strathspey Archive: re 3cpl dances in 4 cple sets

Jo asked, who would want to do Moneymusk eight times through?

Apparently Malcolm and Helen, and I certainly would, so that's three, we only need another 5 dancers and we have a set. Any takers?

Angela

Count me in Angela.
Agnes

On 2 August 2011 20:40, Angela Bulteel <a.bulteel@talktalk.net> wrote:

> Jo asked, who would want to do Moneymusk eight times through?
>
> Apparently Malcolm and Helen, and I certainly would, so that's three, we
> only need another 5 dancers and we have a set. Any takers?
>
> Angela
>

I'm up for 8 x thru Monymusk.  Great dance, great music.

Mike Briggs

 1519 Storytown Road

Oregon WI 53575-2521 USA
+1 608 835 0914 (o)
+1 608 770 2304 (m)
+1 608 237 2379 (f)

Hi All,

I'm up for 8x Monymusk, but seeing as supporting couples are dancing 22 bars
out of 32, I'm unsure where interminabe part is. If Jo had picked
Dalkeith's Strathspey as an example, then that's a different matter. BTW I
like the challenge of bars 1-8 of Dalkeith's. Personally I like 8x32
strathspeys, but then I'm a bit of a tradionalist.....

Duncan

Chudleigh
Devon
UK

-----Original Message-----
From: Norma or Mike Briggs [mailto:briggslaw@yahoo.com]
Sent: 02 August 2011 21:13
To: strathspey@strathspey.org
Subject: Re: re 3cpl dances in 4 cple sets

I'm up for 8 x thru Monymusk.  Great dance, great music.

Mike Briggs

 1519 Storytown Road

Oregon WI 53575-2521 USA
+1 608 835 0914 (o)
+1 608 770 2304 (m)
+1 608 237 2379 (f)

-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
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for real fun there's The Lovers' Knot 8x40 -- 24 solo bars for the 1s and
the corners joining in for the closing set and turn corners and reels -- woo
hoo! 14 bars! (16 if you count the stepping up for the 2s). Monymusk is
much to be preferred. But then there's the Theekit Hoose....

Bruce Herbold
San Francisco

On Tue, Aug 2, 2011 at 1:25 PM, Duncan Brown
<duncanqlnbrown@tiscali.co.uk>wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I'm up for 8x Monymusk, but seeing as supporting couples are dancing 22
> bars
> out of 32, I'm unsure where interminabe part is. If Jo had picked
> Dalkeith's Strathspey as an example, then that's a different matter. BTW I
> like the challenge of bars 1-8 of Dalkeith's. Personally I like 8x32
> strathspeys, but then I'm a bit of a tradionalist.....
>
> Duncan
>
> Chudleigh
> Devon
> UK
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Norma or Mike Briggs [mailto:briggslaw@yahoo.com]
> Sent: 02 August 2011 21:13
> To: strathspey@strathspey.org
> Subject: Re: re 3cpl dances in 4 cple sets
>
> I'm up for 8 x thru Monymusk. Great dance, great music.
>
> Mike Briggs
>
> 1519 Storytown Road
>
> Oregon WI 53575-2521 USA
> +1 608 835 0914 (o)
> +1 608 770 2304 (m)
> +1 608 237 2379 (f)
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 10.0.1390 / Virus Database: 1518/3805 - Release Date: 08/02/11
>
>

--
Bruce Herbold

Duncan wrote:

> Personally I like 8x32
> strathspeys, but then I'm a bit of a tradionalist.....

Same here, says I, with great enthusiasm.

Pat
Charlottesville, Virginia
USA

I, too, am enthusiastic for tradition, but I also like the Milligan Strathspey. Perhaps the solution to dancing old dances would be to do them at the speed they were written for - "faster than a reel, more like a jig" to quote Peacock, the Aberdeen Dancing Master. I have an old recording of Monymusk, from the 1930's, which goes at the traditional speed, as do all pre-1945 recordings, including the Society's "official" recordings. Dancing to it changes the dance considerably, and I like the change, though it takes a bit of getting used to! But I love Duchess Tree at Milligan speed, so why can't we have both?

