For other versions of this work, see The Dancing Master.
The Dancing Master (1686)
by John Playford
4496941The Dancing Master1686John Playford

The Dancing-Master:


Or, Directions for dancing Country Dances, with the Times to each Dance for the Treble-Violin.


The 7th Edition, with Addition of several new Dances, and Times of Dances, never before printed.


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London, Printed by J. P. and sold by John Playford, at his Shop near the Temple Church, 1686.


Musick Books sold by John Playford, at his Shop near the Temple Church.


Muse’s Recreation on the Lyra-Viol, containing variety of new Lessons newly Reprinted with Additions. Price stitcht 2 s.

Choice Aires, Songs, and Dialogues, being most of the newest Songs sung at Court, and at the public Theaters; composed by several Gentlemen of His Majesty’s Musick, in Five several Volumes in Folio.

The musical companion, containing variety of Catches of Three and Four Parts; and also several choice Songs, Ayres, and Dialogues, of two, three, and four Parts, in one Volume in Quarto. Price bound 3 s. 6 d.

The Second part of the Musical Companion, containing a new Collection of merry and Loyal Catches, and other Songs, of two and three Parts. Price 1 s. 6 d.

A brief Introduction to the Skill of Music, both Vocal and Instrumental, by J. Playford, newly Reprinted with Additions of a Third Part, containing the Art of Composing Music, of two, three, and four Parts. Price bound 2 s.

The Psalms in Metre, as they are sung in all Parish Churches, with the proper Tune to every Psalm, composed in three Parts, (illegible text), (illegible text), and (illegible text), by John Playford, and printed in a small Volume, convenient for to carry in the Pocket to Church. Price bound 3 s. 6 d.

Music’s Handmaid, containing choice Lessons for the Virginals and Harpsichords newly Reprinted with Additions of plain and easie Rules for Beginners to understand the Gamut, and the Notes, thereby to play from the Book, all engraven on Copper Plates. Price 2 s. 5 d.

The Pleasant Companion, containing new and pleasant Ayres and Tunes for the Flagolet, with plaine instructions for Learners, newly Reprinted with Additions. Price 1 s. 6 d.

Musick’s Delight, containing new Lessons for the Flute or Record(illegible text) Learners. Price 1 s. 6 d.

The Division-Violin, containing a choice Collection of Divisions for the Treble-Violin to a Ground-Bass, all fairly engraven on Copper-Plates, being of great benefit and delight for all Pracitioners on the Violin, and are the first that ever were printed of this kind of Musick. Price 2 s. 6 d.


Preface.


The Art of Dancing, called by the Ancient Greeks Orchestice, and Orchestis, is a commendable and rare Quality fit for young Gentlemen, if opportunely and civilly used. And Plato, that Famous Philosopher, thought it meet, that young ingenious Children be taught to Dance. It is a Quality that has been formerly honoured in the Courts of Princes, when performed by the most noble Hero’s of the Times, The Gentlemen of the Inns of Court, whose sweet and airy Activity has crowned their grand Solemnities with Admiration to all Spectators. This Art has been Anciently handled by Athenæus; Julius Pollux, Cælius Rhodiginus, and others, and much commended it to be excellent for Recreation, after more serious Studies, making the body more active and strong, graceful in Deportment, and a quality very much beseeming a Gentleman. Yet all this should not have been an incitement to me for Publication of this Work (knowing these Times and the Nature of it do not agree,) But that there was a false and surreptitious Copy at the Printing-Press, which if it had been published, would have been a disparagement to the Quality and the Professors thereof, and a hinderance to the Learner: Therefore for prevention of all which, having an excellent Copy by me, and the assistance of a knowing Friend; I did venture this ensuing Work to the publick view, and gentle censure of all ingenious Gentlemen, lovers of this Quallity; whose favourable acceptance has mov’d me, in this 7th Edition, to make Large Additions of 47 new Dances, and many new Dance Tunes, never printed before, correcting the Errors, both of the Tunes and Dances, which were in the former Impression; and for the more easie playing of the Tunes, barred every Semibreve. By which I hope it will gain your favourable acceptance. Yours,

John Playford.

