Notes

1

The pass through/circle 1⁄2/pass through movements in A1 and A2 should be danced as one continuous movement with the tension in the circle used to provide the forward momentum for the second pass through. 

 

 

 

 

2

My preferred speed for the tune is around 108 with plenty of swing. 

 

 

 

 

3

Debuted at Cecil Sharp House, London, on Jan 28, 1996, at a dance held to celebrate the life of Sheila Mason, 1922-1995. Sheila was the leader of a wonderful band called the Kenton Ramblers (one of Pat Shaw’s favorite bands), a member of the McBains Band,and helped the London University Instant Ceilidh Band (just add beer) by leading that too. She lived just around the corner from me and was our regular baby sitter. 

 

 

 

 

4

There was considerable uproar over my use of the Levi Jackson Rag tune for a different dance. However, history is on my side. I chose the tune because it is a great tune and was one of Sheila’s favorites.  Sheila and I had many musical and dance-based conversations, including about Levi Jackson Rag and she herself had commented that it was such a waste to only be able to use it for Levi Jackson Rag. If I recollect correctly, Sheila was the 1st person to play the tune for Pat, if not in the world, at least in the UK. She always complained that people played it much too fast and that it should be slower and 'swing'. That is certainly how the Kenton Ramblers played it for me. Of course, when you play it more slowly it becomes more obvious whether the musician has actually hit all the notes correctly!