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Hullo I doubt that I am telling you more than you already know. John Drewry devised a dance called Annie Shand Scott's Strathspey in the Rondel Book of SCD. The book was published in 1967. The dance is dedicated to Miss Annie Shand Scott of Aberdeen. The inscription at the end of the dance reads " Miss Annie Shand Scott, or "Scottie, as she is affectionately known, is a pianist and one the leading exponents of Scottish country dance music in Aberdeen. This dance was composed as a little birthday gift for her". She is also acknowledged at the end of the book (along with Nan Main) for allowing John Drewry to print some of her compositions and for helping to arrange other tunes in a suitable form for a book that John hoped to publish "Book of Tunes for the Rondel Book of Dances". At least four of the dances in the Rondel book are set to Annie Shand Scott arrangements. The dance is a 4-couple dance, with a description explaining each couple dance as top couple only once (so I assume it is one of the early 4 couple dances). It is an enjoyable dance. I would be interested to know more. Best wishes Katharine
Hullo I have just been reading the music notes for John Drewry's books more closely. For the Rondel Book, some of the recommended tunes are by Annie Shand and some by Annie Shand Scott. I have never read the notes so closely until the query on Strathspey and until now assumed they were the same person. Given the dates for some of the publications, I am now starting to doubt this. Can anyone clarify? Best wishes Katharine Katharine Hoskyn Franklin County, NZ
Hi Katherine, Thank you for the detailed response. Other responses I had on the scots_music mailing list were: === "In the musicians' gallery was King George's favorite dance orchestra, Mrs. Annie Shand's Band from Aberdeen, which has played at every servants' ball at Balmoral since the War." (Time 1934 article) Annie Shand Scott Band (1953) Recorded for Beltona. === There's some info and recordings here: http://www.raretunes.org/performers/annie-shand === Cheers, Ian Privacy & Confidentiality Notice ------------------------------------------------- This message and any attachments contain privileged and confidential information that is intended solely for the person(s) to whom it is addressed. If you are not an intended recipient you must not: read; copy; distribute; discuss; take any action in or make any reliance upon the contents of this message; nor open or read any attachment. If you have received this message in error, please notify us as soon as possible on the following telephone number and destroy this message including any attachments. Thank you. ------------------------------------------------- Wolfson Microelectronics plc Tel: +44 (0)131 272 7000 Fax: +44 (0)131 272 7001 Web: www.wolfsonmicro.com Registered in Scotland Company number SC089839 Registered office: Westfield House, 26 Westfield Road, Edinburgh, EH11 2QB, UK
Hi there, Annie Shand (Mrs) and Annie Shand Scott (Miss) were definitely two different people - both from Aberdeen. Annie Shand of Old Scottish Music fame was much older than Annie Shand Scott. I don't know whether they were related but that could possibly be discovered. However, I think it's unlikely there was a link with Jimmie Shand. There's an obituary for Annie Shand in one of the old Bulletins - a copy of which is in the Archives but I'm afraid I don't know the year. Certainly by the time I came to Aberdeen in the mid 1960s, Annie Shand had died. 'Scotty' - Annie Shand Scott - on the other hand was very much alive and played regularly for Aberdeen Branch classes. Her band was the resident one at the Northern Hotel for many years, but she too would have been dead by the late seventies or early eighties. Ian's researches refer to two people which I'm sure he has realised. I'll follow this up as soon as I can find some time to ask around. I'm sure some of the older members of the Branch will have more information. Jean Martin Aberdeen
Greetings! Jean Martin writes: > There's an obituary for Annie Shand in one of the old Bulletins ... There is indeed and it follows. Jim Healy Perth, Scotland Bulletin No. 11 March 1937 Mrs Annie Shand To those of us who attended the General Meeting of the Society in Glasgow in November, it seems almost incredible to think that we shall never again have the delight of dancing to Mrs Shand’s playing. By her death, on November 28th, the Society lost a most ardent supporter, and we of the Aberdeen Branch feel her loss most keenly. >From the founding of the Society until two years ago she worked for its interests with unflagging zeal. No exertion was too hard for her if it was undertaken in the cause of Scottish Country Dancing; nothing delighted her more than to be asked for her help, and she was always willing to turn out in fair weather or foul to come and play in some remote country village or for some struggling Guide Company. Her enthusiasm, indeed, led her to overtax her strength, and in March 1935 she had to give up her work. This period of enforced idleness was a misery to her, but through it all she retained her intense interest in our doings, and after every meeting and every party some of us had always to go “to tell Mrs Shand all about it”. It was a joy to everyone that she recovered sufficiently to be able to attend last year’s Summer and Autumn Schools, and to play for us again in her own inimitable fashion. She was so much more than merely a Scottish Country Dance pianist - she was an artist. Her knowledge of the dances and of their technique was profound, and this knowledge enabled her to give each separate dance its own special lilt and rhythm. One thing we have to be thankful for - that she was able to make records of so many of our dance tunes. Modern Science has earned our gratitude by making it possible for future generations to hear the finest Scottish pianist of our day, while those who knew and loved her can switch on our gramophones and see, in fancy, her charming smile as we hear the blithe beat of Petronella or the stately measures of Glasgow Highlanders, played by her magic fingers. M. F. B.
so this only raises the question of where these recordings reside and under whose copyright -- " Modern Science has earned our gratitude by making it possible for future generations to hear the finest Scottish pianist of our day" They did their part but us 'future generations' have our end of the bargain to uphold. Anyone know anything about how one can hear this? Bruce Herbold San Francisco PS (Although I remain a stalwart fan of Nancy Dickson, she did come along 50 years later. And thank the lord for Muriel's dancing fingers).
