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Book/Printed Material The dancing master; or, Directions for dancing country dances, with the tunes to each dance, for the treble-violin Directions for dancing country dances

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About this Item

Title

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

Other Title

  • Directions for dancing country dances

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."

Names

  • Playford, Henry, 1657-
  • Playford, John, 1623-1686?

Created / Published

  • [London] Printed by J. Heptinstall, for H. Playford, 1698.

Headings

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

Notes

  • -  First ed. published 1651 [i.e. 1650] under title: The English dancing-master.
  • -  Vol. 2, 2d ed., has imprint: Printed for H. Playford, 1698.
  • -  ESTC R227561

Medium

  • 2 v. in 1. 11 x 20 cm.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • MT950 .P68 1698

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 11030463

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

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The accompanying videos were produced by the Library of Congress. Note Video Performers for additional credits for video performers.

Credit Line: Library of Congress, Music Division.

Video Performers

Performers for the October 1997 Great Hall event: Dancers

Members of The Jonquil Street Foundation, Inc. Ariane Anthony, Thomas Baird, Barbara Barr, Patricia Beaman, Christopher Caines, Charles Garth, James Martin, Maris Wolff. Musicians - members of The Library of Congress Centennial Cotillion Brass Band, Emerson Head and Robert Sheldon, Leaders (Members, Metro Washington D.C. Federation of Musicians Local 161-710, AFM.)

Performers for the Coolidge Auditorium clips: Dancers

Cheryl Stafford and Thomas Baird. Musicians - Boris Gurevitch (piano), Susan Manus (violin).

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Playford, Henry, and John Playford. The dancing master; or, Directions for dancing country dances, with the tunes to each dance, for the treble-violin. [London Printed by J. Heptinstall, for H. Playford, 1698] Image. https://www.loc.gov/item/11030463/.

APA citation style:

Playford, H. & Playford, J. (1698) The dancing master; or, Directions for dancing country dances, with the tunes to each dance, for the treble-violin. [London Printed by J. Heptinstall, for H. Playford] [Image] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/11030463/.

MLA citation style:

Playford, Henry, and John Playford. The dancing master; or, Directions for dancing country dances, with the tunes to each dance, for the treble-violin. [London Printed by J. Heptinstall, for H. Playford, 1698] Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/11030463/>.