An Alphabetical Table of the Dances contained in this Book.


The new dances added to this 7th Edition have this mark * before them.


A
Argiers, or the Wedding night. 19
Althea. 24
All in a Garden Green. 25
Adsons Saraband. 26
A la mode d’ France. 27
Ay me, or the Symphony. 28
An old man a Bed full of bones. 49
Abergenny. 121
Asparagus Garden. 124
Amarillis. 137
Arcadia. 197
B
Blew-cap for me. 29
Begger-boy. 30
Broom, the bonny Broom. 31
Boatman. 50
Bobbing Joe. 51
Bath. 52
Black Nag. 53
Blew Breeches. 64
Black Jack. 138
Buff-Coat. 149
*Bore, or Sweet William. 173
*Bouzer Castle. 174
*Bore la Bass. 176
*Bath (The new.) 194
*Black and Gray. 200
C
Chirping of the Nightingale. 11
Confess, or the Court Lady. 32
Chirping of the Lark. 33
Cherily and merrily. 34
Country Coll, on Sir N. Culley. 35
Chesnut, or Dove’s Figary. 36
Cuckolds all a row. 37
Cast a Bell. 54
Lord Carnarvan’s Jigg. 66
Catching of Quails. 92
Lord Chamberlain’s Delight. 109
Catching of Fleas. 112
Cavy Lillyman. 140
Chesey Reach. 151
*Coblers Jigg. 166
*Christchurch bells. 177
*Country Abigail. 193
D
Daphne, or the Shepherdess. 38
Drive the cold Winter away. 39
Dissembling Love, or lost Heart. 40
Dargasson, or Dedany. 41
Duke of Lorain’s March. 129
Devils Dream. 132
Dull Sir John. 154
*Duke of York’s Delignt. 163
*Dragoons March. 170
E
Epping-Forrest. 89
*Excuse me. 188
F
Fine Compation. 10
Fryer and the Nun. 42
Fryer in the Well. 72
*Fits come on me now. 205
G
Gelding of the Devil. 2
Gathering of Pescods. 9
Grimstock. 43
Green Garters. 69
Green-wood, or the Huntsman. 44
Gun, or the valiant Captain. 45
Goddesses. 55
Grays-Inn Mask, or Mad Tom. 56
Glory of the West. 85
Garland, or Summers day. 107
Genny Pug. 122
Gossips Frolick. 131
Green Stockins. 156
Green Sleeves 186
*Granadeers March. 196
H
Hearts-ease. 20
Health to Betty. 46
Hit or miss. 47
Have at thy Coat old Woman. 48
Half Hannykin. 57
Healths, or the merry Wasel. 58
Hockley in the hole. 59
Hemp-dresser, or London maid. 67
Hunsdon-house. 153
*Hey-boys up go we. 179
*Hap-hazard. 192
*Hey ho my honey. 202
I
Jenny pluck Pears. 7
If all the World were Paper. 8
Jog on my Honey. 60
Irish Lady, or Anniseed Robin. 61
Jack Pudding, or merry Andrew. 62
Jack a Lent. 63
Jamaica. 142
Irish Trot. 147
*Jack’s Health. 184
*Johnny, cock thy Beaver. 199
*Joan Sanderson. 208
K
Kemp’s Jigg. 12
Kettle-Drum. 13
*King’s Jigg. 161
*Knot. 206
L
Lady in the dark. 23
Lady Speller. 65
Lady lye near me. 68
Lavena, or the Passionate Lover. 69
Lady Murray’s delight. 110
Lady Lutten. 135
Lady Ranbury. 134
Lull me beyond thee. 148
*Ladies delight. 162
*Love lies a bleeding. 182
M
Mill-Field. 6
Mage on a Tree. 14
Mundess. 15
Saint Martin’s. 22
Millison’s Jigg. 72
Merry Milk-maids. 71
Maiden-Lane. 73
Milk-maid’s bob. 74
Maiden Fair. 79
Maid in the Moon. 87
Mall Peatly. 95
Mulberry-Garden. 143
Motson’s Jigg. 145
*Mermaid. 178
*Miller’s Jigg. 199
N
Newcastle. 16
Night-piece, or shaking of Sheets. 75
Now Bo-peep. 78
New new Nothing. 86
New Exchange. 76
New Royal Exchange. 125
New Figary. 136
Northern Nancy. 146
Newmarket. 160
*No-bodies Jigg. 165
