MSR
Here’s a video of three of my favorite tunes: Bonny Ann, Cameronian Rant, and Lord MacDonald. These represent a style of music played in solo and band competition called the MSR which stands for March, Strathspey, and Reel. The last two are technically dance tunes but I think they would actually be played a bit different for dancers. The strathspey would definitely be played slower to give the dancer a chance to show off how much lift he or she could attain. A few years ago I got a chance to play a strathspey for a former classmate in a theatre show and when I started the tune I thought I was playing the right tempo, until she started dancing and I realized I had to slow way down, then way down again, then down again because of the amazing, beautiful, gracelful leaps she was able to do into the air. I had started the tune much too fast for a dancer of her caliber and when the actual performance came I continued to be amazed at the way she seemed to be suspended from one of those flying harnessed they use in theatre, but she wasn’t.
I digress… Here’s the MSR: