Review of Second Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances and CDS

A Second Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances and 2 CDs, Various Bands

This book, published in 2010 by the RSCDS and accompanied by a two-volume CD set, follows the format of the original Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances published 40 years previously in that it contains 24 jigs and reels and no strathspeys. The major motivation for producing a second volume was to enlarge the repertoire of dances suitable for younger performers at festivals. 19 of the dances are re-publications drawn from 15 dance collections with original publication dates ranging from 1972 to 2007. Most of the devisers are from Scottish or English branches, with six dances coming from New Zealand, Australia and the USA. Among the few devisers represented more than once, Roy Goldring stands out with four of his dances included. Charmingly, three of the dances were devised by children or with their help. About half the dances involve no setting and use simple formations such as turns, hands across, hands around and promenade. However, the first five dances require both skip-change-of-step and slipping step, so dancers must make transitions, in some cases along with a foot change. The next two dances in the collection use only skip change, with a few bars of retiring. Figures of eight appear in several of the earlier dances in the book, with reels of three first introduced in dance 11. Reel variations, poussette and corner figures appear in the latter third of dances. Each dance has its own tune, with most of the music arranged by Maureen Rutherford. Three bands, led by accordionists Luke Brady, Andrew Lyon and Ian Muir, each play eight tracks, and all bands include a second accordionist and two to four other musicians. Ian Muir’s band plays at a slightly faster tempo and sounds busier than the other bands. Because most tunes are played as AABB, newcomers not yet experienced with the genre may find hearing the 8-bar phrasing tricky, and a couple of tracks feature fading out and in of volume which tends to be disconcerting. Overall, however, the music is wonderfully lively, and can be enjoyed by listeners and experienced dancers as well as children and newcomers to Scottish country dancing.

Gail R. Michener, Medicine Hat Branch, Canada