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ins_if_all_the_world_were_paper

If All the World Were Paper

Playford in 1651
P. Shaw 1964
4 couple round non progressive

   Hands-8 into centre, fall back; set and turn single. Repeat.
   Head men cross, head women cross; head couples circular hey 2 changes to places, partners facing. Side
   Side couples the same.
   Partners side; set and turn single. Repeat.
   Head couples forward a double and meet, lead contraries out between side couples and cast back to
   places. Side couples the same.
   Partners arm R; set and turn single. Arm L; set and turn single.
   1st man cross with 3rd woman while 1st woman cross with 3rd man (passing R shoulder), partners change
   places (passing R shoulder); circular hey 2 changes to places giving R hands to contraries and then L hands
   to partners. Side couples the same.

IF ALL THE WORLD WERE PAPER

(4 couples in circle, running step throughout)

Part1 
AI,A2  All eight take hands and go in a double to the center and fall back. 
       Facing partner all set right and left  and turn single right.
       Do all that again.
BI 1-4 Head men change places, passing by right shoulders, 
       then head women change places, passing by night shoulders.
   5-8 Head men initiate half a hey for four to home places, 
       head men passing by left shoulders to begin.
B2 1-8 Sides do as the heads did in I: BI.

Part ll 
Al, A2 Partners side into line right shoulder, then set right and left 
       and turn single right. 
       Do all that again, siding into line left shoulder.
BI 1-4 Heads go forward to meet opposite, then lead out with opposite 
       between standing side dancers.
   5-8 Heads cast away from opposite, then two-hand turn partner once 
       around in home paces.
B2 1-8 Sides do as the heads did in II: BI.
 
Part III 
Al,A2  Partners arm right once around, then set right and left and turn single right. 
       Do all that again, arming left.
BI 1-4 Heads cross with opposite, passing by right shoulders, then change places with 
       partner, passing by right shoulders.
   5-8 Two changes of lefts and rights, starting left hand to opposite.
B2 1-8 Sides do as the heads did in III: BI.

Recordings: if_all_the_world_were_paper--023b.mp3.zip
if_all_the_world_were_paper--032.mp3.zip
if_all_the_world_were_paper-psp05.mp3.zip
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3t5w5WR96U&list=RDc3t5w5WR96U&start_radio=1

Like great nonsense poems of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear. The surprising variation on rights and lefts in Part Il cleverly parallels the song’s whimsicality.

Interrogativa Cantilena:

  • If all the World were Paper,
  • And all the Sea were Inke;
  • If all the Trees were bread and cheese,
  • How should we do for drinke?
  • If all the World were sand’o,
  • Oh then what should we lack’o;
  • If as they say there were no clay,
  • How should we take Tobacco?
  • If all our vessels ran’a,
  • If none had but a crack’a;
  • If Spanish Apes eat all the Grapes,
  • How should we doe for Sack’a?
  • If Fryers had no bald-pates,
  • Nor Nuns no dark Cloysters,
  • If all the Seas were Beans and Peace,
  • How should we doe for Oysters?
  • 1f all the world were men,
  • And men lived all in trenches,
  • If there were none but we alone
  • How should we doe for Wenches?
  • If there had been no projects,
  • Nor none that did great wrongs;
  • If Fidlers shall turne Players all,
  • How should we doe for songs? :
ins_if_all_the_world_were_paper.txt · Last modified: 2024/08/05 22:14 by mar4uscha