%abc
%%abc-alias Preston's 24 for 1804
%%abc-creator ABCexplorer 1.6.1 [07/02/2026]
%Transcribed into ABC Notation for the Village Music Project
% by Peter Dunk, 
%Feb 2025
Preston's 24 Country Dances
for the year 1804
with proper Tunes and Directions to each dance
as they are performed at
Court, Bath and Public Assemblies
London, printed and sold by Thos Preston
at his wholesale warehouse off ye Strand
where may be had
Budd's annual collection of 14 favourite Cotillions and Country Dances,
with their proper figures
adapted for the harpsichord or harp
humbly dedicated to the nobility and gentry

X:1
T:Norry's Lake. Preston 1804.01
M:6/8
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:3/8=100
K:G
c|BAG FEF|DED FED|ABA AFD|"tr"F3A3|BAG FEF|
DED FED|BdB cAG|G3[GG,]2::D|GBd gdB|ecA dBG|
BdB cAG|FDF AGF|GBd gdB|ecA dBG|G3[GG,]2:|
W:
W:Lead twice down the middle up again,
W:Allemande, foot it & swing corners.

X:2
T:Captain Mackenzie's Reel. Preston 1804.02
M:C|
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:1/2=70
K:Am
E|A/A/A cB ABcd|G/G/G dc BGdB|A/A/A cB cdec|deBe cAA:|
^g|aece cAec|gdBg BGdB|aecB cde^f|gecB cA Ae/^f/|
aece cAec|gdBg BGdB|cAdB ec^fd|g^fgd cAA|]
W:
W:Cast off 2Cu : up again,lead down the middle
W:up again & cast off, turn corners lead outside.

X:3
T:St.Kilda's Reel. Preston 1804.03
M:C
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:1/4=140
K:Bb
f2fe dB-Bd|f2fe dB-Bd|f2fe dB-Bd|cdcB AF-FA:|
|:d2dc BG-GB|dedB G2GB|dedc BGGB|cdcB AFFA:|
W:
W:1st Cu. set to 2nd Lady & hands 3 round, the same
W:with the 2nd Gent. lead down the middle up again
W:& cast off.

X:4
T:Italian Waltz. Preston 1804.04
M:3/8
L:1/16
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:1/8=130
U:w=!wedge!
K:A
A4 B2|cdcBA2|d2B2e2|cdcBA2|e4f2|gagfe2|
a2f2b2|gagfe2|a2g2f2|e2d2c2|d2B2e2|A6:|
|:(GB)(eB)(eB)|(Ac)(ec)(ec)|(EB)(ed)(ed)|(ce)(dc)(BA)|
(GB)(eB)(wewB)|(Ac)(ec)(wewc)|(wdwc)(wewd)(wcwB)|A6:|
W:
W:1st. Lady sets to the 2nd. Cu. & hands round, 1st Gent do the
W:same, lead down the middle up again foot it & cast off.

X:5
T:Chantreuse. Preston 1804.05, The
M:6/8
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:3/8=110
K:A
E|A2A AAc|B2G E2G|A2E c2A|B3 BBc|A2A A2F|G2A Bcd|
E2A GFE|A3A2:|e|a2e agb|a2f e2c|A2A Ace|f2B Bdf|
a2e agb|a2f e2c|E2E EFG|A3A2 (e//f//g/)|a2e agb|a2f e2c|
A2A Ace|f2B Bcd|c2e efa|d2f fgb|ecA E2G|A3A2|]
W:
W:The 1st. & 2nd. Cu. set half right & left, back again. Lead down
W:the middle up again & cast off, & hands4 round at top.

X:6
T:Lady Seymour's Waltz. Preston 1804.06
M:3/8
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:1/8=140
U:w=!wedge!
K:Bb
B(B/c/)(d/e/)|ffd|gge|ffd|BB/c/d/e/|ffd|gge|f2z:|
%
|:d(d/e/)d|e(e/f/)e|c(c/d/)c|d(d/e/)d|\\
B(B/c/)B|c(c/d/)c|A(A/B/)A|B3:|
%
|:f|(fe)we|(ed)wd|(dc)wc|c2f|wf(fe)|\\
we(ed)|(c/d/)(e/c/)(B/A/)|B2:|
W:
W:1st. Lady set to the 2nd. Gent. & turn round with both hands,
W:1st. Gent. the same withthe 2nd. Lady, lead down the middle
W:up again Allemande, and swing corners.

