All selections recorded at dance length and tempo.

Instructions and music for the dances are  in Continental Capers (CC) and Belgian Boutades (BB), published by the AADS.            

1. Arlington Assembly (BB), to the tune “The Night Watch,” by Anthony Holborne (c.1540-1602). This dance is an attempt to write a new dance in the idiom of the early Playford dances. It is dedicated to Helene and Arthur Cornelius who live in Arlington, Massachusetts. Two-couple longways. G major. 2/2. 48 bars. AABBCC. 4X. (3:39)  AJN

2. The Astonished Archaeologist (CC), to the tune “Goff Hall,” by Daniel Lanier. Philippe wrote this dance in 1992 for his good friend, archaeologist and musician Mik Lammers.   The title of the dance is a conscious reference to “The Amazed Geneticist,” Pat Shaw’s dance for John Ramsay. We have recorded the dance twice through. Three-couple longways. A major. 2/2. 32 bars. AABB. 6X. (3:43) HTM

3. The Two Pauls (BB), to the tune “Philippe’s Fancy,” by Jonathan Jensen. Philippe used this driving Jensen tune for his dance for Paul Hutchinson and Paul Sartin, better known as Belshazzar’s Feast. Implicitly, it is a tribute to all great country dance musicians, here, there, and everywhere. Duple minor longways. E minor. 3/2. 32 bars. AABB,. 7X.  (6:05) HTM

4. Patrick’s Waltz (CC), to the tune “Kitty’s Waltz,” by Pat Spaeth. This flowing, romantic dance, including three different heys, was written for Patrick Reyntiens in 1995. Three-couple longways. C major. 3/4. 64 bars. AABB. 3X. (4:44) HTM

5. Excuse Me (BB), dance and tune first published by John Playford in the 7th edition of The Dancing Master (1686), on which Philippe’s interpretation is based. Duple minor longways. G minor. 6/8. 40 bars. AABBCC. 7X.  (5:27)  AJN

6. Enfield Common (CC) also comes from The Dancing Master. It first appeared in the 11th edition of 1701, published by Henry Playford, and belongs to a series of country dances to music by Henry Purcell (1659-1695), one of Philippe’s continuing  interests in English country dance. Duple minor longways. D minor. 3/2. 24 bars. AABB. 7X. (5:17)  AJN

7. Gentleman’s Delight (BB), to the tune “Duke of Buckingham,” by Geoff Mendham. This dance is dedicated to Tom Cook (1911-2001) whose inspiration and guidance has had a beneficial influence on Philippe’s own country dance work. In this selection the band created a medley including another Mendham composition, “Thornham Castle.” Duple minor longways. C major/A minor/C major. 2/2. 32 bars. AABB. 7X.. (4:32) AJN

8. Return to Newcastle (CC), to another Pat Spaeth tune. This lively three-part dance, with its symmetrical movements, includes an “explosion” in the third part. Three-couple longways. G major. 2/4. 32 bars. AABB. 3X. (1:52) AJN

9. A Trip to Amsterdam (CC), to the tune “The Last New Vagaries” (The Dancing Master, 1701). Philippe wrote this dance in the winter of 1989 and first presented it in Amsterdam. There being no set tune available, Helene Cornelius suggested the use of this sprightly tune after Philippe taught the dance in Boston in 1991. Duple minor longways. A major. 6/8. 32 bars. AABB. 7X. (3:54) HTM

10. The Delight of Kentish Countryside (CC), to the tune “Love in a Hopyard” (The Dancing Master, 1728). This double progression longways was written in 1992 during a summer vacation that Philippe spent in the south of England. Duple minor longways. B minor. 3/2. 24 bars. AABB. 7X. (4:46) AJN

11. Hortonia (BB), to the tune “Squire Parsons,” by Irish harpist Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738). Philippe dedicated this four-couple set, with its distinctive serpentine pattern, to his dear friend Andra Herzbrun (“Andy”) Horton..  Four-couple longways. G major. 4/4. 32 bars. AABB. 4X. (5:48) HTM

12. La Gavre (BB). This dance was published by dancing master Pierre Trappeniers in Second Recueil de Contredanses (Brussels, c.1777). Attracted by its lively four-part tune, Philippe interpreted this longways for use by  modern day English country dancers. Duple minor longways. D major. 6/8. 32 bars. ABCD. 7X. (3:59) HTM

13. Volpony (BB). Here’s another dance to a Purcell tune. The dance was published by John Walsh in Twenty-four New Country Dances for the Year 1712. We have chosen to record this minuet as it appears in that source. Originally the dance was a triple minor longways. Philippe has converted it to a duple minor, but retained the spirit of the original. Duple minor longways. G major. 3/4. 32 bars. AABB. 7X. (6:47) HTM

 14. Gold for the Mahieus (CC), to the Dutch tune “Spagnolette Reformeert.” The title is a nod  to Pat Shaw’s “Silver for the Matthews.” Philippe wrote his dance in 1986 for Belgian dance friends Hilda and Omer Mahieu, who had been dancing together for fifty years. Three-couple longways. D major. 2/2. 32 bars. AABB. 3X. (1:44) HTM

15. An Early Frost (BB), to the tune “Midwinter Blossom,” by Bob Pasquarello. This dance is a good example of how a tune can inspire a choreographer to closely match movement to music. Philippe wrote the dance in memory of those who have died of AIDS. Duple minor longways. E minor. 3/4. 32 bars. AB. 7X. (5:26) AJN