Esperance Morris Book vol 2 - online book

A Manual Of Morris Dances Folk-songs And Singing Games With Sheet Music And Instructions

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	THE ESPERANCE MORRIS BOOK.—II.		9
	9.—OLD MOTHER OXFORD (Morns Jig). This dance is a jig like "Jockey to the Fair;" it can be danced by one or more dancers. The usual number is one or two, and in the latter case the second dancer repeats each figure after the first. With more dancers the positions are arbitrary ; but odd numbers are more effective than even, for in the case of odd numbers one dancer dances first, advancing forward from the centre ; the others then dance together, converging towards the centre, as shown in the diagram in the first "Esperance Book," p. x. But it should be remembered that each dancer is supposed to be dancing a solo. Either of the back steps may be used, but in the case of the second	one (Br fa, Bl fa, etc.), the hand movements are difficult, and are sometimes practically omitted, the handker­chiefs being gently flicked at the sides. Music, once to yourself.—Jump on last beat. Bars 1 to 8.—Shake up:— | L R L hL | R L R hR I L R L hL I R L R hR I Side step (two bars) and back step (two bars), as in " Blue-eyed Stranger " (Fig. VIII). Bars 9 to 16.—Side step and Shake in:—Side step as in "Jockey to the Fair" (Book I, p. 9), then | L R L hL I R L R hR I Back step (two bars). Bars 17 to 27.—Full capers:— |LR|LR|LR|j L |RL|RL|RL|jhR| side step (two bars), and back step (two bars).
	Note that a quick hop follows the jump on beat 3 of the last bar of the capers. Bars 9 to 16.—Side step and Shake in. Bars 17 to 27.—Full capers. Bars 9 to 16.—Side step and Shake in. Bars 17 to 27.—Full capers. This time, instead of doing back step dance capers | L R | L R | and cry. If more than one dancer performs this dance, each move­ment is repeated. 10.— BUMPUS 0' STRETTON (Morris on)— The dancers enter in line one behind the other, carrying handkerchiefs, and follow the leader, who dances in a circle round the area which is to be used for dancing.	The step is the same as in " Maid of the Mill," " Esperance Book I," p. 9 : right foot just in front of left, hop on it ; left foot just in front of right, hop on it. The body is slightly swung in the direction of the feet— that is, as the dancer alights on right foot the body is swung over to the right, and to the left when alighting on the left foot. The hands are moved up and down alternately, but not high. When the right foot is up, the right hand is raised, and when the left foot is up, the left hand is raised. On the 2nd beat of bar 4 the dancer jumps with both feet together on the ground, flinging the hands above the head. The same steps are repeated, and the dance continues as long as the leader wills.
	ii.—THE LIVELY JIG.	The step is a simple spring from one foot to the other, and is danced in the same manner as R L R of the step R L R hR used in the Headington dances, but the feet are raised as high as the pace will allow. A handkerchief is carried in each hand, and the hands are moved up and down alternately, as in " Bumpus o' Stretton," but when they are swung down they are always kept in front of the body.