X:7
T:New Town of Edinburgh Assemblies. Preston 1804.07, The
M:C|
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016  www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:1/2=60
K:Em
B|E>B E/F/G/E/ EBGE|D>A F/G/A/F/ DAFD|\\
E>BG>B EFGA|B>d B/A/G/F/ GEE:|
%
f|g>e b/a/g/f/ ge-ef|d>a (f/g/)(a/g/) fd-df|\\
g>e (f/e/)(d/^c/) dB AF|(G/A/)(B/d/) (B/A/)(G/F/) GE-Ef|
%
g>e (b/a/)(g/f/) ge-ef|d>a (f/g/)(a/g/) fd-df|\\
gefd e^cdB|B>d B/A/G/F/ GEE|]
W:
W:Set & change sides, back again, lead down the middle up again,
W:Allemande, swing corners & foot it outsides.

X:8
T:Mrs.Mackenzie's Strathspey. Preston 1804.08
M:C|
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:1/2=70
K:F
c|A>cGA F/E/D/E/ CE|AFcF dF B/A/G/F/|\\
A>cGA F/E/D/E/ C>E|F(dc)C DFF:|
%
f|cd/e/ fc AFcA|G(f/a/) bg dfga|\\
cd/e/ fc AFcA|BdcC DF-Ff|
%
cd/e/ fc AFcA|G(f/a/) bg dfga|\\
f>cAd B>AFA|GBAF CFF|]
W:
W:Set & hands across, back again, lead down the
W:middle up again cast off right and left at top.

X:9
T:Devil's Hop. Preston 1804.09, The
M:9/8
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
Q:3/8=130
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
K:C
c2c c2e gec|a2g f2e ded|c2c c2e gec|G2G GAB c3:|
|:e3 c2d edc|f3 d2e fed|e3 c2d edc|g2e d2e c3:|
W:
W:1st. & 2nd. Cu. hands across, back again, lead
W:down the middlw uo again & cast off.

X:10
T:Lady Harriet Cavendish's Fancy. Preston 1804.10
M:2/4
L:1/16
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
Q:1/4=110
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
U:w=!wedge!
K:Bb
Bc|d2B2 B2Bc|d2B2 B4|(ed)wewf (ed)wcwB|(AB)wcwB A2 AB|c2A2 A2AB|
c2A2 A2fe|(dc)wdwe (cB)wcwd|[BF]2[BF]2[BF]2::Bc|d2b2b2b2|b2g2-g2d2|
wB2wB2wc2wc2|(de)wfwe d2(Bc)|d2b2b2b2|b2g2-g2d2|B2B2 {d/}(cB)wcwd|B2B2B2:|
W:
W:1st. & 2nd. Cu. set & change sides, back again, lead
W:down the middle, up again & Allemande.

X:11
T:Perthshire Hunt. Preston 1804.11, The
M:C|
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
Q:1/2=72
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
K:A
F|"tr"E2 CE A,ECE|A,ECE FB,B,F|"tr"E2 CE A,ECA|ceBd cAA:|
e|(c/B/A) eA fAeA|(c/B/A) ec fB-Be|(c/B/A) eA fAeA|E>FGB cA-Ae|
(c/B/A) eA fAeA|(c/B/A) ec fB-Be|ceAc dfBc|"tr"E>FAB cAA|]
W:
W:Cast off one Cu. up again, lead down the middle
W:up again, hands 4 round right & left at top.

X:12
T:Lady Susan Hamilton. Preston 1804.12
M:C
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
Q:1/4=140
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
K:Bb
B|FBDB FB (d/c/)B|fB d/c/B Ac-cd|\\
FBDB FBdb|fdcB FBB:|
%
d|B/c/d/e/ fb gBeg|f>d (e/d/)(c/B/) Ac-cd|\\
(B/c/)(d/e/) fb gbfb|dfec dB-Bd|
%
(B/c/)(d/e/) fb gBeg|f>d"tr"cB Ac-ce|\\
dfeg fd (c/d/)e|d>B A/B/c dBB|]
W:
W:1st. & 2nd. Cu. set & change sides, back again,
W:lead down the middleup again & Allemende.

