This is another of Stags' "minimalist dances". It's based on Bromsberrow heath but we dance it much as we learned it from Carlisle Sword and Rapper. It's actually only effective fo a morris audience, who understand that it's meant to be funny. For members of the general public, it normally reinforces their pre-conceptions that morris is silly. However, it's a useful one to have in the repertoire in the case of a boisterous audience who want to join in. Other sides use the ubiquitous Three Jolly Sheepskins – this is our alternative.
We call it Beethoven's because the use the "Ode to Joy portion of Beethoven's ninth symphony as the tune. We tell the story that many years ago an itinerant German musicianer was wandering the wilds of Herefordshire when he came across the morris. He liked the tune so much that he used it as the basis for his new symphony. This may be the best bit about the dance, in fact.
Formation
A single line of couples facing each other. With more than eight the dancers have to accept that there's no way of getting back to place and that this doesn't matter.Chorus - sticking
Short sticks
Face the current partner. Caper on the strong beats of the music, clashing tips forehand on each caper. Sixteen clashes for one complete repeat of the B music.
Figure - Hey
Walking a hey, passing alternately left and right shoulders, with a swagger, for one repeat of the A music – fifteen swaggers followed by a pause and a bow from the waist. In a small set the bow should be facing partner. Then move again for the second repeat with sixteen swaggers.
Sequence
Alternate the hey with the sticking. Speed up the music gradually (at the start and end of the sticking is best) until either the musician can't play, or the dancers can't dance, any faster.
Music
Red Stags use the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's ninth symphony. Either that or we'd need to change the name.