>

But how fast were Peacock's reels and jigs?

I agree to a point; I don't see why we can't be more flexible on the tempos.
I think that most of the traditional strathspey tunes work nicely at the
Society's suggested tempo even though most were written to be played more
quickly, but some of the modern strathspeys and almost all of the songs and
airs usually benefit from at least a slightly quicker tempo. This
substitutes for the drive lacking in many of those tunes. But can you dance
the RSCDS strathspey step at a much quicker tempo or do you have to modify
it? (And how would the Society feel about that?)

On Thu, Aug 4, 2011 at 3:56 AM, Robert Lambie <ralambie50@hotmail.com>wrote:

>
> I, too, am enthusiastic for tradition, but I also like the Milligan
> Strathspey. Perhaps the solution to dancing old dances would be to do them
> at the speed they were written for - "faster than a reel, more like a jig"
> to quote Peacock, the Aberdeen Dancing Master. I have an old recording of
> Monymusk, from the 1930's, which goes at the traditional speed, as do all
> pre-1945 recordings, including the Society's "official" recordings. Dancing
> to it changes the dance considerably, and I like the change, though it takes
> a bit of getting used to! But I love Duchess Tree at Milligan speed, so why
> can't we have both?
>
> >
>

--
Steve Wyrick -- Walnut Creek, California

When we are dancing 'strathspeys' we are really dancing to two different types
of tune. There are tunes which really are 'strathspey reels' - that is they are
written in a strong dotted rhythm and were originally played much faster than
they are nowadays; and then there are tunes like the Duchess Tree which are in
fact song airs and are normally a lot slower. I think it would be nice to have
some 'quick' strathspeys and some 'slow' strathspeys to vary things a bit.
Incidentally the normal 'travelling' step for reels historically was the
chassé, which to my mind was something like a quick strathspey travelling step
rather than a skip change. Try it - it works very well in reels though not in
jigs. My apologies to Niel Gow for saying he pinched Monny Musk (sic) from
Daniel Dow - it is attributed to DD in Gow's Repository.

Jo

________________________________
From: Steve Wyrick <sjwyrick@gmail.com>
To: strathspey@strathspey.org
Sent: Thursday, 4 August, 2011 15:52:49
Subject: Re: 8x32 strathspeys (was 3 cple dance in 4 couple set)

But how fast were Peacock's reels and jigs?

I agree to a point; I don't see why we can't be more flexible on the tempos.
I think that most of the traditional strathspey tunes work nicely at the
Society's suggested tempo even though most were written to be played more
quickly, but some of the modern strathspeys and almost all of the songs and
airs usually benefit from at least a slightly quicker tempo. This
substitutes for the drive lacking in many of those tunes. But can you dance
the RSCDS strathspey step at a much quicker tempo or do you have to modify
it? (And how would the Society feel about that?)

On Thu, Aug 4, 2011 at 3:56 AM, Robert Lambie <ralambie50@hotmail.com>wrote:

>
> I, too, am enthusiastic for tradition, but I also like the Milligan
> Strathspey. Perhaps the solution to dancing old dances would be to do them
> at the speed they were written for - "faster than a reel, more like a jig"
> to quote Peacock, the Aberdeen Dancing Master. I have an old recording of
> Monymusk, from the 1930's, which goes at the traditional speed, as do all
> pre-1945 recordings, including the Society's "official" recordings. Dancing
> to it changes the dance considerably, and I like the change, though it takes
> a bit of getting used to! But I love Duchess Tree at Milligan speed, so why
> can't we have both?
>
> >
>

--
Steve Wyrick -- Walnut Creek, California

Jo Pickering wrote:

> My apologies to Niel Gow for saying he pinched Monny Musk (sic) from Daniel
> Dow - it is attributed to DD in Gow's Repository.