X:13
T:Lady Cawdor's Favourite. Preston 1804.13
M:9/8
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
Q:3/8=130
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
K:D
A2A d2d c2A|B2A Bcd E3|A2A d2d c2A|Bcd edc d3:|
|:f2d fga a2f|ecA ecA A2g|f2d fga a2f|bge cAc d3:|
W:
W:1st. Ladt cast off oneCu. the Gent. following, the same back
W:again, lead down the middle one Cu. up again & Allemande

X:14
T:Lady Grantham's Delight. Preston 1804.14
M:9/8
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016  www.village-music-project.org.uk
Q:3/8=115
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
U:w=!wedge!
K:D
A|(FE)wD (DE)wD (AF)wD|GFE EFE e2f|\\
gfe dfd ecA|(B/c/d)B AGF E2:|
%
|:g|(fe)wd (df)wd (ec)wA|(fe)wd (de)wf g2g|\\
(fe)wd (df)wd (ec)wA|(B/c/d)wB AGF E2:|
W:
W:1st. & 2nd. Cu. set & hands across, back again,
W:lead down the middle up again right & left.

X:15
T:Highland Wedding. Preston 1804.15, The
M:C|
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:1/2=70
K:Bb
d|B2 dB fBdB|GFGB "tr"c>Bcd|B/B/B dB fBdB|egfe dBB:|
%
E|D/E/F B,F BFdB|GFGB "tr"c>Bcd|\\
.B.f.d.f .e.g.d.f.|"tr"c>Bcd B/B/B B2|
%
(D/E/F) (B,F) BFdB|GFGB cBcd|\\
f/f/f "tr"(gf) bfdB|egfe dBB|]
W:
W:1st. Cu. lead down the middle up again, 2nd. Cu. do
W:the same, hands4 half round & back again, swing
W:corners & turn your partner

X:16
T:Loch Earn. Preston 1804.16
M:C|
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:1/2=80
U:w=!wedge!
K:G
d|[GDG,]2 dB G2 BG|E2 AE FD-Dd|g2dB G2BG|EAFD G2 [GG,]:|
d|(ef)wgwe (fg)wawb|(gf)wgwe fd-df|(ef)wgwe (fg)wawf|(gf)wgweg2 Bd|
efge dBgB|ceBd A"tr"FED|GABG EGce|dBcA G2G|]
W:
W:1st. & 2nd. Cu. set & change sides, back again, lead
W:down the middle up again and hands 4 round.

X:17
T:Over the Muir Sherran. Preston 1804.17
%
N:1&2 endings added to first three lines to correct short and
N:long final notes at the end of each repeat. Opening repeat
N:marks added to last three lines to force correct midi playback.
%
M:C|
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:1/2=70
U:w=!wedge!
K:F
f|"tr"c2Fc AFcA|cdcA G/G/G Gf|"tr"c2 Fc AF-Ff|\\
[1(a/g/)wf/we/ fc A/A/A A:|2(a/g/)wf/we/ fc A/A/A A2||
%
|:fgag fd-df|cFcA G/G/G "tr"G2|fgag fd-df|\\
[1cAfA A/A/A A2:|2cAfA A/A/A A||
%
|:f|cFcA cF-Ff|cFcA G/G/G Gf|cFcA cF-Ff|\\
[1(a/g/)wf/we/ f>c A/A/A A:|2(a/g/)wf/we/ f>c A/A/A A2||
%
|:FcAc FcAc|fdcA G/G/G G2|FcAc FcAc|a/g/f/e/ fc A/A/A A3:|
W:
W:1st. & 2nd. Cu. set & change sides, back again, hands across back again,
W:lead down the middle up again, turn your Partner and hands 4 round.

X:18
T:New Rigged Ship. Preston 1804.18
M:6/8
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:3/8=105
K:C
G|c2c "tr"c2e|c2c c2e|dBG G2B|dBG GAB|c2c "tr"c2e|c2c dBG|
A>Bc dBG|c3c2::(e/f/)|g2e g2e|"tr"c2c ceg|a2f a2f|"tr"d2d def|
g2e g2e|"tr"c2c dBG|A>Bc dBG|c3c2 (e/f/)|gfe gfe|c>dc ceg|
agf agf|"tr"d>ed def|gfe gfe| cec dBG|ABc dBG|cGE C2:|
W:
W:Turn your Partner with the right hand, then with the left,lead down
W:the middle up again, set 3&3 top & bottom, &sideways, hands 6 round.

