strathspey@strathspey.org:27870

Rosemary Coupe

Re: Australian Ladies

Oct. 13, 2001, 3:31 a.m. (Message 27870, in reply to message 27860)

> (Hays) Australian Ladies was written on 29th June 1966, but the dance was
not
> published until 1994, after Alec Hays death, thus it is not as well known.
> Bob Campbells was written in May 1967, and was published in 1976.   The
two
> dances are completely different.   Hays instructions recommend the Music
"Gay
> Gordons" by Stan Hamilton and "The Flying Scotsman" in R.C.A. victor
R.P.L.
> 3404.   The dance is named for the tune Australian Ladies used in the
> recording.
>
> Keith Napier
> Sydney Australia

Interesting that Alec Hay's dance, the less familiar of the two, was
actually written first (by a matter of months) and was probably not known to
Bob Campbell. I wonder who the original "Australian Ladies" in William
Fergusson's pipe march were. Does anyone have information on Fergusson? His
work was still in copyright when "Glasgow Assembly" was published, as Bob
Campbell acknowledges the permission of Fergusson's estate to reprint the
tune.

Rosemary Coupe
Vancouver