels:  this is a full 8-bar reel, and C2 and C3 need to phrase their movements accordingly.  C1 dances a “paperclip” figure around the first corner positions on either side, passing diagonally through the second place position on each side of the dance.
 

Devised by Bob McMurtry for Fort Worden XXV Weekend, 1999.

Music:  The lead tune was composed by Muriel Johnstone and is named "Earl Gaddis" to honor the musician with whom she has performed for former Balls at Fort Worden.
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