X:19
T:Hon'ble Miss Semple's Reel. Preston 1804.19, The
M:C
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:1/4=140
U:w=!wedge!
K:G
f|g2 dB GBdB|a2 ec Acea|g2 (dB) GBdB|cedc BG-Gf|
%
g2 (dB) GBdB|a2 (ec) Acea|g2 eg dgBg|cA (d/c/B/A/) BGG||
%
D|(B,C)wGwD (A,E)wAwE|(DF)wAwB (cA)wBwG|\\
(B,C)wGwD (A,E)wAwE|(DF)wAwB (BG)wGwD||
%
(B,C)wGwD (A,E)wAwE|(DF)wAwB (ce)wdwc|\\
(Bd)wgwB (ce)wawg|(fd)wawf wgwGwG|]
W:
W:1st. & 2nd. Cu. set & half right & left, back again, lead
W:down the middle up again, cast off & turn your Partner.

X:20
T:Lady Amelia Stewart's Strathspey. Preston 1804.20
M:C|
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:1/2=60
U:w=!wedge!
K:F
!segno!f|"tr"F>GAF c>F A<f|a/g/f/e/ f>f {FG}A>G-GA|\\
"tr"F>GA>F c>F A<f|(a/g/)wf/we/ f>d cAA:|
%
c|"tr"f>gf>d c<af>d|d>f{d/}c{B/}A AG-Gc|\\
{g/}(f/e/)wf/wg/ (a/g/)wf/we/ f>c d<f|wcf-fwd wca-awg|
%
f<ad<f c<fA<f|(a/g/)wf/we/ (f>F) {FG}A>G-GA|\\
F>GA>c d>ef>g|(a/g/)wf/we/ f>d cA-A!segno!|]
W:
W:1st. & 2nd. Cu. set & change sides, back again, lead
W:down the middle up again Allemande, swing
W:corners & foot it outsides.

X:21
T:Garthlands House. Preston 1804.21
M:C|
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:1/2=70
K:G
D|G2BG Bdg2|G2 {c/}B(A/G/) FA-AB|\\
G2"tr"B>G Bdg2|c>A {c/}BA/G/ DGG:|
%
d/c/|Bd-dg {b/}ag/f/ "tr"g2|B<Gd>G FA Ad/c/|\\
Bddg {b/}ag/f/ "tr"g2|cA d(e/c/) BG G(d/c/)|
%
Bd-dg {b/}ag/f/ g>c|BGDG FA AB/c/|\\
{e/}d>cBA B>GF<E|c>A {c/}BA/G/ DGG|]
W:
W:Cast off one Cu: & back again, hands across back again,
W:lead down the middle up again & cast off, turn your Partner

X:22
T:Carleton House. Preston 1804.22
M:6/8
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:3/8=100
K:Bb
BdB FDF|B3 F2B|c2d e2d|cdB ABc|BdB FDF|
GED Ccd|dfB ecA|B3B,3::B,Bd fdB|Ace gec|
dBf eca|bfe dec|BdB FDF|GED Cce|dfB ecA|B3B,3:|
W:
W:Turn yout Partner with the right hand, then with
W:the left, lead down the middlw up again, 1st, 2nd.
W:Cu. promenade round and poussette.

X:23
T:Miss Trotter's Jigg. Preston 1804.23
M:6/8
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:3/8=100
K:F
C|FGF cAc|dBG G2A|FGF cAc|Fag fcA|(Bg)B (fAf)|
gGG G2A|Fag fcd|AFF F2::c|fag fcA|GAB Bcd|
c>dc cag|fag fcA|BgB AfA|gGG GBd|cag fcd|AFF F2:|
W:
W:1st. Cu. set to the 2d. Lady & hands 3 round,
W:the same with the 2d. Gent'n lead down the
W:middle up again, right and left at top.

X:24
T:Lady Agnes Percy's Hornpipe. Preston 1804.24
M:6/4
L:1/8
Z:vmp. Peter Dunk 2016 www.village-music-project.org.uk
B:Preston's Twenty Four Country Dances For The Year 1804
Q:3/4=70
K:Cm
EF|GFEDD2 G2E2c2|G2e2d2 g2f2c2|c3dfe dcg2G2|F2E2D2 G2C2:|
G2|c3dfe dcg2G2|d2b2B2 d2f2d2|c3ded ec g2c2|G2c2-c2 G2E2C2|
c3dfe dcg2G2|d2b2B2 d2f2d2|cdecd2 f2e2g2|F2E2D2 G2C2|]
W:
W:1st. Lady set to the 2d. Gent'n & turn the 3d. Gent'n. with
W:both hands, 1st. Gent'n. do the same, lead down the
W:middle up again and poussette with the 2d. Cu.