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An American Ballroom Companion: Dance Instruction Manuals

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The dancing master; or, Directions for dancing country dances, with the tunes to each dance, for the treble-violin.

OTHER TITLES
Dancing master.

Directions for dancing country dances

CREATED/PUBLISHED
10th ed. corrected; with addition of several new dances and tunes never before printed.
[London] Printed by J. Heptinstall, for H. Playford, 1698.

SUMMARY
Originally published in 1650 under the title of The English dancing master, this work went through numerous editions from 1652 to 1728. Compiled by John Playford (1623-1687), a publisher of music books, the treatise is considered an important work on English country dances, a form of dance where couples perform a series of set patterns. In this tenth edition, Henry Playford notes that he has made corrections and added several new dances and tunes. The work utilizes a rudimentary dance notation and page one of the treatise is devoted to an explanation of the symbols. Part one contains 215 dances; part two has 46 dances and additional music for "A new spanish entry and saraband," as danced by Monsieur L'Abbe. Appropriate music, in the form of a treble line, is provided for each dance. Most of the dances are designated for longways sets of three couples, four couples, or "as many as will."

NOTES
Vol. 2, 2d ed., has imprint: Printed for H. Playford, 1698.

First ed. published 1651 [i.e. 1650] under title: The English dancing-master.

SUBJECTS
Dance--England--Handbooks, manuals, etc.--Early works to 1800.
Country-dances.
Violin music.
Dance Instruction and Technical Manuals.
Notation for Dance.
Music for Dance.

RELATED NAMES
Playford, John, 1623-1686?
Playford, Henry, b. 1657.

RELATED TITLES
English dancing master.

MEDIUM
2 v. in 1. 11 x 20 cm.

CALL NUMBER
MT950 .P68 1698

DIGITAL ID
musdi 004 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/musdi.004

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