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[Peter]

The Sailor’s Hornpipe


Originally, a Celtic dance, the Sailor's Hornpipe is one of the traditional solo dances of the British Isles. The name originally comes from a crude English folk wind instrument which where made from either wood or ox horn and was common through out Great Britain in the 1700's. Small, cheaply made and not requiring any great skill to master, it was the instrument of the common folk. With the limited space aboard ships, it became popular with sailors.

The Basic Step

In dancing the hornpipe, the basic step is the first and most important part to master.

Start with both feet together, and then hop on the right leg. As you hop, your left leg comes down behind the right leg. The process is then repeated, hopping on your left leg with the right leg behind and so on. As you keep changing ‘hopping legs’ the basic step can be used with a variety of hand movements, which will be described later.

The Circle

This part of the dance comes between the various stances used in the sailor’s hornpipe.

The steps used to dance the circle are different from the basic step. It begins with the legs and feet together, and then the left leg is lifted across the right leg so that the back of the left knee is in front of the right knee. Keeping the left leg in front of the right, skip along line 1 in a series of steps where the left leg is moved forward, followed by the right leg. Along line 2 the same step is used except lead with the right leg. On line 3 change back to leading with the left leg, and continue to alternate the leading leg for the remaining three lines.

Throughout this movement the arms remain folded, left arm over right arm with the palms of the hands facing downwards. As each step is taken, the elbow comes down to meet the upcoming knee, which gives the effect of rolling.

Having completed the circle you will end up facing in the direction indicated by arrow A. At this point the Basic Step should be danced for four beats, and at the same time turn right through 90 degrees to face in the direction of arrow B

The Stances
The Trouser Hoist …This movement is supposed to simulate a sailor hitching up his trousers without covering them in tar from his hands.
This stance begins with both feet together. The right leg is then bent and the left leg is pointed forwards and slightly to the left. The arms are bent so that the left one goes across the waist, palm facing inwards and the right hand is placed in the middle of the back with the palm facing outwards. In time with the music jump back to attention and then repeat the movement with the left arm and leg doing what the right did etc. After jumping to attention for the second time; leading off with the left leg you proceed to dance The Circle.

The Signal Hoist
In this stance, the leg movement used is the basic step which is repeated eight times. As the left leg moves, the left arm is raised then the right arm and leg are raised, so the movement of the arms is the same as for hoisting a flag. After the eighth step, you return to the circle.

Row the Boat
The Basic step is danced, with the arms held out in front. Each time the left leg comes down the arms are pulled back as if rowing a boat. This is repeated four times before returning to the Circle.

The Clap
Stand with both feet together and then do the Basic Step. Every fourth beat turn right through 90 degrees and at the same time clap hands. After four more beats clap again. This is repeated four times before returning to the Circle.

Coiling the Rope
Stand with both feet together and then in time with the music, the body is bent forwards. At the same time, the feet are both moved sideways and both hands are placed by the left ankle. On the first beat, the hands are moved in a circular motion to the right ankle and back to the left. This is repeated for seven beats and on the eighth beat jump to attention and dance the Circle again.

The Telescope
Dance the Basic Step and on the first beat turn the head to the left. At the same time, the right hand is raised to the left eye and the left hand is held level with the right hand in the position one would adopt if holding a telescope. On the fourth beat, swap hands. Repeat this four times then dance the Circle.

The Furl Topsail
Stand with both feet together and on the first beat the legs are moved apart sideways and the body is bent forwards so that both hands touch the floor in front. On the second beat, the feet come together and the hands are brought together beneath the chin. This is repeated four times before returning to the Circle.

The Salute
This stance is the same as for the Clap stance except instead of clapping; the arms are raised upwards and outwards to an angle of 45 degrees. At the same time, ”Hoi” is shouted. This is repeated four times, and the fourth time the legs are parted at 45 degrees, stand still for a single beat before coming back to attention.

[PMarione]

Very dangerous post, Peter: I very badly injured my left knee trying it.
So I propose something more quiet.

The card game that HN and EH played at Palermo was Faro. The game originated in France in the late 17th century, where it was known as Pharaon (first recorded 1688), and became extremely fashionable in Europe in the 18th century. After 1820, Pharaoh (Pharo, Faro) disappeared from Western Europe. Faro is a derivation of Bassetta (Basset) which was introduced in Paris in 1672 by the Venetian ambassador and can be traced back to the 15th century in Italy.



