Annotation:Lads of Duns
Back to Lads of Duns
LADS OF DUNSE, THE (Buacailli Duinse). AKA - "The Lass(i)es of Duns/Dunce/Dunse," "Ladds Dance (The)," "Lassies of Duns." Scottish, Jig or Country Dance. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. Directions for the dance to this tune were written down in 1752 by John McGill, dancing master in Girvan (Ayrshire), for his students. McGill sometimes credited with the tune, although it has sometimes been claimed as an Irish air. The first publication of the melody was in Daniel Wright's collection, 1735, and the Gows described it as "Old" in their 1788 2nd Collection. The melody appears in English collections of the second half of the 18th century under the titles "The Lads Dance" and "Land We Live In (The)," and in a 1760 Danish manuscript by the Bast brothers. See note for "Dunse Dings A'" for more information on the Berwickshire town of Duns.
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Gow (Second Collection of Niel Gow's Reels), 1788; p. 33 (3rd ed.). Johnson (A Further Collection of Dances, Marches, Minuetts and Duetts of the Latter 18th Century), 1998; p. 6. Kennedy (Jigs & Quicksteps, Trips & Humours), 1997; No. 96, p. 24. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 1; No. 28, p. 33. Neil (The Scots Fiddle), 1991; No. 28, p. 36. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 354, p. 73. Songer (Portland Collection, vol. 2), 2005; p. 113. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 136. Thompson (Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 2), 1765; No. 175.
Recorded sources: Culburnie Records CUL 121D, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas - "Fire and Grace" (2004).
See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Back to Lads of Duns