Dance The Flower o' the Quern 2242
Also known as “The Flower of the Quern” (spelling).
Strathspey · 32 bars · 4 couples (3x,4x) · Longwise - 4 (Progression: 2413)
- Devised by
- John Drewry (1977)
- Intensity
- 8888 8008 8888 8448 = 81% (1 turn), 81% (whole dance)
- Formations
- Hands round - 4 (HR;4P;)
- Lead/Dance down, cross and cast up (DWN;CROSS;UP)
- Reel of four - on side (REEL;R4;SIDES;)
- Figure of Eight - half (FIG8;1C;HALF;)
- Steps
- Strathspey setting, Strathspey travel
- Published in
-
- The Canadian Book of Scottish Country Dances [17]
- Scottish Country Dances in Diagrams. Ed. 9 [63] (diagram only)
- Scottish Country Dances in Diagrams. Ed. 8 [63] (diagram only)
- Scottish Country Dances in Diagrams. Ed. 7 [50] (diagram only)
- Scottish Country Dances in Diagrams. Ed. 6 [48] (diagram only)
- Recommended Music
- Extra info
- John Drewry wrote in the ...
John Drewry wrote in the original description that the dance was for Alistair Reid of Muchall's Castle near Stonehaven.
Elsewhere the remark has been made that this dance should be called "Flour o' the Quern" as a Quern is a grinding stone.
Ron Russell wrote the following:
As I understand it (although not a Gaelic speaker), a quern (pronounced 'kern') is Gaelic for 'hollow'.
A verse is included as a dedication in James Scott Skinner’s original sheet music (see http://www.abdn.ac.uk/scottskinner/display.php?ID=JSS0750):
The flowers grow fair on the lowland vales,
an’ green grow the wids on the braes,
an’ saft an’ low sing the scented gales
in the lang, lang simmer days;
But dearer to me are the mountains blue
where grow the heath an’ fern,
an’ the bonniest flo’er is the ane I lo’e
that blooms ‘mang the braes o’ the Quern.
I believe this verse is by J. Gordon Phillips
Name | Artist | Album | Media | Trk | Type | Time | Pace | Clip | Tunes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flower of the Quern | Ian J Morrison | See You Jimmy! | MC | 15 | S32 4 | 0:00 | 0.0 | The Flower o' the Quern/The Cradle Song/Twist Ye Twine Ye/Craig Chattan | |
The Flower o' the Quern | Gordon Shand and his Scottish Dance Band | Dancing Forth | CD | 14 | S32 4 | 4:16 | 64.0 |
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The Flower o' the Quern/Les Trois Grande Luthiers/Sarona/The Faraway Grandchild |
The Flower of the Quern | David Hall and his Scottish Dance Band | A Manchester Medley | MC | 2 | S32 4 | 4:18 | 64.5 |
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The Flower o' the Quern/Sarona/The Music o' Spey/Miss Laura Andrew |
The Flower of the Quern | Andrew Rankine and his Band | London Highland Club Diamond Jubilee | LP+ | 2 | S32 4 | 4:24 | 66.0 | The Flower o' the Quern/Sheilis/Jock o' Hazeldean | |
The Flower o' the Quern | Ian Cruickshanks and his Band | Nice to See You Again | CD | 15 | S32 4 | 4:28 | 67.0 | The Flower o' the Quern/Mrs Scott Skinner/Les Trois Grande Luthiers/Barbara Dorothy Russell's Strathspey |
The Flower o' the Quern 4/4L · S32
3c+4c begin on opposite side (1,2,3x,4x)
- 1–
- 1c+2c & 3c+4c, circle4 L, finish NHJ 1c facing 2c & 3c facing 4c ; All set | 1c+4c cast (long way) to middle passing LH on the side while{2} 2c & 3c dance to ends (2,4x,1,3x)
- 9–
- 4c+1c lead out the end, cross and cast inwards, 4c & 1c change places LH on the sides ; repeat figure at other end, again passing LH on the sides, finish middles facing ends (2,4x,1,3x)
- 17–
- Reels4 on the sides, finish mid cpls facing end cpls
- 25–
- All set to facing cpl | 4c & 1c, passing inside turn end cpl Easy Hand on sideline ; 4c+1c ½Fig8 round same end cpl (2,4,1x,3x)
The Flower o' the Quern 4/4L · S32
3s & 4s start on opp sides
- 1-8
- 1s+2s & 3s+4s circle 4H round to Left to end in middle, 1s facing 2s, 3s facing 4s. All set, 1s+4s turn inwards towards partner & cast in 1 pl down/up (2s dance up, 3s dance down one pl) & 1M+4L also 1L+4M change places LH on sides 2 (4) 1 (3)
- 9-12
- 1s+4s lead out of ends, cross & cast. 1s+4s change places LH on sides.
- 13-16
- 1s & 4s repeat 9-12, leading out other end, cross & cast & 1s+4s change places LH on side. 1s face down, 4s face up
- 17-24
- All dance reels of 4 on sides & end facing same person as at start of reel. 2 4 1 3
- 25-32
- 2s+4s also 1s+3s set facing on sides, 1s & 4s turn end couples (dancing between ends) & dance 1/2 Figs of 8 round end couples to end 2 4 (1) (3)
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User Reviews

The Name of this Dance
Ron Russell · Feb. 14, 2014, 11:56 a.m.
I often hear comments that this dance should be called "Flour o' the Quern" as a Quern is a grinding stone.
As I understand it (although not a Gaelic speaker), a quern (pronounced 'kern') is Gaelic for 'hollow'.
A verse is included as a dedication in James Scott Skinner’s original sheet music:
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/scottskinner/display.php?ID=JSS0750
The flo-ers grow fair on the lowland vales,
an’ green grow the wids on the braes,
an’ saft an’ low sing the scented gales
in the lang, lang simmer days;
But dearer to me are the mountains blue
where grow the heath an’ fern,
an’ the bonniest flo’er is the ane I lo’e
that blooms ‘mang the braes o’ the Quern.
I believe this verse is by J. Gordon Phillips
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