Prince William

Notes

Queen Caroline (1683-1737) & her son Prince William Augustus(1721-1765)
Queen Caroline (of Brandenburg Ansbach) &  
her son Prince William Augustus (1721-1765)

This dance was published by Walsh in "The Compleat Country Dancing-Master" of 1731. The modern interpretation is given by Pat Shaw as dance 4, "Prince William (i)", in "Holland as Seen in the English Country Dance 1713-1820" of 1960; a revised edition of this booklet is available from AADS. It is now danced as a 3 couple longways, as the time spent standing out at the ends of a triple minor during a 64-bar dance is excessive.

Both of these have the slightly awkward movement at the start of the B1 music where the 1st man goes from his original place down the length of the set to right hand turn the 3rd lady, while at the same time the 1st lady from her original place goes to the 2nd man for a right hand turn. To achieve this in the available music, the 1st man has to go ahead of his partner. Like many 3 couple dances that were originally triple minor dances, at the end of the dance the working couple (1st couple) have to move/change/lead/cast from middle place to the bottom of the set with no music for this movement.

I have changed who does the movements in the B1 and B2 music to avoid both of these problems.

Formation

3 couple longways

Music

Dancing "Prince William" at Bedford Tuesday Playford

Video problem? Try here

There is an excellent track on the album "Popular English Country Dances Of The 17th and 18th Centuries" by the Claremont Country Dance Band which is the correct length 6×32 bars. Originally issued as an LP, this was later issued as a cassette by CDSS .

There is also a recording as track 13 on the album "Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra with Dudley Laufman"; however, the track is only 5×32 bars and so, as it stands, is not suitable for this dance. This can be heard on YouTube. The CD is available from Great Meadow Music, while the track, or whole album, can be purchased and downloaded from amazon music. Note that this CD/album also contains, as track 7, music for the other dance named Prince William which is given as dance 9 "Prince William (ii)" in Pat Shaw's booklet.

And, here is an alternative track which is the correct length:

A score is available online.

Notation

bars
A1 1‑8Cross hey: 1st couple cross down and each goes out between the 2nd and 3rd person in the opposite line to start heys for three with the 1st couple on the "wrong" side.
A2 1‑81st couple cross back at top of set and heys for three continue with 1st couple now on own side of the set: a "Grimstock" hey.
B1 1‑83rd couple cross straight over, cast up to middle places and two-hand turn 1½ times round.
B2 1‑81st couple cross straight over, cast down to middle places and two-hand turn 1½ times round.
All are in progessed places (3‑1‑2).
A3 1‑4Working couple (now in middle places) each go to person on right diagonal for a right hand turn;
5‑8working couple left hand turn.
A4 1‑4Working couple each go to person on left diagonal for a right hand turn;
5‑8working couple left hand turn to end as a couple facing the gap between the two ladies.
B3 1‑4Working couple lead out towards ladies wall, separate and come in from either end of the set;
5‑8working couple two hand turn in centre of the set, to end as a couple facing gap between the two men.
B4 1‑4Working couple lead out towards mens wall, separate and come in from either end of the set;
5‑8working couple two hand turn in centre of the set, to end in middle place proper.
Note that working couple do not move to bottom of set.

Repeat two more times.

Sources