This dance which is published in the latest RSCDS Book Thirty Popular Dances Vol 2 was Devised by John McGregor-Brown and originally called “Eine Reise nach Bayern”. – McGregor-Brown also composed a tune to be the original although this is not now the one that most dancers associate with the dance – and apparently he doesn’t approve of it!
- We are going to play The Remots of Herford, usually credited to Hamish Menzies, but which also bears an uncanny resemblance to a German song, The Lake Constance Fisher-woman, which was written by Franz Winkler in 1947. Certainly the first part of the tune is very similar but the 2nd half is not. Here is a snippet so you can hear the similarities.
- Hamish Menzies was a Scottish fiddle player and dance band leader whilst Herford is a town in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
- The alternative title for the remmerts of Herford is Hamish’s Tune, is said to go back to Andrew Rankine, who when recording the dance on his album, “Barn Yard Party”, couldn’t remember the original title, only the composer’s name – so Hamish’s Tune
A Trip to Bavaria (4×32 Reel): The Remots of Herford, The Smith’s Farewell to Shetland, Scapa Flow, The Remots of Herford
Backing Tracks: Note that you can download the file and adjust the tempo of the track via the three dots on the RH side of the files below.
Please Note:
Wherever possible we have acknowledged the composer and publisher of the tunes used. These sets are for personal use only and should only be used in this context. They should not copied for use elsewhere without permission.