> It's a wonderful book! One of my "top of the pile" collections. (As in, > I have a huge pile of music here and Charlie's book is always near the > top.) > > I bought it a couple of years ago at a Highland Festival in the States. > Besides recognizing Charlie's name, I was attracted to it because of the > fact that it's all Jigs! One of the harp societies I'm active in has > been really pushing Reels and Strathspeys as "the" dance music of > Scotland, and I suspected there was more. I'm so glad that Charlie > published this collection, because it confirmed my suspicions!
Well all those Cape Bretoners like to dance square sets to jigs. So the musicians all play tons of jigs up there. However someone mentioned that the square sets are not an import from the Scottish Highlands, like the step dancing is. Rather the square sets were imported from either the States, England or other parts of Canada, and jigs fit the right meter for the dance. Supposedly they evolved from the Lancer's dance sets? We need help on the details from Kate Dunlay, our resident "expert dancer". Kate, what is the story behind them? I know you told me one time a couple years ago when we visited you guys in Toronto, but I was either really tired or slightly blotto at the time (or both), so I don't remember. :-) At any rate, I like to find jigs that are interesting and unique, because quite honestly so many jigs are boring or trite. Alot of the most interesting jigs I've heard and borrowed have come from Irish players. I'm pretty happy to have discovered Charlie's jig book here because I'm sure it will have some good ones. -- Toby Rider ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) "He either fears his fate too much, Or his deserts are small, That puts it not unto the touch To win or lose it all." - James Graham, Marquis of Montrose Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music & Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
