Annotation:Richmond Ball

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RICHMOND BALL. AKA and see “Mr. Lane’s Maggot,” “Polly for ever,” "Round (The)." English, Reel (whole time). D Minor (Playford, Walsh): D Major (Vickers). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody was originally published by Henry Playford in his Dancing Master, 9th edition (1695) and in subsequent editions through the 18th and last edition of 1728 under the titles "Lane's Maggot," "Mr. Lane's Maggot," "The Round" and "Richmond Ball." Northumbrian musician William Vickers included it in his 1770 music manuscript collection, set in major mode [1]. Minor mode versions can also be found in Thomas D’Urfey’s Wit and Mirth, or Pills to Purge Melancholy, vol. 2 (1719-1720, p. 218) and in dancing master Daniel Wright's Wright's Compleat Collection of celebrated country Dances, vol. 2 (1742), published in London by John Johnson. D'Urfey wrote a song "made upon a New Country Dance at Richmond, call'd, Mr. Lane's Maggot", an evocative description of a country dance that shows how the entertainment was enjoyed not only at the balls and assemblies of the elite but at the dances of the common folk as well.

Strike up drowsie Gut-scrapers;
Gallants be ready,
Each with his Lady;
Foot it about,
'Till the Night be run out,
Let no one's humour pall:
Brisk Lads now cut your Capers;
Put your Legs to't,
And shew you can do't,
Frisk, frisk it away
'Till the break of Day,
And hey for Richmond Ball!
Fortune-Biters,
Hags, Bum-fighters,
Nymphs of the Woods,
And stale City Goods;
Ye Cherubins,
And Seraphins,
Ye Caravans,
And Haradans,
In Order all advance:
Twittenham Loobies,
Thistleworth Boobies,
Wits of the Town,
And Beaus that have none;
Ye Jacobites as sharp as Pins,
Ye Mounsieurs, and ye Sooterkins,
I'll teach you all the Dance.

The Dance

Cast off Tom behind Johnny,
Do the same Nanny,
Eyes are upon ye;
Trip it between
Little Dickey and Jean,
And set in the Second Row:
Then, cast back you must too,
And up the first Row;
Nimbly thrust thro';
Then, then turn about,
To the left, or you're out,
And meet with your Love below.
Pass, then cross,
Then Jack's pretty Lass,
Then turn her about, about and about;
And Jack, if you can do so too,
With Betty, whilst the time is true,
We'll all your Ear commend:
Still there's more
To lead all four;
Two by Nancy stand,
And give her your Hand,
Then cast her quickly down below,
And meet her in the second Row;
The Dance is at an end.

"Richmond Ball" was also the vehicle for a song in John Gay's ballad opera Achilles (1733, Air 42).

Additional notes

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