The Old Philadelphia Set

Category: Irish Set
Description:

Added from notes recalled and compiled by Ed Reavy Jr. and Pete Brett
This old set differs from most sets today in that the third part is laced with reels and marches. The first part is danced to reels and the second to jigs. However, unless the musicians know the correct number of musical measures to the third part, he or she cannot play for this set. Since no written history exists to determine its origin, we must consider the county immigrant makeup of the Philadelphia Irish community. The predominant immigrant is from Donegal, with Mayo a respectable second. However, Donegal was not set dance country whereas, Mayo was. I can only surmise that this is a Mayo set. Furthermore, Connie Ryan the great set dance teacher commented when the set was explained to him, “That smacks of Mayo”. Also, three part sets are common to Mayo, whereas most sets comprise four, five or six parts. When Ed Reavy arrived in Philadelphia from Cavan in 1912 with his fiddle under his arm, he was told by the old musicians at the house parties that the set had been played for dancing by the old musicians who taught them. This would indicaate that it could have been danced from the mid 1800’s. The last time this was danced was at Devine’s Pub in Upper Darby, just outside West Phildelphia fourteen years ago (1988). the last time it was taught was at Pete Brett’s classes in 1984. In the declining years, the last knowledgeable musicians to play the set were: Tommy Moffit, Kevin McGillian, Pat Collins, Pat Cambell and Mike Gallagher. No dance was more exhilarating than the set in our time. We are hoping that a revival will afford future dancers the same thrill.
These notes were originally found at the now defunct www.reavy.us. Additional notes in [].
Swings are done in elbow ceili hold.
The tunes for this set are:
Played three times: The Fermoy Lasses
Played four times: Rolling in the Ryegrass
Played three times but drop the last 8 bars: The Maid Behind the Bar
Played Once: The Scholar (the second part)
Played Once: Marching through Georgia
Played Once: The Scholar (the second part)
Played Once: The Scholar (the second part)
Played Once: God Save Ireland
Played Once: Turkey in the Straw
Played Once: Kelly of Killane
An example of the set being played is available here.

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Figure 1: Crossover (Reel)

168 Bars + 8 bar lead-in

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Toggle Video Toggle Bars
1 Everyone
Advance & retreat All join hands Advance-Retreat (2 times)
8
2 Tops
Dance to partner Tops face partners holding right hands - dance to partner [dance in place, facing your partner]
8
3 Cross over Cross [as partners in waltz hold, with sevens] (men back to back) and turn [clockwise] into position 4
4 Dance to partner 4
5 Cross back 4
6 Swing 2 turns [using elbow ceili hold] 4
7 Ladies chain across Right to right [with the other lady, left hand to opposite gent and into swing hold] 4
8 Swing 4
9 Ladies chain home 4
10 Swing 4
11 Sides
Dance 2 to 10
40
12 Tops
Dance 2 to 10
40
13 Sides
Dance 2 to 10
40

Figure 2: The knot (Jig)

128 Bars + 8 bar lead-in

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Toggle Video Toggle Bars
1 Tops
Dance the knot Cross and give right hands to opposite, turning back, holding onto right hand, take left hand of partner going back, drop right hands, Ladies pass right hand over left arm to partners' right hand. All move counter clockwise in knot of four.
8
2 Everyone
Swing corner Swing corners for six (6b) (3 turns), Men use remaining 2 bars (7 & 8) to go home. Ladies use (7 & 8) dancing in place, facing into set.
8
3 Tops
Ladies chain across
4
4 Swing with opposite 4
5 Ladies chain home 4
6 Swing 4
7 Sides
Dance 1 to 6
32
8 Tops
Dance 1 to 6
32
9 Sides
Dance 1 to 6
32

Figure 3: The reel march (Reel)

368 Bars + 8 bar lead-in

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This figure is very unusual in that the type of music changes in the middle of the set.  It goes from reels to a mix of marches and reels.
Toggle Video Toggle Bars
1 Everyone
Advance & retreat All circle advance and Retreat twice
8
2 Swing [elbow ceili hold] 8 bars except first tops who swing for 6 and use 7 & 8 to face first sides on their right 8
3 1st top gent
Dance to new partner New couples dance face to face [first top gent with first side lady, first top lady with first side gent]
8
4 Everyone
Swing to 8 except leading man and new lady who swing for 6 again and use 7 & 8 to face opposite tops
8
5 1st top gent
Dance to new partner New couples dance face to face
8
6 Everyone
Swing Swing for 8 except leading man and new lady who swing for 6 again and use 7 & 8 to face 2nd sides
8
7 1st top gent
Dance to new partner New couples dance face to face
8
8 Everyone
Swing And swing as top man swings for 6 again and new lady home to 7 & 8
8
9 Dance to partner All dance face to face 8
10 1st side gent
Dance 2 to 9
64
11 2nd top gent
Dance 2 to 9
64
12 2nd side gent
Dance 2 to 9
64
13 Everyone
Swing All swing partners home
8
14 Advance & Retreat March - Advance and retreat 4 times 16
15 Dance to partner & swing Reel - Dance to partner (8b) swing (8b) 16
16 Advance & Retreat March - Advance and retreat 4 times - 16
17 Dance to partner & swing Reel - Dance to partner (8b) swing (8b) 16
18 Promenade right 2x March - Promenade - 2 turns counter clockwise 16
19 Dance to partner & swing Reel - Dance to partner (8b) swing (8b) 16
Added on 2016-02-06 13:09:27.
Modified on 2016-02-08 12:11:59.
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