Ian Brockbank wrote: | On the terminology side, SCDers do not make many distinctions at all. | The average SCDer is hard put to distinguish between a "reel" (simple time) | and a jig (6/8) - subtleties such as hornpipes are beyond them. In slow | time, it's just "strathspeys", even when they are slow airs or schottisches | (though they are always simple time - they can tell a waltz, although it's | not part of the standard repertoire).
How true. I've seen numerous cases of dance teachers trying to explain the difference between a jig and a reel, and after listening to their fuzzy, mystical attempts, it becomes clear that they don't have a clue. OTOH, some of them understand the differences very well, including the march/reel/hornpipe distinction and how airs differ from strathspeys. I know a few dance leaders who are clear when they want hornpipe tunes rather than reels, mostly because it's natural to play hornpipes a bit slower (104-108 or so) so you can get the semi-dotted rhythm right. This is is desirable for some dances that are otherwise too hectic. Similarly, some teachers will request a "real strathspey" for teaching a dance that usually uses an air, because the recommended air doesn't have a strong enough rhythm and is confusing to novice dancers. After they've learned the dance, the recommended air may then be requested. As for waltzes in the standard repertoire, you can't get much more standard than the RSCDS booklets, which include: Book 4 # 8 Waltz Country Dance Book 12 # 7 The Yellow Haired Laddie Book 19 # 5 Tweedside These are the only ones that I know about, and I'd have to agree that they aren't common dances. (And the tune for The Yellow Haired Laddie is actually labelled "minuet" rather than "waltz", though I'd predict that the Renaissance Dance crowd would object that the tune isn't a minuet at all. ;-) Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music & Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
