The Blackbird, hornpipe - FREE download
I have a number of versions of this dance and recently uploaded the manuscript to share with my students.
The Blackbird is a "set dance" in hornpipe time, it is a quirky tune, with most of the piece in 4/4 time, but there are a few bars with only 2 beats in the bar. It is thought to be the oldest of our set dances. The Dan Furey group include a version of this dance in their repertoire.
In the dance we would distinguish the sections as a step and set; this is where the name "set dance" comes from.
A Set Dance, is a dance that has been choreographed to a particular piece of music. Set dances can vary in length, both the step and the set. There can be many versions of a set dance, each one from a different dancing master and all danced to the same tune. Dancers regularly dance two versions of a "set dance" back to back, which is twice through the tune.
Summary - you will receive an PDF file of the Blackbird set dance in hornpipe time, one A4 page of manuscript, if this page size doesn't work for you, drop me a line.
Click here is you would like to read more about the Dan Furey Group.
For those of you who are interested in learning this Old Style repertoire, come and join me in dance. Drop me a line to voice your interest and I will add you to my distribution list for further information, beginners welcome.
Part of the beauty of the Irish dance tradition is that it continues to be passed on from one generation to the next.