*Never love me more. 183
O
Open the Door to three. 3
Old Mole. 77
Oaken Leaves. 91
Oranges and Limons. 155
Opera. 189
*Old Simon the King. 185
P
Peppers black. 5
Parsons Farewel. 21
Picking of Sticks. 78
Paul’s Steeple. 81
Petticoat Wag. 80
Putney Ferry. 81
Put on thy Smock on Monday. 90
Pegasus, or the Flying-horse. 111
Phœnix. 113
Prince Rupert’s March. 126
Punks Delight. 133
Parthenia, or Fain I would. 152
*Parsons upon Dorothy. 167
*Prince George. 105
*Pall-Mall. 196
R
Rose is white, and Rose is red. 4
Row well ye Mariners. 106
*Rummer. - S
Sellengers Round. 1
Sage Leaf. 18
Shepherds Daughter. 81
Stingo, or the Oyl of Barly. 84
Sweet Kate. 94
Step stately. 97
Scotch Cap, or Edenborough Castle. 98
Souldiers Life. 99
Solomons Jig, or Green-goose fair. 100
Spanish Gypsie. 101
Saraband. 102
Skellamefago, or Don Pedro. 103
Shepherds Holy-day. 105
Saturday night. 114
Spring-Garden. 120
Simple Simon, or Huddle-duddle. 123
Smiths Rant, or the Cuckow. 128
Slip, or Sir Roger. 129
Singletons Slip. 144
Staggins Jigg. 164
*Sawney and Jockey. 165
*Smiths new Rant. 180
*Sion-House. 187
*Shores Garden. 201
T
Thomas you cannot. 93
Trenchmore. 154
Twins. 118
Tom Tinker. 130
Ten Pound Lass. 150
Twenty-ninth of May. 207
V
Up Tails all. 17
Under and over. 108
*Under the Green-wood Tree. 168
*Valentine’s day. 172
*Vienna. 203
W
Wish. 115
Woody-cock, or Green Man. 116
What you please. 117
Watton Towns End. 119
Whirligig. 136
Wallingford-house. 141
Witches. 157
White-hall. 156
*Well-hall. 171
*Westmorland. 191
*Wolverton-hall. 204
Additions (not listed in original)
Tunes of other Country-Dances added to this Book. (c. 1687)
A new Additional Sheet to the Dancing Master. (c. 1688)
A new Addition to the Dancing-Master. (c. 1689)

There is newly printed a new Edition of the Violin Book, entituled, Apollo’s Banquet, (illegible text) containing (illegible text) Ayres, Theatre Tunes, Horn-pipes, Jiggs, and Scotch Tunes. The second part of this Book contains a Collection of French dancing Tunes, used at Court and in Dancing Schools; as, several new (illegible text), (illegible text), (illegible text), (illegible text), (illegible text), (illegible text), etc. (illegible text) of which are proper to play on the Flute or Recorder, as well as on the Violin. Price 1 s. 6 d.


A Table, explaining several Characters which are set down in the Rules for Dancing.


D. Is for Double. A Double is four steps forward and backward, closing both Feet.
S. Is for Single. A Single is two steps, closing both Feet.
Set and turn Single. Is a Single to one hand, and Single to the other, and turn Single.
Wo. Stands for Woman.
We. Stands for Women.
Cu. Stands for Couple.
Co. Stands for Contrary.
2. Stands for Second.
3. Third.
4. Fourth.
 ·  This is for a Strain played once.
 :  This is for a Strain twice.
This stands for the Men’s places in the Figure.
This stands for the Women’s places in the Figure.
The Figure half round, is the Hay half round.
The whole Figure is the Hay all four round.

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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