At the time copyright in the modern sense of the word (»I'm going to sue the
pants off you if you rip off my stuff«) was still a fairly new idea, having
been invented in 1710 under Queen Anne.

Especially in Scottish musical circles some people would play fast and loose
with the notion of composership – Daniel Dow could count himself lucky that
Niel Gow didn't pinch his tune outright, as he did with various other
contemporary pieces ;^)

Anselm
--
Anselm Lingnau, Mainz/Mayence, Germany ................. anselm@strathspey.org
That's the obnoxious part of religion, and why it's in conflict with science.
Science is the world of Let's-Find-Out, while religion is always the land of
You-Can't-Know-That. -- PZ Myers

Warning: delete this if you're not a history geek.  Monymusk has been more or less current in New England since the eighteenth century.  There are several instances of it on YouTube (one, where it's wrongly described as an English country dance imho, is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqdQsHGk-VQ&feature=related).  It takes 24 bars, AAB.  The dance is is recognizably a close relative of the RSCDS version, with actives turning, casting, turning, doing something across the dance. then turning and doing something on the sides.  The New England version ends with the local version of rights and lefts.  The kicker (yes, I'm still on topic) is that the tune has survived in New England as a reel!

Mike Briggs
 
1519 Storytown Road
Oregon WI 53575-2521 USA
+1 608 835 0914 (o)
+1 608 770 2304 (m)
+1 608 237 2379 (f)

________________________________
From: Anselm Lingnau <anselm@strathspey.org>
To: strathspey@strathspey.org
Sent: Thursday, August 4, 2011 12:36 PM
Subject: Re: 8x32 strathspeys (was 3 cple dance in 4 couple set)

Jo Pickering wrote:

> My apologies to Niel Gow for saying he pinched Monny Musk (sic) from Daniel
> Dow - it is attributed to DD in Gow's Repository.

At the time copyright in the modern sense of the word (»I'm going to sue the
pants off you if you rip off my stuff«) was still a fairly new idea, having
been invented in 1710 under Queen Anne.

Especially in Scottish musical circles some people would play fast and loose
with the notion of composership – Daniel Dow could count himself lucky that
Niel Gow didn't pinch his tune outright, as he did with various other
contemporary pieces ;^)

Anselm
--
Anselm Lingnau, Mainz/Mayence, Germany ................. anselm@strathspey.org
That's the obnoxious part of religion, and why it's in conflict with science.
Science is the world of Let's-Find-Out, while religion is always the land of
You-Can't-Know-That.                                              -- PZ Myers

The air tunes weren't intended to be danced to and it's probably only
because the strathspey dance tempo has slowed that they can be used as is,
but in my opinion only rarely do they work well for dancing and as a fiddler
I always feel challenged to figure out what to do with them. Yesterday I
was reading Johnson's "Music and Society in Lowland Scotland in the 18th
Century" which has a discussion of the practice of turning songs into dance
tunes that was common during that period. Musicians frequently modified
song tunes to make them danceable by varying the rhythm, adding
ornamentation, and adding a second strain to lengthen the tune as needed.
Johnson cites one tune (O'er the Moor Amongst the Heather) that started out
as a song, was published in 1740 as a country dance with a second strain
added, and published as a strathspey in the 1760s! I doubt a musician in
those times would have played an air "straight" for dancing but now I
suppose we couldn't get away with modifying them, and I'm not sure what I'd
do to "fix" Dutchess Tree at any rate! -Steve

On Thu, Aug 4, 2011 at 10:13 AM, Jo Pickering <
jo.pickering468@btinternet.com> wrote:

> When we are dancing 'strathspeys' we are really dancing to two different
> types
> of tune. There are tunes which really are 'strathspey reels' - that is
> they are
> written in a strong dotted rhythm and were originally played much faster
> than
> they are nowadays; and then there are tunes like the Duchess Tree which are
> in
> fact song airs and are normally a lot slower. I think it would be nice to
> have
> some 'quick' strathspeys and some 'slow' strathspeys to vary things a bit.
> Incidentally the normal 'travelling' step for reels historically was the
> chassé, which to my mind was something like a quick strathspey travelling
> step
> rather than a skip change. Try it - it works very well in reels though not
> in
> jigs. My apologies to Niel Gow for saying he pinched Monny Musk (sic) from
> Daniel Dow - it is attributed to DD in Gow's Repository.
>
> Jo
>
>
> --
Steve Wyrick -- Walnut Creek, California

