To be frank it is not easy being Scottish. As the academics say there is always a dichotomy. One has to juggle with the dreaded responsibility of being Presbyterian on one hand, with the expectation that one is the life and soul of the party on the other. Thus one and the same person is expected to prop up the bar on Saturday night, pint and chaser on order and to be seen on a Sunday with Bible in hand and a face like a slapped bahookie. Apparently this all goes back years and is the fault of everyone else.
It is to be seen in our literature, for example in the work of Jasper’s favourite Robert Louis Stevenson. The strange story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is said to be a metaphor about how we Scots present two opposing sets of characteristics at the same time. This can be confusing for ourselves let alone other people. They say it is all a crisis of identity, the result of the loss of first crown and then parliament, but then ‘they’ say many things.
You will also see this in many aspects of Scottish life. We can be generous to a fault, welcoming all strangers at times then on other occasions mean spirited and have the ability to peel an orange in our pocket. One has to say this last feature is to be found mainly on the east coast where it is dry and cold. Equally, we can be found legless in the Gallowgate and in fine voice in the Orpheus Choir. Perhaps it is a reflection of the weather which varies from temperate to tundra in a matter of half an hour. No wonder we are confused.
You can find it in our Arts, for example in the way we dance. There is firstly ceilidh dancing, the rough and ready expression of joyful abandonment to be found at many a family gathering or party. It can be performed in any space in the kitchen or village hall on St Andrews Night or Hogmanay. Its requirements are simple – a fiddle or accordion player and a willing group of participants who all claim to know the dance, in practice their combined knowledge usually makes a whole dance. In times past the musician would simply take his fiddle from the prized family possessions in the pine chest or kist, jump on it as a stage and begin to play.
There is to be frank a manly element to all of this, the object often being to make the female as dizzy as possible so that she falls readily into the arms of a farm hand with a glint in his eye. Fancy footwork is not required and indeed is regarded with suspicion. To be light in one’s dancing shoes is not necessary.
The opposite is true of the related Scottish Country Dancing, which finds couples of dancers tracing patterns with their movements in either jigs, reels or Strathspeys. It is popular among the higher echelons of society and therefore finds favour with Muriel who sees it as an integral part of gracious living and being marvellous.
We join the Wylies on their way to their regular class at The Lowland Reel and Strathspey Society.
“Jasper I don’t know why you have a face like a wet weekend in Saltcoats. We are only driving to the dance class and not to an execution. People will think you have no interest in Scottish Country Dancing.”
“People would be correct Muriel. I have no interest in The Duchess of Atholl’s Slipper, Madge Wildfire’s Strathspey or Mr Wilson’s Hornpipe. In fact, I would rather eat my own head.”
“Oh don’t be ridiculous Jasper, what you mean is you would much rather be at home watching Dixon of Dock Green and sleeping in the chair. Dancing is good for you, it’s stimulates the brain remembering all those patens and the exercise is good for you. Especially you finished off most of that steak pie and the jam roly-poly.”
“Yes Mrs Travers, our daily woman what does but not a lot, did make a very good supper. Pity it has to be spoilt by being dragged out on a damp autumnal evening. Just look at that fog coming up over the braes, we probably won’t be able to see driving home. I hate these roads at night.”
“Don’t hate Jasper; it’s such an unforgiving word and anyway you know what they say at this time of year, ‘Mist in the hollow fine day to follow’. Now put your foot down a bit or we will be late and did you remember your cup and saucer?
“No I did not.”
“Well just as well I did Jasper and some of my never fail shortbread biscuits made from an original 18th century recipe handed down since time immemorial and even beyond, plus the appropriate napkins.”
“I thought you said it was 18th century and that is time memorial as far as I am aware.”
“Don’t split hairs Jasper, but if you insist what I meant was that the receipt is very old but was only written down in the 18th century as prior to that the women in my family were very oral.”
“You don’t say!”
“Anyway at least its older than Miss Mackenzie’s recipe; she claims her shortbread dates back to George IV’s visit in the 1820s.”
“You are nothing if not competitive Muriel, what does it matter.”
“Oh it matters Jasper; just like it matters that we are seen as one of the premier Country Dance Couple in Lowland Scotland. So it would help if you stopped dancing like ‘Mr Pastry’ or saying you wonder if it would work with the twist. They take it very seriously you know.”
“Oh I know that Muriel I know that, it’s just a pity it’s so……”
“So what Jasper?”
“So hysterically funny!”
“And just how Jasper, dahling – and by the way you should be in fourth gear – do you think the rest of the world regards your monthly History Society meetings with riveting explanations about Hill Sheep farming, The Temperance Movement and of course the not to be missed story of Village Water Pumps Through the Ages ?”
