Country: Gamlakarleby/Kokkola, Central Ostrobothnia, Finland
Type: set dance
Formation: 4 couple quadrille. Head couples have backs to and face music, side couples stand to R of head couples.
Steps:
fotombytesteg/tresteg (chassé or change-step),
'vals'
[According to the Åkerhjelm source (p. v), before the 'waltz' as we know it became popular, the term
'vals' was used to describe turning with one's partner, either (a) on the spot or (b) moving to a different location.
The source suggests, in the latter case, a 2-hand hold with partner, side by side and facing opposite directions,
with a 'stegvals'-like motion,
in which when M moves forward, W dances on the spot, and vice versa.
[Translator's note: although the only steps specified in the source are 'siase' (=chassé) as a figuré step and 'vals',
the accompanying sheet music is 2/4-time,
wherefore the translator suggests the dance be done with chassé or change steps as the travelling step.]
Sheet music: [Andersson, Otto] 'Not och tuhr book för Anders Lund.' Brage årsskrift VII, 1913. p. 48.
[or any 2/4-time reel/kadrilj/katrilli in AABBCC (A=B=C=8) structure and appropriate tempo.]
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| |:1-8:| | 1 (a) | Circle: In closed circle, all dance CW, [8 chassé steps] (1-8). [Ditto CCW, 8 chassé steps]. |
| 9-16 | (b) | Head couples figuré & circle: Head couples dance chassé to R and to L (9-10) [2 chassé steps].
Then all couples form closed circle and circle CW (11-16) [6 chassé steps].
[Alternatively, head couples form closed circle with side couple on their R, and circle CW, 6 chassé steps]. |
| 9-16 | All couples 'vals' [see above] around the set [8 chassé steps]. | |
| 17-24 | (c) | Side couples figuré & circle: Side couples dance chassé to R and to L (17-18) [2 chassé steps].
Then all couples form closed circle and circle CW (19-24) [6 chassé steps].
[Alternatively, side couples form closed circle with head couple on their R, and circle CW, 6 chassé steps]. |
| 17-24 | All couples 'vals' [see above] around the set [8 chassé steps]. | |
|
Parts (b) and (c) are the same in all sequences.
[The Lindhé source (see below) specifies that all quadrilles consist of the following sequences:
|
||
| |:1-8:| | 2 (a) | One hand to partner: With R-in-R hand with partner, all dance CW on the spot, [8 chassé steps] (1-8). [Ditto CCW, L-in-L, 8 chassé steps]. |
| |:1-8:| | 3 (a) | Two hands to partner: In 2-hand hold with partner, all dance CW on the spot, [8 chassé steps] (1-8). [Ditto CCW, 8 chassé steps]. |
| |:1-8:| | 4 (a) | Women's star: All W take R-hand star, and dance CW on the spot, [8 chassé steps] (1-8). [Ditto L-hand star, turning CCW, 8 chassé steps]. |
| |:1-8:| | 5 (a) | Men's star: All M take R-hand star, and dance CW on the spot, [8 chassé steps] (1-8). [Ditto L-hand star, turning CCW, 8 chassé steps]. |
| |:1-8:| | 6 (a) | Women's circle: All W form closed circle, and dance CW on the spot, [8 chassé steps] (1-8). [Ditto turning CCW, 8 chassé steps]. |
| |:1-8:| | 7 (a) | Men's circle: All M form closed circle, and dance CW on the spot, [8 chassé steps] (1-8). [Ditto turning CCW, 8 chassé steps]. |
| |:1-8:| | 8 (a) | L'allemande: Couples stand R-shoulder to R-shoulder facing in opposite directions, arms joined
behind their backs, all dance CW on the spot, [8 chassé steps] (1-8).
[Ditto L-shoulder to L-shoulder, turning CCW, 8 chassé steps].
[According to the Åkerhjelm source (p. iii) l'allemande could be danced in 2-hand hold with partner, front crossed hold, back crossed hold, or L or R elbow hook.] |
Original description: Stora R. Premier paren siarserar til höger och venster samt tager i hand med
secund paren och siarserar. Sedan valsa alla en hel thur. Secundparen gör detsamma. Vals en hel thur.
Premier paren börgar ånyo -- Secund äfvenså.
[The above represents my attempt to reconstruct the dance. Other interpretations are possible.]
Provenance:
From a handwritten musician's notebook found in the year 1905 by Otto Andersson in the attic of a farmhouse near
Gamlecarleby. The octavo format ms notebook consists of 56 pages and was written by Anders Lund between June 30, 1802 and
1806. Other individuals named in the ms, who are known to have been more or less involved in the musical life of the city,
include Anders Lundson (aka Anders Lund junior), Johannes Lund, Gerhardt Granstedt, Johan Grankrantz, Fr. Halin, etc.
The notebook contains a variety of named dance tunes, some of which are accompanied by descriptions, likely
of dances of which some are thought to have been brought over from Sweden about the end of the 1700s. The
dances are assumed to have been danced among the upper classes in the city and its surroundings.
The Andersson article contains a total of 35 tunes, of which 17 are accompanied by descriptions.
Of the dances with descriptions, 16 begin with a circle, implying that these are quadrilles or
contredançes françaises. Three (numbers 7, 9 and 34) may be contredançes anglaises and one (number 7)
possibly an ecossaise; however, since descriptions of these dances are lacking, this assumption is based on their names,
rhythms and structures. Among the other tunes without descriptions or names, there are 3 minuets, a polonaise, 4 'vals' (waltzes),
a couple of 'qvadrilles' and a 'långdans', possibly intended as a 'kehraus' - in 3/8 tempo, it is the
last tune in the article.
Printed source: [Andersson, Otto] 'Not och tuhr book för Anders Lund.' Brage årsskrift VII:27-51, 1913.
See also:
-- Lindhé, Johan P./
Beskrifning på contradanser för högwälborne herr Baron Anders Sigfrid Rålamb. ms, 1764.
-- Walcke, Sven Henric/
Minnes-bok uti dans-konsten. Nyköping, 1782
-- Sjöberg, Henry "Kontradansen i Sverige" pp xi-xiv in: Åkerhjelm, Fredrik/ Baron Fredrik Åkerhjelms
dansbok. 1785. Stockholm: Arkivet för folklig dans, 1986.
-- Åkerhjelm, Fredrik/ Baron Fredrik Åkerhjelms dansbok 1785. Facsimile ed. Stockholm: Arkivet för folklig dans, 1986.
Description: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2022-05-05, rev. 2023-01-21.
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