strathspey@strathspey.org:70710

Bruce Herbold

Re: Arthur's Seat - last two bars

May 21, 2019, 9:28 p.m. (Message 70710, in reply to message 70707)

That is the way we dance it around here in San Francisco, but I find that
last note about 'cross to their own sides" very suggestive.  We do not
argue if 'cross to own sides' involves giving hands or not (although one
would in ECD), but we have developed much more precise language about our
dance form so that now interpret 'turn by the right' as different from
'turn with right hand.'  I very much suspect that Mr MacConachie did not
use our modern strict terminology.  Similarly, when he says 'cross to own
sides' I think he did not feel a need to specify which hand to give, any
more than he felt he needed to say to give hands while crossing.  By
extrapolation, I think his turn byt the right implied at the time, a giving
of hands --- it also flows into the start of the second time through in the
kind of free-wheeling style I associate with many of his dances.

Opinions, I got a million of 'em,

Bruce Herbold
Oakland CA