Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

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REIGN OF CHARLES II.
535
Monday," from a song, which, on the authority of The Tea Table Miscellany, wis written by Allan Ramsay.
As this old favorite has again come into fashion (not only here, but also at foreign Courts), a description of the figure, as now danced, may interest some of my readers.
Figure of Roger de Coverley.—The couples stand as in other English country-dances, the gentlemen facing the ladies. First—The gentleman at the top and the lady at the bottom of the dance advance to the centre, and turning round each other (giving the right hand) return to places (four bars of music). Second—The same figure repeated, but giving the left hand (four bars). Third—The same couple advance a third time, the gentleman bowing and the lady courtesying, retire (four bars). The fourth is a chain figure, the first gentleman gives his right hand to his partner and left to^the second lady, right to partner and left to third lady, and so on, tho lady, in like manner, at the same time, giving her right hand to her partner and left to every gentleman, till they reach the bottom of the dance. They then hold up their hands joined, and every couple pass under them (beginning with the second gentleman and his partner) and turning outwards, i.e., gentlemen to the right and ladies to the left, return to places. Then the figure recommences with the second gentleman (now at the top) and the first lady, now at the bottom of the dance.