Folklore: Dashing White Sargeant - dance origins?

Subject: Folklore: Dashing White Sargeant - dance origins?
From: Mr Red
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 08:11 AM

1) What does nayone know about the earliest record of this as a dance, and 0r a dance tune?

2) did Mr Playford record it in one of his books, and or is he on record as knowing of it?

now for the Hard one - Sir Roger de Coverly - ditto? ditto?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Dashing White Sargeant - dance origi
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 10:43 AM

Isn't it a Scottish dance? I'm not sure... I've danced it up there the most anyway... good dance too!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Dashing White Sargeant - dance origins?
From: IanC
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 10:57 AM

According to this site ...

The tune was composed by Sir Henry Rowley Bishop (the composer also of "Home Sweet Home.") The words are by General John Burgoyne. It was first published in 1826 and the dance is influenced by the Scotch reel and Swedish country dances.

:-)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Dashing White Sargeant - dance origins?
From: LindsayInWales
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 11:22 AM

We used to sing it in primary school:

Now the fiddler's ready let us all begin
To step it out and step it in
To the merry music of the violin
We'll dance the hours away.
(repeat)

I can't remember the first couple of lines of the chorus, only that they included people's names, it finished up


.........and Calum and Flora and Moll
Dance, dance, dance dance
Dance away the hours together
Dance till dawn be in the sky
What care you and what care I?
Our hearts are beating, spirits high
We'll dance, dance, dance.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Dashing White Sargeant - dance origins?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 01:25 PM

Ian C has the authorship correctly.

"Dashing White Sergeant" is the regimental march of the 49th Berkshires {Royal Berkshire Regiment).
West Point graduates march to this tune at their graduation parade.

The song is in the DT. The Bodleian has several broadsides (the oldest dated c. 1819-1844), it became popular quickly.
The tune was used for other songs, notably "The Female Volunteer For Mexico," during the Mexican War (See Dolph, "Sounds Off, Soldier Songs," 1929, pp. 573-574 with sheet music for "Dashing White Sergeant" in 2/4).

Do most of us mis-spell sergeant?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Dashing White Sargeant - dance origins?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 03:39 PM

Katy, Peggy, Patsy, Coll,
Callum, Peter, Flora, Moll,
Dance, dance...........

from the depths of my memory.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Folklore: Dashing White Sargeant - dance origins?
From: Mr Red
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 04:22 PM

Er .......

its the dance I was thinking of. on eceilidh they refer to earlier dates and the dance tune ealier than that though the Playford connection is in question. Dates are reckoned to be older than 1826. Someone made reference to it being Scottish.

As for spellings, I have seen it several ways and will now consult the OED.

Sir R de C was a column in the Spectator in the 1700's, any ideas on the DANCE? I know it predates that new-fangled invention - the Waltze - because the waltze was considered licentious and Sir R de C the proper form of dancing. So what years did Straus the elder reign?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Dashing White Sargeant - dance origins?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 05:41 PM

Look in Ceolas. Apparently the source for current versions is an "1837-1840 MS by John Ford (Ashman)."
Ceolas

At www.scotlandmusic.com/dashing-white-sergeant.htm: Dashing
it says "The origins of the tune and the Dance are not Scottish." "Rowley" "1826" "the dance is influenced by the Scotch reel and Swedish country dances."
The website recommends Martin, traditional Scottish Fiddling."

Several websites give instructions for the dance.

Pm Malcolm Douglas for accurate information.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Dashing White Sargeant - dance origins?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 05:50 PM

Sorry- Dunno what happened. Apparently some company has taken out a mortgage on Scotland, but one can get to the site through Google.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Dashing White Sargeant - dance origi
From: Mr Red
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 05:00 PM

according to http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3covrly.htm

-- The Sir Roger de Coverly (or Finishing dance) is a true English Folk dance and was one of the prettiest of them all, It was probably named in 1650 after "Grandfather DeCoverly" and was published in Playford's "The Dancing Master" in 1690. The Sir Roger De Coverly was founded on the old Contre Danses (Country Dances) and was the forerunner to the Virginia Reel. It was first introduced to the French Ballets in 1745 and is said to have been revived at her Majesty's bal costumé in 1844. Once it became popular as an old Ballroom dance (1800's), it was used to finish the evening's dances (last dance). It was very proper to finish the night with a simple dance everyone could and would do, The De Coverly fit the bill. In America it was known as the Virginia Reel.

there you go - I've danced Playford and never thought I would!