DANCES:--
BEAN-SETTING
To Form Ring (Diagrams)
Dibbing
COUNTRY GARDENS
Notation of Hand-striking
CONSTANT BILLY
Diagram of Stick-tapping
RIGS O'MARLOW
Diagrams of Stick-tapping
BLUFF KING HAL
Description of step, and manner of dancing
HOW D'YE DO?
Description, and note on singing
SHEPHERD'S HEY
Instructions for Stick-tapping and Diagram of Hand-clapping
On holding sticks
NOTATION (Detailed instructions for all the Dances described):--
BEAN-SETTING (Stick Dance)
LAUDNUM BUNCHES (Corner Dance)
COUNTRY GARDENS (Handkerchief Dance)
CONSTANT BILLY (Stick Dance)
TRUNKLES (Corner Dance)
RIGS O'MARLOW (Stick Dance)
BLUFF KING HAL (Handkerchief Dance)
HOW D'YE DO? (Corner Dance)
SHEPHERD'S HEY (Stick or Handkerchief Dance)
BLUE-EYED STRANGER (Handkerchief Dance)
MORRIS OFF

INTRODUCTION.

We have been drawn to the publication of tunes and description of the old
English Morris, not primarily for the information of the archaeologist and
scholar, but to help those who may be disposed to restore a vigorous and
native custom to its lapsed pre-eminence.

Whether we have erred in believing that there exists to-day a wide and
keen desire for that restoration will be plainly shown in the reception
and the result of our endeavour. How we ourselves came by the belief in
that desire is easily told.

The idea that the Morris dance might once again be known amongst us, in
town and countryside, as the ordered expression of a national spirit, was
given to us in this wise. One of us--it is not by now too much to
claim--had acquired an enthusiasm for Folk-music, and a certain knack of
finding it where it still survived in the aged memories of the peasantry,
and of transcribing and preserving it when found. The other had also his
knack of passing on the music that pleased him to susceptible and willing
juniors, and of making them to perform the same. In a happy hour the
collector with his treasury and the teacher, pining for some fresher and
sincerer melodies, met together. The "Folk Songs from Somerset" were
given to those working girls of London town to whom this book is
dedicated. From the very start we were aware that the old songs, merry or
mournful, that until then had been looked upon by this newer generation
for the greater part with something of an antiquarian and merely curious
eye, had been given wings and a new vitalit