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Dance The Bumpkin 862

Also known as “Ninesome Reel”.

Jig · 224 bars · 9 persons · Square   (Progression: OnceOnly)

Devised by
Walsh (18C) (1754)
Formations
Steps
  • Pas-de-Basque, Skip-Change, Slip-Step
Published in
Recommended Music
Extra Info
The Bumpkin

The song “A Country Bumpkin”, which gives title to this dance, was included in the ballad opera “The Cobbler’s Opera”, produced in 1729.

William Stenhouse states under the heading “The Shepherd’s Wife”: “This old comic song appears in Herd’s Collection, Vol. 11. It contains two verses more than the copy inserted in the Museum, which were chiefly omitted on the score of delicacy. The pretty tune to which the words are adapted in the Museum was communicated by Burns; but a respectable old lady informed the Editor, that, in her early days, the verses were usually sung to the well known air of ‘Bab at the Bowster’, alias ‘The Country Bumpkin’.”

The original first verse from Herd is as follows:

The shepherd’s wife cries o’er the lee,
  Cries o’er the lee, cries o’er the lee,
The shepherd’s wife cries o’er the lee,
  Will ye come hame again e’en, jo?
What shall I ha’e gin I come hame,
  Gin I come hame, gin I come hame,
What shall I ha’e gin I come hame,
  Gin I come hame again e’en, jo?

Burns’ version as published in James Johnson’s The Scots Musical Museum, Volume 4, of 1792 repeats the first verse for the supposedly objectionable three verses.

The shepherd’s wife cries o’er the knowe,
  “Will ye come hame, will ye come hame?”
The shepherd’s wife cries o’er the knowe,
  “Will ye come hame again e’en, jo?”

“O what will ye gie me to my supper,
  Gin I come hame, gin I come hame,
O what will ye gie me to my supper,
  Gin I come hame again e’en, jo?”

While the similarity of the first verses in both versions is striking, Burns’ total effort lacks the vitality of the old song published by Herd in 1776. The anonymous verses are amusing. Burns’ song is insipid and considering the content of his Merry Muses of Caledonia one wonders why he let such an opportunity slip by.

On the last page of Niel Gow’s Fourth Repository, 1817, set beside the tune “Elsie Marly”, are the figures of the “Old Country Bumpkin”, and the note that the original tune is to be found in the First Repository. Consideration of the directions for the old dances and their translation for today’s Scottish country dancers generates a deep respect for the work of The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.

The Bumpkin 9pS · J224

6 Women and 3 Men in 3 Trios WMW form a square set of 9 dancers, the M are on the midline. For this crib, we name the men 1M, 2M and 3M by their positions; 2M is “the King”, and wears a cocked hat. We name the W on the “Men’s side” 1W, 2W and 3W, and the W on the Women’s side 1w, 2w and 3w.
FIG is short for this 16b figure: Each M sets to and turns a first Woman {4} ; then a second Woman {4} ;; Reel3 with these women, Lsh to the first, to places.

1–
All trios WMw dance up NHJ and pivot R ; dance down to places
9–24
1M+1W+2W & 2M+1w+3W & 3M+3w+2w dance FIG (2M on 2diag + triangles)
25–40
1M+1w+2w & 2M+1W+3w & 3M+3w+2w dance FIG (2M on 1diag + triangles)
41–56
1M+1W+1w & 2M+2w+2W & 3M+3W+3w dance FIG (All in lines across)
57–72
2w+3w+1w & 2M+1M+3M & 2W+3W+1W dance FIG (All longwise lines). At the end, 3Trio and 2Trio change places, and 3M becomes “King”.
73–144
Repeat [1–72], at the end top two trios change places, and 1M becomes “King” (3,1,2)
145–216
Repeat [-72]
217–224
The “1M King” dances Reel steps while{8} the others Circle8 and back

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NameDateOwnerLast changed
RSCDS Book 2 Ward Fleri Dec. 2, 2020, 2:43 a.m.
RSCDS Book 02 Martina Mueller-Franz June 8, 2016, 2:20 p.m.
Darmstadt_Wunschliste OnYourToes Darmstadt Oct. 4, 2015, 6:57 p.m.
PA2019A 2019-08-31 Rachel Pusey Aug. 11, 2019, 8:49 p.m.

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