The Dancing Master

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Title page of the 1st edition of The Dancing Master (1651)

The Dancing Master (first edition: The English Dancing Master) is a dancing manual containing the music and instructions for English Country Dances. It was published in several editions by John Playford and his successors from 1651 until c1728. Dances from The Dancing Master were re-published in arrangements by Cecil Sharp in the early 20th century.

The first edition of The Dancing Master contained 105 dances with single line melodies. Subsequent editions introduced new songs and dances, while dropping others.

[edit] Known Editions and Supplements

1651 - 1st edition (the only edition to be called The English Dancing Master, published by John Playford)
1652 - 2nd edition
1657 - 3rd edition
1665 - 3rd edition
1670 - 4th edition
1675 - 5th edition
1679 - 6th edition
1679 - A Supplement to The Dancing-Master
1686 - 7th edition
1687? - Tunes of other Country-Dances
1688? - A new Additional Sheet to the Dancing-Master
1689? - A new Addition to the Dancing-Master
1690 - 8th edition (the first marked as published by Henry Playford)
1695 - 9th edition
1696 - The second Part of the Dancing Master
1698 - The Second Part of the Dancing Master, 2nd edition
1698? - [Untitled supplement]
1698? - An Additional Sheet to the Second Part of the Dancing-Master
1698 - 10th edition
1701 - 11th edition
1702 - Twenty Four New Country Dances. Printed by William Pearson for Henry Playford
1703 - 12th edition
1706 - 13th edition (the first edition published by John Young)
1709 - 14th edition
1710? - Vol. the second, 1st edition
1713 - 15th edition
1714? - Vol. the second, 2nd edition
1716 - 16th edition
1718 - Vol. the second, 3rd edition
1721 - Vol. the first, 17th edition
c1726 - The Third Volume, 2nd edition
c1728 - Vol. the first, 18th edition
1728 - Vol. the second, 4th edition