From: "Ian Brockbank" <ian:scottishdance.net>
To: "Strathspey" <strathspey:strathspey.org>
Subject: DANCE: Merchiston Castle Jig
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 16:58:15 -0700

A couple of friends got married recently  and  I  wrote  a  dance  to
celebrate the occasion.  It seemed to go down well, so here it is for
your delectation.  If you try it, please let me know how you get on.

There's a PDF which includes the figure at
  http://www.scottishdance.net/dances/MerchistonCastleJig.pdf
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                 Merchiston Castle Jig
                    4x32 bar Jig
  A dance for four couples in a 4-couple longwise set

Two chords.  On the second chord, 3rd and 4th couples  change  places
with  their  partners to start the dance on the opposite sides of the
set.

1-4
  1st  couple  with  2nd couple, and 3rd couple with 4th couple dance
  half rights and lefts.
5-6
  Joining hands on the sides, all set.
7-8
  All cross over giving right hands.
9-12
  2nd and 1st couples, and 4th and  3rd  couples  dance  right  hands
  across once round.
13-16
  1st  man  followed  by  1st lady casts up around 2nd man and dances
  down the centre of the set while 4th man followed by 4th lady casts
  off  around  3rd  man  and  dances  up  the  centre of the set (see
  figure).  Men pass left shoulders and all curve to their  right  at
  the end into...
17-24
  4th  man  and  1st lady dance a reel of four across with 2nd couple
  while 4th lady and 1st man dance a reel of  four  across  with  3rd
  couple.   4th  man and 1st lady, and 1st man and 4th lady give left
  hands in the final left shoulder of the reel and the  men  dance  a
  polite  turn  to finish with 4th man and 1st lady with nearer hands
  joined between 2nd couple facing down, and 4th  lady  and  1st  man
  with nearer hands joined between 3rd couple facing up.
25-26
  Dancing couples set.
27-28
  Dancing couples petronella in tandem.
29-32
  Dancing couples turn right hands.

Finish in the order 2,4,1,3, 1st and 3rd couples on the opposite side
of the dance, ready to start again.

Devised for Katy Thompson and Andrew Gray in honour of their  wedding
in  Barclay  Church  in  Edinburgh  on  the  21st of August, 2004 and
performed at the ensuing celebrations in Merchiston Castle School.

Tune:     Katy and Andrew's Wedding Jig    (Alastair Wood)

Cheers,

Ian Brockbank
Senior Applications Software Engineer
e: ian.brockbank:wolfsonmicro.com / apps:wolfsonmicro.com
scd: ian:scottishdance.net
t: +44 131 272 7145
f: +44 131 272 7001