Monymusk and others was: Re: re 3cpl dances in 4 cple sets

Rod Downey

Message 61552 · 3 Aug 2011 12:04:49 · Fixed-width font · Whole thread

The beauty is that it is all so personal. I think the Bartlett recording
is a great bit of SCD music and the set used by Peter Elmes here is
terrific. Those old strathspeys like Braes of Tulliemet, Bridge of Nairn,
Up In the Air etc, really agree with my psyche I guess.

My own toilet dances: Once a year at club I do dances that I don't really
like but feel a responsibility to do them for the members, Culla Bay
(okay if it was only done as 64 bars to me; yes yes I know many love it),
Postie's Jig, A Trip to
Bavaria, Jessie's Hornpipe (nice tune), The Garry Strathspey,
Triumph (not because I don't like it but the other teacher doesn't
as she feels it is like a straightjacket).
My son likes to annoy me by playing the lead tune for Postie's Jig.

The last I will teach to the kids I am teaching which is where I hope it
will stay along with things like strip the willow.

At least there are thousands of others.

rod

On Wed, 3 Aug 2011, jo.pickering wrote:

> Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 09:32:27 +0000
> From: jo.pickering <xx.xxxxxxxxx468@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
> Reply-To: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
> To: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
> Subject: Re: Monymusk and others was: Re: re 3cpl dances in 4 cple sets
>
> Well I thought my Monymusk comments would provoke an exciting response!
>
> I suppose Monymusk is a marmite dance.
>
> If you like it you do
> If you don't then you boo (or possibly hide in the loo).
>
> I personally find the tune a bit of a dirge. It was written by Daniel (or Donail) Dow in about 1760 as Sir Archibald Grant of Monymusk (A reel). It was then pinched and Strathspeyified by Niel Gow. But in those days Strathspeys were played at a much faster tempo. It must be good though because it's lasted a long time.
>
> Jo
> Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rod Downey <Xxx.Xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx.xx>
> Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 19:57:24
> To: <xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
> Reply-To: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
> Subject: Re: Monymusk and others was: Re: re 3cpl dances in 4 cple sets
>
>
>
> Whoa, I *love* monymusk. It is easy enough to help beginners thru,
> has lovely music, and with a good partner is a treat. You can really
> step it out if you desire. And it
> is very social. The only reason I would leave it off an annual dance
> (where I put it in the second half usually for when people a getting a bit
> tired) is for variety for the year. Then I would replace the dance in that
> position with something similar. Not the Lover's Knot, even though I like
> it too but the musicians complain.
>
> I was looking at 3 formal dances in about 4 weeks here in Wellington
> and they had Monymusk, the next had Sugar Candie, and the last
> Miss Gibson.
>
>
> Perhaps the people who send to Campbell are not necessarily representative
> of the world of SCD programme devisors.
>
> I mean, sure I like Lucy of Lammamoor and the like, but programmes need
> to cater to all; and many of those classical dances are really very
> social. Yes I am always wanting to put a bit of a challenge on a *2-3
> dances)(with an
> advisory 2 stars to the effect don't do this one unless you are either
> very confident, and have done it before, (e.g. The St Nicholas Boat,
> Qaurries Jis), one
> star means a bit challenging, but accessible if
> find a clever partner (e.g. The Abbot of Unreason, Wee Cooper of Fife,
> Up in the Air),
> but the majority
> should be accessible to all. It
> is social dancing, and a fun set with an engaged partner and nice music,
> what else is needed. Otherwise you go to those dances with people
> ernestly studying cribs between dances and not socializing, and it somehow
> loses that element. It is not an exam after all.
>
> rod
>
> PS One very interesting fact is that one of the most popular and enjoyed
> dances we offer in Wellington is the New Dancers' Celebration,
> and the experienced love it because they actually know most of the dances
> well.
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, 3 Aug 2011, Andrea Re wrote:
>
>> Date: Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:01:45 +0100
>> From: Andrea Re <xxxxxx@xxxxxx-xx.xx>
>> Reply-To: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
>> To: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
>> Subject: Monymusk and others was: Re: re 3cpl dances in 4 cple sets
>>
>>
>> Il 03/08/11 02.44, Angela Bulteel ha scritto:
>>> What a fantastic response, thanks to all who offered to join in, and at
>>> this rate we could fill a very large hall.
>> Well, I may have to pass on that. Usually when Monymusk (and similar
>> Strathspeys) are called I hastily head for the loo, lest someone asked me to
>> dance. I do find some of these old strathspey a real bore to do unless you do
>> them at competition or demonstration level (and with the right musicians), or
>> if you are lucky enough to be in right set if you happen to do them socially,
>> then they acquire a whole new dimension.
>> I remember doing the Balquidder S/Spey once... I found myself cornered, so I
>> had to dance (I don't say "no" if someone asks me). In this occasion I was
>> lucky enough to be in the right set with the right people and the right
>> partner, so the experience was truly fantastic (so much so, I still remember
>> it). My opinion on the dance has not changed, but sometimes you do get lucky.
>>> So good to know there are still many people out there,l enjoying good old
>>> scottish country dancing
>> It would be interesting to carry out a survey on the people who have declared
>> themselves to be enthused by Monymusk to see what traits (if any) they
>> share...
>>
>> Andrea (fae Falkirk and Dundee)
>>
>