In this the sticks are held throughout by the middle, in the manner
explained (_see_ p. 60). In all single-tapping passages, to "A" music,
sticks are held slanting upward, like a single-stick, but with the upper
arm close to the body. In Column formation, odd numbers--that is, leading
file--hold the forearm to rightward; even numbers--right file--hold the
forearm across the body, so that the sticks cross between files, ready
for tapping. Leading file always taps the other file, which holds the
sticks firm.
In the double-tapping, to "B" music, sticks are held in the middle, hand
below stick, which is now held straight, parallel with the ground,
advanced towards partner, and raised about as high as the neck.
The following diagram will show how sticks are tapped in this movement.
Angles and numbers, as in p. 54, &c., represent the leader and partner,
Nos. 1 and 2: the other pairs, of course, tap precisely as these two, odd
and even numbers respectively.
The arrows between angles represent sticks. As tapping has now to be done
with both ends of the sticks, these are shown in this way. The barbed end
is the top, the feather the butt-end. The top is held always to the
right--butt, or barb, to leftward of each dancer. The tapping will be
shown bar by bar. The steps shown apply to _all_ the dancers.
In the first bar of "B" music, No. 1, with top end, taps the butt of No.
2, on beats 3 and 4, thus:--
[Illustration: DIAGRAM OF STICK-TAPPING.]
In the second bar of "B" music, No. 2, with top end, taps the butt of No.
1, on beats 3 and 4, thus:--
[Illustration: DIAGRAM OF STICK-TAPPING.]
In the third bar of "B" music, No. 1 taps No. 2 precisely as in bar 1.
Same step.
In the fourth bar of "B" music, No. 1 taps No. 2 on every beat, as
follows:
First beat, No. 1, with butt end, taps No. 2 on top end.
Second beat, with top end, taps butt.
Third beat, with butt, taps top.
Fourth beat, with top end, taps top of No. 2.
Thus:--
[Illustration: DIAGRAM OF STICK-TAPPING.]
This double-tapping looks complicated, both in dance and diagram, but is
really very simple. A few hints upon the most difficult bar, the fourth,
will explain the whole. In this, on beat 1, No. 1, to tap with his butt
the top of No. 2's stick, raises the wrist and hand till the stick is
above and at right-angles to No. 2's, then thrusts outward till his butt
strikes No. 2's top. On beat 2, No. 1 lowers his hand, keeping the stick
perpendicular, moves hand to right and taps his top on No. 2's butt. Beat
3 is as beat 1; on beat 4, No. 1 simply lowers hand and taps No. 2 on his
right, or top end. This explains all the taps that occur.
For the method, which is invariable, except where specially stated, of
holding the stick (_see_ p. 60).
In the second four bars of "B," double-tapping and steps are repeated
precisely as in first four bars; and throughout the dance it is the same
to "B" music, four bars of double-tapping, repeated, up to the call "All
in."