Question

Bars 9-12  In "101 Scottish Country Dances" and in later Society publications, bars 9-12 read "1st, 2nd & 3rd couples, giving partners right hands, cross over to change places" but the new compilation of books 7-12 reads "1st, 2nd & 3rd couples, passing by the right, cross to the opposite sides". Have the dance instructions been changed (and if so, why) or is this later version an error?

Answer

The exact instruction for these bars has varied slightly over the years. The earliest editions of book 9, which predates the “101 Scottish Country Dances”  and also the pocket edition of book 9 printed in the 1960’s say’s passing right shoulders. The editors who produced the combined edition of books 7-12 sought expert opinion and decided to revert from the 1986 instructions (similar to 101 SCD) to the earlier instruction. The current official version is now “passing by the right cross to opposite sides”.