A game of faro was often called a "Faro Bank". It was played with an entire deck of playing cards and admitted an indeterminate number of players, termed "Punters," and a "Banker." Chips (called "Checks") were purchased by the punter from the banker or house from which the game originated.

The faro table was square, with a distinguished cut-out for the banker. A board with a standardized betting layout consisting of one card of each denomination pasted to it, called the "Layout," was placed on top of the table. (Traditionally, the suit of spades was used for the layout). Each player laid his stake on one of the 13 cards on the layout. Players could place multiple bets and could bet on multiple cards simultaneously by placing their bet between cards or on specific card edges. Players also had the choice of betting on the high card located at the top of the layout.

A deck of cards was placed face-up inside a "Dealing Box," a mechanical shoe.

The first card in the dealing box is called the "Soda" and is "burned" off, leaving 51 cards in play. As the soda is pulled out of the dealing box, it exposes the first card in play, called the "Banker's Card," which is placed on the right side of the dealing box. The next card exposed after the banker's card is called the "Carte Anglaise" (English Card) or simply the "Player's Card" and is placed on the left.

The banker's card is the "Losing Card," and all bets placed on that card are lost by the players and won by the bank. The player's card is the "Winning Card," and all bets placed on that card are returned to the players with a 1 to 1 (2-for-1) winning paid by the bank. The banker collects on all the money staked on the card laid on the right and pays double the sums staked on those on the card remaining on the left (in the dealing box). The dealer would settle all bets after each two cards drawn, and allow for players to bet before drawing the next two cards.

A player could "copper" their bet by placing an hexagonal (6-sided) token called a "Copper." Some histories claim a penny was sometimes used in place of a copper. This reversed the meaning of the win/loss piles for that particular bet.

Certain advantages were reserved to the banker: if he drew a "doublet," that is, two equal cards, he won half of the stakes upon the card which equaled the doublet. In a fair game, this provided the only house edge. If the banker drew the last card of the pack, he was exempt from doubling the stakes deposited on that card. In most cases, when three cards remained, the dealer would offer a specialized bet called "betting the turn". This bet offers a 4-to-1 (5-for-1) payout if the players can identify the exact order of the last three cards.

You can try it (for free) here: http://www.gleeson.us/faro/

@+P

[Peter]

Patrick,
I think you are probably right, a game of Faro with a bottle of port and a piece of Stilton would be much safer and restful on the body.

[PMarione]

Peter,
Here is the end of all British illusions.
Be seated before reading: Cricket was not invented in England, but Belgium

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25125116-5001028,00.html

Everybody already knows that "hopped beer was imported to England from Belgium as early as 1400 in Winchester"

@+P

[Peter]

Patrick,

I notice that this story originated in Australia, and isn't March 1st their April Fools day or equivelant?

The trouble is Australia hasn't really haven't got over the fact the first settlers were starving and the British Government sent them 'women' instead of food!

I am impressed though with Belgium's foreign policy: Cricket and beer !

I prefer rugby to cricket although I do like cucumber sandwiches!

I noticed this morning that on one forum in India they reckoned that cricket started in the Punjab in the 8th century. Another said that Jesus used to play cricket.

P.

[PMarione]

No: cricket, beer and chocolates!

[Peter]

Sorry Patrick,

I also forgot Jean-Claude van 'Dame'

[PMarione]

More on cricket:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7919429.stm

and golf:

[Peter]

In your http news:

It says in Flemish met de krik ketson which translates as chase a ball with a curved stick.

There you go, it was hockey, not cricket they invented!

[PMarione]

Hockey they certainly invented including hockey on ice. There are famous Breugel's paintings.

For cricket, maybe we invented it but as soon forgot: English friends have tried to explain the rules to me but I still can't understand it. Why do the referees looks like cow-dealers?
I too prefer rugby.

[Peter]

They are umpires not referees, so they say. I suppose they look like that from too many cucumbers and standing in the rain. A gentleman's game, not for me! You can't beat the smell of horse linament and jock straps, in the rugby changing room. I hope Anna isn't getting too excited.