Review of Dances to Song Tunes by Hugh Foss

Dances to Song Tunes by Hugh Foss

Accompanying CDs by Iain Cathcart and his Band Hugh Foss’s book Dances to Song Tunes, originally published in 1966, has recently been reprinted by the RSCDS as the first in a series of occasional historical reprints of books by significant dance devisers. There are two accompanying CDs recorded by Iain Cathcart and his Band. The book contains 15 dances – five jigs, five reels and five strathspeys – of varying difficulty. Most of them have the most common SCD format of three couples in a four-couple set. My Mither’s Aye Glow’rin’ Owre Me is also listed as such in the Contents, but is actually a two-couple dance. The figures used are standard movements such as reel, figure of eight, chase, hands around and rights and lefts. This may not sound very spectacular, but Hugh Foss has combined the figures in such a way that there is always something unexpected waiting for you. It is these arrangements which give the dances their special charm and at the same time make them so challenging. Teaching preparation may take somewhat longer than usual, as the descriptions have not been converted into standard RSCDS terminology. Although some helpful notes are provided at the end of the book, I would have appreciated an additional, completely revised RSCDS version. Our group especially enjoyed the strathspeys, including the unusual Somebody, a 5x16 round-the-room dance. John of Badenyon is for more advanced dancers and, once you have managed to remember what happens in the long but very fluent 48 bars, it will have you under its spell. The less complicated Castles in the Air has an interesting chain and circle at the end. For those who like meanwhile figures, the book provides many examples which demand precise dancing and good orientation, such as in the reels Hey, Johnnie Cope and The Gallant Weaver. As the book title suggests, Hugh Foss was clearly inspired by the music. In the case of John Grumlie, where the break in the figure sequence after 24 bars matches the original tune, it gets a bit confusing when some of the other tunes have different phrasing. The music by Iain Cathcart and his Band is a real gem. True to the promise of the book title, each dance has a different Scottish traditional song tune for every repetition, ranging from Burns’ songs to music hall favourites. The excellent tempi, spirited playing and delightful arrangements make for really cheerful, light-hearted dancing. One of Foss’s most famous dances, The Wee Cooper o’ Fife, is also included in the book. Why not try this book for yourself and see if there are any more hidden treasures destined to become old favourites? You will soon be dancing and singing along to the splendid music. I for one am certainly looking forward to the next book in the series. Kirsten Steinbach, Freiburg, Germany Available from RSCDS www.rscds.org/shop