Issue 3468: Kinmont Willie

Object: Kinmont Willie (Dance)
Submitter: Stephen Webb (SJW)
Assigned to: Murrough Landon
Priority: Normal
Disposition: Needs help
Description: Please add to Extra Info. This dance along with Annie Shand Scott’s Strathspey and Marischal College were originally published in 1966 in the book entitled: New Scottish Country Dances in Traditional Form. This book should be added at the top of the publication list in which the dance is described. PS A similar note can be added to the other two dances’ Extra Info and publication list. Also note that the first 20 dances that appeared in this above first John Drewry publication are the same as the first 20 dances in The Bon Accord Book of SCD dated 1968.

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Date March 4, 2024, 7:06 p.m.
User Stephen Webb (SJW)

New issue submitted

Date March 5, 2024, 11:28 a.m.
User Murrough Landon (murrough)

Assigned changed to “murrough” (previously “None”)
Disposition changed to “Needs help” (previously “New”)

Thanks Stephen. However I am not entirely clear what you are saying.

I gather SCDDB is missing a publication “New Scottish Country Dances in Traditional Form” (1966). Was published by John Drewry or a group or branch? You start by saying that book has (only?) three dances (Annie Shand Scott’s Strathspey; Marischal College; Kinmont Willie).

But then you then mention there are 20 dances in common between the Bon Accord Book and “this” book so does that 1966 book actually have 23 dances?

If it has a table of contents may you could send us a scan? I think that would be clearer.

NB usually a later publication is considered more definitive and would normally appear first in the list of publications.

Date March 5, 2024, 11:49 a.m.
User Anselm Lingnau (anselm)

When it comes to publication priorities, we usually err on the side of publications that people are more likely to own or be able to obtain. The database is much more about practicality than it is about scholarly notions of what was first published where.

The facts that it is (1) comparatively ancient and (b) we don’t seem to have heard of it after 20+ years of compiling data on SCD books, including a concerted effort to align our John Drewry coverage with that in the RSCDS archives, makes the New Scottish Country Dances book a complete non-starter for top-priority publication. In fact, given that the Bon Accord Book is much better known and more widely available, even if a copy of the other book comes to light the priorities of the dances common to both should still place the Bon Accord Book above the other book.

Date March 6, 2024, 10:36 p.m.
User Iain Boyd (iain_boyd)

RE John Drewry’s collection - “New Scottish Country Dances In Traditional Form” -

John sent me a copy of this collection with a letter dated 12th August 1965.

The contents were printed on a Gestetner with covers of two pieces of light blue card all held together by a white plastic ‘U’ binder. My copy has a hand painted white rose with sprigs of purple heather towards the bottom right of the front cover.

The title probably alludes to that of my first collection (“Ten Scottish Country Dances In Traditional Form” - now referred to as “The Strathclyde Album”) as John refers to it in his letter.

The collection includes 18 dances (“Kinmont Willie” not being one of them) plus three tunes slipped in at the end. The tunes are “Bratach Bana”, “Mrs A Macpherson of Inveran” and “The Bonnie Lass O’ Bon Accord”.

I have checked the contents with the “Bon Accord Book” as listed in SCDDB. The 18 dances in my copy are the same as the first 18 dances in the “Bon Accord Book”.

I am not aware if John issued a further edition before publishing the “Bon Accord Book” but the date of publication should probably be 1965.

Let me know if more information is required.

Regards,

Iain Boyd