Playford Dances

 

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Cuckolds All  a Row

Cushion Dance

Daphne

Dargason

Greensleeves

Half Hannikin

Kemps Jig

Lusty Gallant

Peppers Black

Put Thy Smock a Monday

Sellenger's Round

Shaking of the Sheets

Trenchmore

 

On November 7, 1650, a man named John Playford registered The English Dancing Master: OR Plaine and easie Rules for the Dancing of Country Dances, with the Tune to each Dance.  John was a stationer (publisher) in London and already known for his “political tracts, miscellaneous non-musical works, music theory, lessons for various instruments, collections of songs, and psalms.” (1)  On March 19, 1651, the book was “printed by Thomas Harper, to be sold by John Playford, at his shop at the Inner Temple neere the Church doore”. (2) Between 1651 and 1728, 18 editions of ‘The [English] Dancing Master’ were published.  John Playford has been credited for publishing the first seven editions; his son, Henry Playford has been credited for publishing the next four, and John Young has been credited for publishing the final six.  Between the 3 of them, they are credited for publishing over 6,000 dances – including variations, duplications, tunes, and songs.

 While you are reading through the following pages, please keep in mind that middle and old english was quoted, as necessary.

 

 Works Cited:
1. de Rocheforte, Fidelico. (n.d) John Playford, a Brief Biography. Letter of Dance - Volume 3(Issues 17-24). Retrieved January 4, 2006, from 
http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/lod/vol3/playford_bib.html
2. Playford, John. (March 19, 1651) The English Dancing Master. Images Online. Retrieved January 4, 2006 from http://www.imagesonline.bl.uk/britishlibrary/controller/subjectidsearch?id=8099&startid=32378&width=4&height=2&idx=1