the MASTERS of the craft did not? If familiarity does not breed contempt, it at least breeds a passivity. If a player has played the same tunes hundreds of thousands of times, and heard the classic bands playing them hundreds of thousands more, how easily can the mind wander,and the performance be ‘mailed in’? I would be far more in- terested to hear the current top bands make other combinations the new classics.There are a tremendous num- ber of tunes which could serve. So how about it, top bands? How about a set MSR of Raasay House, The Fiddler’s Joy, and The Clucking Hen? Or even Achany Glen, Monymusk, and Johnnie MacDonald’s Reel? SeanW. Detmers, via email.
Sir, Yes, Mr Mackenzie you are a
dinosaur just like me and all those who know better.The badge side of the glengarry should be at approximately 45 to 50 degrees and the right side perpendicular. The ‘modern’ way of wearing this bonnet is made worse by most wearing, I suspect, a size too big and the crowns being made too big. Those who wear the glengarry the modern way, and that appears to be most who wear it, look silly. It is almost, but not quite, as bad as the modern fashion of calf length kilts. It is the feile beag, or little kilt, after all. On the plus side though, the ‘day glow’ white socks seem less popular nowadays.Yes I am a dinosaur too – and proud to be one!
Tommy Nimmo, Winchburgh,West Lothian. 51 Hornpipes Sir, A slightly pedantic comment to
the hornpipe article in the February issue.Crossing the Minch as published in EdcathVol. 1 does not contain any double slurs on B but double catches preceded by a G-gracenote.The only tune in EdcathVol 1 with double slurs is Major David Manson (fourth part). The first hornpipe in Edcath with double slurs isTam Bain’s Lum inVol. 2.The main difference is the grip part (BGDGB gracing) the double catch is replaced by an E-grace note and a G- strike (BEBGB gracing) in the double slur hence making it easier to play fast.
Stig Bang-Mortensen, via email. Cocked Bonnets Dinosaurs