strathspey@strathspey.org:45389

Alan Paterson

Re: Reels and Hornpipes

May 26, 2006, 2:14 p.m. (Message 45389, in reply to message 45388)

On 26/05/2006 14:05, Anselm Lingnau wrote:
> Alan Paterson wrote:
> 
> 
>>Is there a scientific method of identifying a Hornpipe?
> 
> 
> No. There is a widespread misconception that hornpipe phrases always end with 
> a pom-pom-pom but it turns out that there are lots of hornpipes that don't as 
> well als non-hornpipes that do.
> 
>>From an RSCDS-style dancer's point of view the difference between reels and 
> hornpipes is about as important as the number of angels that can dance on the 
> point of a pin, as the steps and tempo are 100% identical.

Which is why DanceData doesn't have dance-type Hornpipe (despite 
complaints in that department).

> For an RSCDS-style 
> musician, the matter becomes somewhat more important, as when making up sets 
> of tunes you usually want to combine hornpipes with other hornpipes, but one 
> can usually go by the titles or by gut feeling (I know I do).

Test for gut feeling: If anyone has the album Best Foot Forward by Sound 
Company (just on cassette I fear) tell me if you think the first track 
feels like a hornpipe.

> Then again, there's the dance, Kendall's Hornpipe, which is a jig.

Pretty much a conversation stopper that one <grin>

Alan