You’re emerging from the reel of four in The White Heather Jig. The only thought in your mind is “Turn corner, partner, corner, partner,” and you make a beeline for first corner. Your first corner gives you a confused “Where did you come from?” look and reluctantly proffers an arm like limp jelly. You circumnavigate first corner position in three bars, heave your first corner back into place, and desperately try to make up for lost time as you turn your partner.
You’ve finished the first eight bars of The Sailor, and you find yourself facing your partner up and down the set in the middle of a line of three. What comes next? A circle, perhaps, but it could be a reel of three. Which way should you turn? The people beside you take a quick snooze for two bars, then wake up and both head doggedly for the middle. You spring away just to avoid them, and you hope the manoeuvre that follows faintly resembles a reel across the set.
Tartan Fairy Transformation . . .
You’re emerging from the reel of four in The White Heather Jig. You head for your corner–and your corner comes in to meet you, giving an arm that feels as if it has human bones and sinew. You complete the turn comfortably in two bars. The two opposite first corners even find time to smile at each other as their turns bring them through the centre.
You’re finishing the first eight bars of The Sailor. As you set on bars 7 and 8, your neighbour to the right squeezes your hand gently. You turn that way, and she or he turns to offer you a right shoulder. Meanwhile, the person behind you heads out confidently to the right. All three of you start the reel when the music tells you: on bar 1.
You thank the Tartan Fairy for helpful, active, wakeful supporting couples.
Rosemary Coupe
Editor, The White Cockade Rosemary Coupe