Anselm's Web Site

Musical Detective Work

· 17 July 2025, 23:28 · SCD

Back when I learned highland dancing in the 1990s, we used to enjoy doing the Scottish Lilt to a recording that Jack Campbell had been given by somebody, featuring Drops of Brandy played on the harp/concertina/bodhrán/… and then later two voices singing Brose and Butter. Nobody at the time seemed to know where it originally came from. I probably have the track on a cassette tape somewhere, but I'm no longer really set up for playing cassette tapes, and in any case it was a copy of Jack's copy of … and actually considerably worse for wear at that point – so it would be interesting to look for the original!

Delaware Valley Gold

· 13 March 2025, 22:59 · SCD

I ordered the Delaware Valley Gold CD and book from the Leeds Branch bookshop, and the package finally arrived today!

Another Dance Night

· 11 March 2025, 23:52 · SCD

It's Tuesday again and we're going dancing (Marie is working from home even though it is the first Tuesday of the new semester, because the public transport workers are on strike).

SCD Taster Session, part 2

· 09 March 2025, 23:22 · SCD

Just a brief note to document that the second four hours of this month's SCD taster session went fine – we finished with The White Cockade and The Machine without Horses, and while the dancing could have been improved in a few places, everybody finished together and in the correct places! The dancers were generally happy with the workshop and some of them are considering coming on Tuesdays.

SCD Taster Session, part 1

· 08 March 2025, 23:11 · SCD

It's that time of year again! We're holding a bi-annual taster SCD workshop for beginners in cooperation with the Volkshochschule Frankfurt (Frankfurt adult learning centre). This takes place on a Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning (4 hours each) and the Saturday session of the spring 2025 workshop is today.

General Stuart's Meme

· 04 March 2025, 23:54 · SCD

Dance class tonight! This is usually where we encourage the dancers to come wearing fancy dress, but turnout tonight is somewhat disappointing – we manage to round up enough people for one four-couple set. (Many others seem to have vaguely plausible excuses for not being there tonight.) Even so, we're enjoying ourselves!

February Mini Social

· 25 February 2025, 23:32 · SCD

It's time for the bi-monthly “mini social” once more! 12 dances with walk-throughs and recaps.

Easter Course, Again

· 22 February 2025, 23:32 · SCD

It's the weekend, and that means no work for the office and free time to work on other stuff (still at the same desk). In particular, I'm continuing on the “workbook” for the Easter workshop, and I'm happy to say it is coming along fine.

Dancing Again

· 18 February 2025, 23:34 · SCD

Another dance night at the FSCDC e.V. – I haven't written the class blog yet, so you'll have to check the club web site for it later.

Easter Workshop Prep

· 15 February 2025, 23:32 · SCD

The other day I mentioned the Central Germany Branch Easter workshop that I'm teaching this year, and I've had the list of dances for a while. Now that I've sent them and the lead tunes to the musicians in Japan, I can work on my own more detailed preparation.