Review of Book and CD 49

RSCDS Book 49 and CD

Jim Lindsay and his Scottish Dance Band Book 49 and its associated CD are among the best published by the Society. The dances are all danceable and the music makes you want to dance them! The Society’s system of submitting and testing dances has evolved to produce an interesting selection from all over the world. This book comprises a well-rounded range of jigs, reels, strathspeys and one medley, in all the common varieties of sets. Of the twelve, we rank eight dances as straightforward but interesting and four as more intricate for those dancers who enjoy a challenge. We both enjoyed learning the dances in the book at Summer School last year and bringing them back to Hertfordshire to teach at the Berkhamsted Club over two evenings. Now, a few months later we have seen several of them appear on local dance programmes, namely: Orpington Caledonians (R8x32) by John Brenchley. Miss Eleanor (S3x32) by Ann Dix. Some dancers find the 3C bourrel easier than the 2C version! John Cass (J5x32) by Peter Avery, with alternating tandem reels for three pairs is great fun. Others we think worth considering for your dance programmes are:Neil M Grant (J8x32); Midsummer Common (S8x32); Flora’s Fancy (J8x32); MacDonald of Keppoch (M:S2x32+R2x32) a lovely medley with interesting changes of direction. The other four dances would make excellent demonstration sets. So that’s the dances in the Book, but the accompanying CD by Jim Lindsay and his Scottish band is fantastic! It would be worth buying and just listening to even if you aren’t a dancer. Jim was asked by Membership Services to include two tracks of his own choosing. He chose the Waltz from the Masquerade Suite by Khachaturian and Ragtime Pipers, which are excellent listening tracks. The tempo of the recording for each dance track is perfect, with captivating lift. The arrangements are creative and musical with delightful counter-melodies and colourful instrumentation. The members of his 6-piece band all stand out appropriately with both the violin and percussion having interesting solos. Having listened to the CD many times, it is impossible to find a favourite track – they are all great! In addition, there are three tracks for dances from Miss Milligan’s Miscellany. The well known and loved, Hooper’s Jig and The British Grenadiers, for which Jim uses the Radetzky March by Johann Strauss to accompany the original tune. At one of our club nights, the whole hall erupted into loud applause for an encore. The last track is Bonnie Georgie’s Wig, which is bound to become popular now. Jane Rose and Ken Martlew, London Branch and Berkhamsted Club Comments received from the Scottish country dancing group in Hamburg were similar and positive. Experienced and inexperienced dancers enjoyed most of the dances. Hamburg SCD group