What a fantastic response, thanks to all who offered to join in, and at
this rate we could fill a very large hall. So good to know there are still
many people out there,l enjoying good old scottish country dancing at it's
best without moaning. You have made my day!!! OOPS it's 2.30 in the middle
of the night.!!! Time for bed. Sweet Dreams.

Angela

----- Original Message -----
From: "Norma or Mike Briggs" <briggslaw@yahoo.com>
To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 9:12 PM
Subject: Re: re 3cpl dances in 4 cple sets

I'm up for 8 x thru Monymusk. Great dance, great music.

Mike Briggs

1519 Storytown Road

Oregon WI 53575-2521 USA
+1 608 835 0914 (o)
+1 608 770 2304 (m)
+1 608 237 2379 (f)

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)

And it interests me that this subject has come up again, because it was not
so long ago that the charms of Monymusk were being aired on strathspey and I
made the point that that same dance had the dubious distinction of fading
into oblivion more quickly than any other on my list of frequent dances.
There was a momentary flurry of programmes submitted to me which had
Monymusk on them, but thereafter the decline continued. It is currently
hovering at the 100 mark. So, all you Monymusk adherents who according to
Angela could fill a hall, how about sending me these programmes you talk
about so I can add them to the database and encourage the old curmudgeon to
inch its way back up the ratings?

Campbell Tyler
Cape Town

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http://www.eset.com

Campbell Tyler wrote:

> There was a momentary flurry of programmes submitted to me which
> had Monymusk on them, but thereafter the decline continued. It is
> currently hovering at the 100 mark.

100 sounds great to me. It means there are approximately 13,900 dances that
are less popular. I sure wish one of my dances was that high up on the list.

Anselm
--
Anselm Lingnau, Mainz/Mayence, Germany ................. anselm@strathspey.org
Listen, people: You should never, ever have to utter the words »Grande
Supremo« unless you are addressing a tribal warlord who is holding you captive
and threatening to burn you at the stake. JUST SAY YOU WANT A LARGE COFFEE,
PEOPLE. -- Dave Barry, on the names of coffee servings at Starbucks &c.

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 <andrea@andrea-re.eu>
> Reply-To: strathspey@strathspey.org
> To: strathspey@strathspey.org
> 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)
>

Rod Downey wrote:
Perhaps the people who send to Campbell are not necessarily representative
of the world of SCD programme devisors.

I have 83 people listed as having contributed to the list, sending me
programmes from 264 different clubs. I wonder how many programme devisors
there are out there. 2 000? I think that makes 83 a statistically viable
sample, but that is not really the point. My email was actually just a not
very well disguised attempt to get more contributors and to re-activate the
contributors who have fallen by the wayside.

Campbell Tyler
Cape Town

-----Original Message-----
From: Rod Downey [mailto:Rod.Downey@msor.vuw.ac.nz]
Sent: 03 August 2011 09:57 AM
To: strathspey@strathspey.org
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.

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 <andrea@andrea-re.eu>
> Reply-To: strathspey@strathspey.org
> To: strathspey@strathspey.org
> 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)
>

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database 6345 (20110802) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com

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database 6345 (20110802) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

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Hello Campbell, Older dances like Moneymusk don't come up on programmes too
often where I dance, and it is such a pleasure to me when they do. I find
these older dances, particularly strathspeys, really make me want to get my
teeth into them and give of my best just for the sheer joy of putting into
practice all those little points of technique, timing, good footwork etc.,
which I learned so many years ago.
However, I can understand why some of them are thought of as boring, with
only a few simple basic figures, compared with the newer and more popular
dances, but in my opinion, while looking simple on the surface, they often
require that extra little bit of thought and technique, and I find this
challenge very satisfying, once in a while.

