Re: Tunes played at Highland Games

Cindy J (cindy@cs.dartmouth.edu)
Mon, 5 Aug 1996 22:06:21 -0400 (EDT)

>
>
> CEO document contents:
>
> In Harp Digest #49, Julie M. Lehrman wrote :
>
> >In the last few years there have been several books and
> >recordings published of the Early Music of Scotland. Did
> >anybody choose to compete in the Scottish Harp competition with
> >a 16th or 17th century selection? Did that person use a replica
> >of an "period" harp? How well was this repetoire recieved by
> >the judges? How much leeway is given in what is acceptable as
> >an "Air" since the modern distinctions of Airs, reels,
> >strathspeys hadn't been invented yet?
>
Peter M. writes:
>
> In the end, it comes down to the fact that in any competition,
> you (as the old saying has it) "...don't get justice, but you get
> the opinion of a judge".
>

> So play what you believe to be beautiful - if a judge at a
> Highland Games doesn't approve, you are in no way diminished
> by that opinion !
>
> Peter Mac
> peter_macaulay@DGC.ceo.dg.com
>
>

Thanks for saying it so well, Peter-saved me the trouble of putting it in
my own words.

I would add that Sue Richards commented that the idiom was somewhat un-
familiar to her , as a judge. I've been thinking how that might be
remedied-perhaps we can get Bill Taylor to do a workshop sometime, for
judges and interested parties. Since he won the nationals playing I think
early Scottish music, I wonder who was the judge, how did Bill do it,and
how did this judge compare what he played to other performers.

Oh, well as I am on the subject, another question for the masses...why are
strathspeys wanted on the harp -they were not to my knowlege played on harp
but written for fiddle. (My historical bias is flashing crimson!) Oh well,
I am not really a diehard purist-a strathspey sounds good on a harp, I guess.

Best,

Cindy Crawford-(shhh, don't use my name- I get too many posts--are you THE
C.C. ...etc.)

-- 
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Cindy J                                    ( Cindy & Jasper, Cairn terrier)
cindy@cs.dartmouth.edu
Dragon Tales, Early Scottish Music for harp 
dragon@cs.dartmouth.edu                (http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~cindy)
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