In my opinion

Original tunes

In my opinion an original tune should not be played as an alternative for other dances. But what is an 'original' tune? In Book I, all but one of the dances have tunes of the same name. The tune for the Duke of Perth first appeared in the Drummond Castle Manuscript of 1734 while the dance did not appear until The Ballroom of 1827. The dance The Merry Lads of Ayr was in the same Ballroom , but the tune by John Riddell dates back to 1776. Did the dance devisors simply like the tunes and name the dances after them? Fast forward to Books 12 and 13 and we see that many of the dances and their tunes come from the same sources. So are these tunes proper originals? Nevertheless, most of the tunes in books up to Book 21 were chosen by 20th century committees for 18th century dances. Forward again to Book 44 and there has been considerable discussion because well-known modern tunes in the repertoire of our bands have suddenly become originals: Mrs Agnes Ritchie (Starlight) and Major Thomas of Cairnleith (The

Wishing Well). Perhaps they should have asked some of our excellent musicians to compose new tunes. Incidentally, Major Thomas was a dog! But common sense must prevail. It would not be acceptable to play originals for popular dances such as The Sailor, Maxwell's Rant, or The Braes of Breadalbane as second or

third tunes for other dances. There are. however, many good originals for dances which are rarely done and we ought to hear them, for example: Roxburgh Castle and Jenny Dang the Weaver In fact, a few lesser known originals have appeared as alternatives in recent Society recordings. Finally, it is, I believe, wrong for an original, specifically composed for a particular dance, to be 'stolen' (if that's not too strong a word) and used for another dance as its original. This has happened with the original for my own dance, Fraser's Favourite, being chosen as the original tune for The Dunivard Reel on a recent non-Society recording.

Well-known originals

I feel sad and even annoyed when bands on radio and CD do not play the correct and well-known originals for popular dances such as The Dashing White Sergeant and Circassian Circle. I even heard a band who did not play the very distinctive original for Shiftin' Bobbins. Why do they not simply say ·a set of reels or jigs'?

Strathspey or not strathspey!

We should not blame contemporary dance devisdrs for suggesting tunes for strathspeys which are not genuine strathspeys. The Society began the trend with The Lea Rig and Seann Truibhas Willichan .

Whether we like it or not, they are here to stay and new slow air/pastorals are currently being composed. There are three fines ones by Andrew Knight on Alastair Wood's CD for Book 31 on the Autumn in Appin encore track.

Which came first?

Most of the tunes in the Graded Book are well-known songs, but they were nearly all dance tunes before the songs were written. Not in that book, but the best known example in this genre is the jig The Caledonian Hunt's Delight slowed down for Burns' song Ye Banks and Braes! Jimmy Shand recorded it in 1971 as the second tune for Hooper's Jig .

Workshops

In my opinion the terms 'social dancing' and 'workshop' should be deleted from our dancing language. All dancing should be 'social'. What is wrong with classes, dances and balls? I accept that there is a modern definition of 'workshop', but it includes intensive discussion. How much discussion is there at a day school? Let us stick with day and weekend schools and musicians' courses.

Book 46

In my opinion Book 46 will be issued in due course! There was some discussion at the 2005 conference weekend about publishing books without music. Issue no I of this magazine included two dances to mark Eileen Watt's retirement. Are the tunes available to all musicians? I feel there will be other occasions when a new dance is called for. ls Issue I going to be available to dancers in ten or twenty years time? The Society decided some years ago that there would be no more leaflet dances, or dances for a particular year, as all future dances would be in numbered books. So, Book 46 it must be in due course! (Photograph courtesy of Stephen J. Webb)

Teachers' Associations The logo rscd'/

TAS Updated logo

Dance Scottish

Scottish teachers now have their own teachers' association Teachers Association Scotland (TAS). The founding meeting took place in Edinburgh on September 9th. The chairman is Marjorie Macrae with Peter Clark as Secretary/Treasurer and Margot Priestley as Workshop Organiser. (Further details from Peter on 01540 662346 or clarks@ukonline.co .uk)

SERT A

Under the auspices of the South-East Branches Committee, teachers in the SE of England have formed the South-East Regional Teacher's Association (SERTA). (Further details from Mervyn Short on 01903 715068 or nyvrems2@onetel.com) Every organisation periodically reviews the way it presents itself to the outside world. Our 'crown of ghillies' logo was first introduced in 1981 and although it is very clever to an insider, it means nothing to a non-dancer. The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society is a long name. It was decided to concentrate on RSCDS. The other guideline set down was that the 'crown' should be included as part of the logo. The final element was to add what is known as a strapline. 'Dance Scottish' was originally used for the children's teaching pack and was chosen as it identifies what we do, continues something already in place and allows for the development of specific themes such as 'Dance Scottish for fitness/fun/etc.' Change is always difficult but we are sure it will grow on you. Jim Healy, Membership Services