strathspey Archive: Music-based index

Are there existing any indices of scottish country dances, organized
by the tunes? That is, knowing the name of a tune, one could look up
the dance (or dances) strongly associated with that tune. If one
exists, does it have only title tunes, or also popular supporting
tunes?

Thanks!
Jenn Sawin

Jennifer_Sawin@pcmailgw.ml.com writes:

> Are there existing any indices of scottish country dances, organized
> by the tunes? That is, knowing the name of a tune, one could look up
> the dance (or dances) strongly associated with that tune. If one
> exists, does it have only title tunes, or also popular supporting
> tunes?

Peter Hastings of Dunedin Dancers, Edinburgh, has compiled such an
index, which he has graciously made freely available for non-commercial
purposes. He's recently sent me an updated version, which I was going to
put up on the Strathspey Server but haven't yet got around to. I hope
I'll be able to do that RSN; if somebody wants an e-mail copy in the
meantime, do ask (but the file is rather big).

This lists a lot of tunes together with the dances they're recommended
for (about 2000 dances and nearly as many tunes). If a dance has two or
more tunes given in its description, they are all listed, although the
index doesn't try to identify `popular' supporting tunes. With a
database program or spreadsheet, it should be straightforward to sort
this different ways. It contains just the tune names, no sources for the
music and no info about records etc. either.

I find I'm using this a lot -- actually, I have processed the index into a
50-page A5 booklet which I carry when I'm playing on workshops. (I'm just
now finishing the booklet for the updated version, so if anyone wants
PostScript for that, send me a note, too.) It also makes a fine addition to
the on-line Napier's index that Keith Napier is publishing (which doesn't
contain information on music).

If you want to sample the (old) version of the tune index, point your
WWW browser at

http://www.tm.informatik.uni-frankfurt.de/strathspey-cgi/prhiindex

This is a form which will let you enter the name of a dance or tune and
search the tune index for you, returning tune or dance names,
respectively.

Anselm
--
Anselm Lingnau ......................... lingnau@tm.informatik.uni-frankfurt.de
For every problem there is a solution which is simple, clean and wrong.
--- Henry Louis Mencken

> Are there existing any indices of scottish country dances, organized
> by the tunes? That is, knowing the name of a tune, one could look up
> the dance (or dances) strongly associated with that tune. If one
> exists, does it have only title tunes, or also popular supporting
> tunes?
>
> Thanks!
> Jenn Sawin

Oh, if only our SCD-database would be up and running!

Alan

In a message dated 97-01-28 04:28:55 EST, you write:

<< > Are there existing any indices of scottish country dances, organized

> by the tunes? That is, knowing the name of a tune, one could look up
> the dance (or dances) strongly associated with that tune. If one
> exists, does it have only title tunes, or also popular supporting
> tunes?
>
> Thanks!
> Jenn Sawin
>>

How about in manuscript form ... for us musicians? Now THAT would be a God
send!
David Strong
thestrongs@aol.com

In-Reply-To: <9700278544.AA854427716@pcmailgw.ml.com>
The Sutton Coldfield index (originally produced by Barry Priddey)
includes details of the principal tune for each dance, where there is
one. It also lists the recordings on which the tune appears - even if it
is recorded as a 2nd or subsequent tune for a dance.

Unfortunately, this index is not available on disk (or was not when I
last inquired).

Andy Patterson (London, UK)