“That’s a bit below the belt dear.”
“Just like your sporran after that second pudding. Now here we are. Park over there, I like a parking space that suggests je ne sais quoi.”
“Now just smile and try and look as if you are pleased to be here Jasper, have you got the 5 shillings weekly subscription?”
“Yes dear, and who is the secretary again?”
“It’s Dick, Dick Swift the Dentist; he’s also in the golf club and the Rotarians.”
“Wouldn’t you just know it?”
“Good evening Mrs Wylie, Mr Wylie, so good of you to come on such a dreich night. Now that will be 5 shillings. And did you remember your cup and saucer? It saves on the washing up. Now we have a live band this evening instead of the usual gramophone records.”
“Anyone exciting?
”
“Oh Mr Wylie you are such a caution! All our participants are exciting. It’s that old favourite Accordian Archie and his All Stares.”
“Don’t you mean All Stars?”
“No; the other two, the McLeary boys, are a bit short sighted so they do tend to stare a little as they usually forget their glasses and cannot see the music.”
“A promising evening then.”
“Isn’t always Mr Wylie?”
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen welcome. My name is Eunice Secole and I am the Society’s President. I do hope you have all brought your cups and saucers? At my own expense during the interval, there will be a selection of tray bakes, only one piece each now, we don’t want to be porky piggies, now do we? Now it is my great pleasure to introduce our guest callers this evening the well known members from the Borders Miss Shona Legge and Miss Lydia Kettle.”
“Good evening dancers, it is quite possible that Country dancing was introduced to Scotland by James, Duke of York later James VII and II, who was sent to Holyrood by King Charles to hold court. In 1681 Princess Anne, later Queen Anne, was sent as she was known to be a talented dancer. Interestingly the first known Scottish Country Dance was John Anderson, My Jo, the choreography of which was found in a document in 1704. The dance is, however, very much in the style of a late 17th century dance. So please take your partners for John Anderson, My Jo.”
“I don’t know this at all Muriel.”
“You will soon Jasper.”
“Stand up straight Mr Wylie; I have been warned about you.”
“Phew Muriel that was exhausting, those two women are pretty fearsome.”
“Yes; they certainly know what they are doing. I believe they share a house together in Newton St Boswells. Both are gym teachers, former Wrens and Miss Legge is known for her hobby of blacksmithing.”
“Yes I can see the arms from here, those muscles scream wrought iron work.”
“If you give me the cups and saucers Jasper, I will get our tea and tray bake, would you like millionaire’s shortbread or chocolate marshmallow?”
“Both.”
“Naughty, Mr Wylie.”
“Oh good evening ladies; thank you for such inspiring calling.”
“It’s the least we can do for beginners and I am sure it will help when you manage to work out left and right. Isn’t country dancing marvellous Mr Wylie?”
“I live for it ladies!”
“Indeed Mr Wylie; Miss Kettle and I never miss an opportunity for a double triangle or even on occasions a reel of four.”
“I can well imagine Miss Legge, but I may if you don’t mind sit the second half out my pas de basque are not what they should be.”
“We can see that but Mr Wylie; Rome was not built in a day or Selkirk for that matter and please remember while the steps are important, it is more important to be in the right place at the right time as Miss Kettle always says to me.”
“I do indeed and mark my words Mr Wylie a year and a half should see a big improvement and you will soon be skip changing and promenading like an old timer. To think Mr Wylie that Scottish Country Dancing was in danger of dying out in the early 20th century until the Scottish Country Dance Society to which we are affiliated was established to preserve country dances as danced in Scotland. It is now Royal you know. Her Majesty is a great dancer.”
“Well ladies I heard that the standardisation of dances has removed many of the local variations particularly in Newton Stewart where they do things differently.”
“No heresy now Mr Wylie. Now finish your tea and let’s get on the floor for Bonnie Anne.”
“Not another airy-fairy dance is it?”
“Not at all Mr Wylie. This is a real man’s dance, a soldier’s dance for the fit and agile, men much like yourself. It does of course consist of none but the travelling pas de basque step and requires calf muscles like an Olympian god and the grace of a gazelle, all your qualities we feel”
“Count me in.” said Jasper, preening himself.
“We thought we might be able to; you have the posture Mr Wylie, the bearing of a highland warrior.”
“If you insist.”
“We do; and think Mr Wylie. This is only one of over a thousand recorded Scottish Country Dances.”
“You don’t say. Muriel would you mind washing my cup; these ladies need some assistance from a man of feeling.”
“Carry on Jasper, carry on. Then you can join me in ‘Mrs Wylie’s Fancy’ which I have commissioned to show off my advantages.”
à bientôt
Muriel
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