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Upon A Summer’s Day

english

Playford (1651)

3-couple set

Tunes

Title Composer Interp. Time Key Year Source Dots
— — — 6/8 F minor — BI p. 133 —
— — — 6/4 G minor — — ↗

Choreography

A1

  • (1-4) Up a double / Side R / Arm R
  • (5-8) Partner set, turn single R

A2

  • (1-4) Up a double / Side L / Arm L
  • (5-8) Partner set, turn single R

B1

  • (1-4) In lines of 3: lead in, fall back
  • (5-8) Bottom couples (2s and 3s) arch joined hands:
  • Tops lead down the inside, through the nearest arch and into 3rd place while
  • Bottom couples move up along the side, retaining hands until they arrive

B2

  • (1-8) Repeat, with 3s and 1s at the bottom, 2s at the top

B3

  • (1-8) Repeat, with 1s and 2s at the bottom, 3s at the top
  • All end home, dance does not progress

Background

The tune is given here in two keys. Barnes prints it in F minor, but G minor is likely more playable for many musicians, and it appears to be the tune’s original key in Playford, even though Barnes does not set it that way.

Teaching Notes

This is a USA dance—see A1 (1-4) and A2 (1-4).

The dance does not progress! It is danced from the same positions at the top of each A1.

Sheet Music