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A Playford Anniversary

330 years ago. the 7th edition of John Playford’s The Dancing Master (1686) was seen through his firm’s press.

99px-Square_Dance_diagram_from_Playford's_English_Dancing_MasterThis edition was his last, for in the following year he died and was buried in the Temple Church. Henry Purcell and John Blow attended the funeral, a mark of respect that heralded the many many years to come in which Playford’s English country dancing was to give pleasure to the world of dance. A British legacy to be proud of.

We often associate Playford with the longways set “for as many as will”, but his work provided plenty of variety. Here is a square set from The English Dancing Master.