Playford's Progeny

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====== Bellamira ======

1699
duple minor, longways \\
**AABB version** \\
Recording: {{ ::music:bellamira-aabb--014.mp3.zip |}}
<code>
 
 A1   4   1's lead down center, turn & face up
      4   1's lead back to place; as they approach their place, 
          they wheel around (man moving backwards) into place, 
          ending improper, facing down
 A2   4   Side right with neighbor (Sharp)
      4   2 hand turn with neighbor
 B1   4   Change places with partners, falling back on last 3 steps
      4   Man 2 cast up, followed by his partner, and move in above 1's while
          1's lead down; ending all proper & progressed
 B2   2   1st corners (original) change
      2   2nd corners change
      2   All clap and circle L 1/2
      2   All turn single
</code>

==== AAB version ====
Walsh 1731 \\
Duglas and Helen Kennedy 1929 \\

<code>
   
 A1   4   1's lead down center, turn & face up
      4   1's lead back to place; as they approach their place, 
          they wheel around (man moving backwards) into place, 
          ending improper, facing down
 A2   4   Side right with neighbor (Sharp)
      4   2 hand turn with neighbor
 B    2   1's cross and cast.  
      2   1st corners (original) change (Left diagonal)
      2   2nd corners change
      2   All clap and circle L 1/2
</code>
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZygWyM1Nepg  \\
Recording:   {{ ::music:bellamira--044.mp3.zip |}}\\
  
Notes: Bare Necessities is AAB, Breakfast at Fezziwhigs has AABB.

Bellamira is the title of a play by Sir Charles Sedley (1639-1701) produced
in 1687 which was at best a succé de scandale for its coarseness and obscenity.
Although its lot was based on that of the Roman poet Terence’s Eunuchus, it
was widely supposed that the title character, a merchant's daughter turned
courtesan, was based on Barbara Palmer, Ist Duchess of Cleveland (1640-
1709). Perhaps the most controversial of Charles I's mistresses because of
her unrepentant Catholicism, she was a tall voluptuous, violet-eyed beauty:
She bore the King five children, and when she lost her place to the younger
Louise de Kérouaille, the King dealt generously with her and their children.
She took other lovers as well, including the rope-dancer Jacob Hall (of “Jacob
fall's Jig?) and the young John Churchill later to rise to fame as England's
greatest general, whose career and fortunes gave rise to many more dances.\\
Original direction in A2 to “side with foot and elbow” is a famous conundrum
no interpreter has yet quite resolved, and “The Balk,” identical word for
word with “Bellamira,” does nothing to unpick the puzzle.