Resources for Teachers & Musicians:
Working with a musician:
RSCDS Unit 3 Materials:
The differences between a traditional Strathspey and a Slow-air/Pastoral type.
If your skills and formation exercises are being carried out using strong traditional strathspeys, which is the norm, but the dance is a Slow-air/Pastoral type Strathspey e.g.Miss Gibson’s Strathspey, The Lea Rig, Sands of Morar etc.). It is advisable to be aware of this and highlight the differences in the style of then differnet style of the tunes and the effect that this is likely to have on the style of dancing. Slow-air/Pastoral strathspeys are more likely to lead to a more fluid/less tight step.
Reason for the resource:
Highlighting the differences in the style of tune for the Slow-air/Pastoral strathspeys and the traditional strathspey and the effect that this is likely to have on the style of dancing. Slow-air/Pastoral strathspeys are more likely to lead to a more fluid/less tight step
Slow-Air/Pastoral Strathspey – The Lea Rig (traditional)
Note – smooth melody no ‘scotch snap’
Traditional Strathspey – MacPhedran’s Strathspey
Traditional Strathspey with a strong first beat of the bar (Scotch snap – dotted quaver) which encourages the dancer to ‘sink’ into the forward step thus helping to get the necessary forward movement