Persons of Quality -Elephants Stairs

Elephants Stairs is the long awaited collection of English Country Dances by Andrew Shaw. The book contains 20 dances first published in the late 17th century and early 18th century, reinterpreted for modern use. Persons of Qualiy recorded 17 of those tunes in a lively, improvised style with many instruments and moods. It is perfect for listening or dancing.

PoQ with Andrew Shaw, photo by Piers Rutter

Listen:

Read a great review by the UK musician Ian Jones here

17th & 18th Century English Country Dance Tunes

All titles published in London by John Walsh and associates unless stated otherwise.

Click the image of the sheet music for the tune written with the chords above the staff.

1.The Jolly Company	Longways, triple minor, 4/4, AAB x 7	4:44
Twenty Four New Country Dances Compos’d by a Person of Quality (1718)
2. Young Phillis of Wakefield	Longways, duple minor, Ç, AABBCC x 5	4.38
Twenty Four New Country Dances For the Year 1715
3. Flora and Phaon	Longways, duple minor, 3/2, AABB x 7	3:45
The Compleat Country Dancing-Master (1718)
4. Pall-Mall	Longways, duple minor, Ç, AABB x 7	4:09
The Dancing-Master, 7th Edition (John Playford, 1686)
5. Harlequin in the Mud	Longways, duple minor, 6/8, AABB x 7	4:16
A Choice Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances (John Johnson, c. 1742)
6. Beautious Grove	Long Set, 3 cpls., Ç, AAB x 6	4.17
Twenty Four New Country Dances for the Year 1711 by Nathaniell Kynaston
7. Belgrade	Longways, duple minor, 3/2, AABB x 7	4:27
Twenty Four New Country Dances for the Year 1718 by Natl. Kynaston
8. Barcelona	Longways, duple minor, 9/8, ABB x 7	4:34
Twenty Four New Country Dances for the Year 1706
9. Elephants Stairs	Longways, duple minor, 3/4, AABB x 5	4:57
Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1727
10. Three Coney Walk	Longways, triple minor, 6/8, AABAAB x 5	4.25
The Dancing-Master, The Third Volume (William Pearson, c. 1726)
11. Apollo and Daphne	Longways, duple minor, 3/2, AABB x 5	3:47
The Compleat Country Dancing-Master (1718)
12. Sams Maggot	Long Set, 3 cpls., 2/4, AABB x 3	2:57
The New Country Dancing-Master 3d Book (c. 1728)
13. The Laughing Vicar	Longways, duple minor, 6/8, AABB x 5	4:03
Twenty Four New Country Dances for the Year 1716 by Natl. Kynaston
14. The Happy Couple	Long Set, 3 cpls., 3/4 & 3/2, AABBCC x 3	3:44
Twenty Four New Country Dances for the Year 1716 by Natl. Kynaston
15. Hedge-Lane	Longways, duple minor, 4/4, ABCD x 5	3:39
A Supplement to the Dancing-Master (John Playford, c. 1683)
16. King’s Maggot	Long Set, 3 cpls., 3/2, AABBCCDD x 3	2:59
The Dancing-Master: Vol. The Second, The Third Edition (W. Pearson, 1718)
17. The Happy Conclusion	Longways, duple minor, Ç, AABB x 7	4:23
Twenty Four New Country Dances For the Year 1715