Originally devised to please myself under the title ‘Lewis Derrick’s Hornpipe’ (these were figures that I liked dancing in the 1970s). When it came to publication in the 1980s I was firmly told by my friends that it was exceedingly conceited to write a dance for yourself, so to silence the critics I changed the tempo and the title using W. S. Gilberts words from Ruddigore relating to the excessively self-effacing Robin Oakapple: ‘If you wish in this world to advance, your merits you’re bound to enhance, You Must Stir It and Stump It and blow your own trumpet or trust me you haven’t a chance’ – hah!