Angela

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 <Rod.Downey@msor.vuw.ac.nz>
Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 19:57:24
To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
Reply-To: strathspey@strathspey.org
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 <andrea@andrea-re.eu>
> Reply-To: strathspey@strathspey.org
> To: strathspey@strathspey.org
> 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)
>

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 <jo.pickering468@btinternet.com>
> Reply-To: strathspey@strathspey.org
> To: strathspey@strathspey.org
> 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 <Rod.Downey@msor.vuw.ac.nz>
> Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 19:57:24
> To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
> Reply-To: strathspey@strathspey.org
> 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 <andrea@andrea-re.eu>
>> Reply-To: strathspey@strathspey.org
>> To: strathspey@strathspey.org
>> 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)
>>
>

Please can I join your Monymusk set of sreathspeyers too Angela
Especially if you use the Highlander No5 CD played by Ian MacPhail( 8
wonderful auld Pipe tunes)
"The Marketplace in Inverness" just lifts me to another plain
But I do appreciate that one man's meat is another man's poison
Stephen
Hamilton & Clydsdale
----- Original Message -----
From: "jo.pickering" <jo.pickering468@btinternet.com>
To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 10:32 AM
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 <Rod.Downey@msor.vuw.ac.nz>
> Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 19:57:24
> To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
> Reply-To: strathspey@strathspey.org
> 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 <andrea@andrea-re.eu>
>> Reply-To: strathspey@strathspey.org
>> To: strathspey@strathspey.org
>> 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)
>>
>

Yes Stephen, you most certainly can join in, and dare I be a brazen hussy
and ask you to partner me? -- Both our spirits lifted by your excellent
choice of Ian McPhail's fabulous rendition.

----- Original Message -----

> Please can I join your Monymusk set of sreathspeyers too Angela
> Especially if you use the Highlander No5 CD played by Ian MacPhail( 8
> wonderful auld Pipe tunes)

On Wed, Aug 3, 2011 at 2:32 AM, jo.pickering <jo.pickering468@btinternet.com
> wrote:

> 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.

A bit of a dirge! It's one of my favorite strathspey tunes. It's a great
tune for fiddlers, it provides lots of opportunities for expression. Always
happy when it shows up on a program I'm playing!
--
Steve Wyrick -- Walnut Creek, California

The Smiths of Brisbane Australia will join you too.

On Wed, Aug 3, 2011 at 11:44 AM, Angela Bulteel <a.bulteel@talktalk.net>wrote:

> What a fantastic response, thanks to all who offered to join in, and at
> this rate we could fill a very large hall. So good to know there are still
> many people out there,l enjoying good old scottish country dancing at it's
> best without moaning. You have made my day!!! OOPS it's 2.30 in the middle
> of the night.!!! Time for bed. Sweet Dreams.
>
> Angela
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norma or Mike Briggs" <
> briggslaw@yahoo.com>
> To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 9:12 PM
> Subject: Re: re 3cpl dances in 4 cple sets
>
>
>
> I'm up for 8 x thru Monymusk. Great dance, great music.
>
> Mike Briggs
>
> 1519 Storytown Road
>
> Oregon WI 53575-2521 USA
> +1 608 835 0914 (o)
> +1 608 770 2304 (m)
> +1 608 237 2379 (f)
>
>

--
Denise Smith
76 Celandine St
Shailer Park Qld 4128
+617 3209 7006
pauldenise3@bigpond.com

Angela wrote:
> Jo asked, who would want to do Moneymusk eight times through?
>
> Apparently Malcolm and Helen, and I certainly would, so that's three, we
> only need another 5 dancers and we have a set. Any takers?

Howard and me (but I've expressed my fondness for Monymusk MANY times before
on this list). So we're up to five....

Pat
(just back from vacation, three hours ago, and skimming through 500 emails.
Deleting most, but had to reply to this one!)