Annotation:Circassian Circle

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CIRCASSIAN CIRCLE, THE. English, Scottish, Canadian; Reel or Country Dance. G Major (Kennedy, Lees, Raven): D Major (Howe, Jarman): A Major (Kerr, Martin, Sweet): B Flat Major (Manson). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Jarman's version somewhat different. The Circassian Circle is a country dance. It was, for example, recorded as having been played and danced in the Carmichael district of Lanarkshire, Scotland, around the turn of the 20th century (1900) where it was always the first dance of the evening. The vehicle for the dance was usually the namesake melody followed by additional tunes at the same tempo, capped by a return to the original "Circassian Circle" melody. Canadians have frequently employed the tune "Bastringue (La)" to accompany the figures.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; p. 71. Jarman, 1944; p. 32 (appears as "The Circassion Circle"). Kennedy (Fiddlers Tune Book, vol. 1), 1951; No. 1, p. 1. Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 1), c. 1880; No. 1, p. 26. J. Kenyon Lees (Balmoral Reel Book), Glasgow, 1910; p. 26. Manson (Hamilton’s Universal Tune Book vol. 1), 1854; p. 135. Martin (Traditional Scottish Music), 2002; p. 37. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 165. Sweet (Fifer's Delight), 1964; p. 57.

Recorded sources: Tradition 2118, Jim MacLeod & His Band - "Scottish Dances: Jigs, Waltzes and Reels" (1979).