Tune Req: Fort Belvoir Schottische

Subject: Tune Req: Fort Belvoir Schottische
From: GUEST,Scoville (not a GUEST!)
Date: 15 May 07 - 10:37 PM

Actually, it's a tune INFORMATION request.

Does anyone know the origins and proper key of the tune "Fort Belvoir Schottische"? I learned it in D in dulcimer, but then I learned pretty much everything in D on dulcimer so I don't know if that's the proper key or not.

It doesn't seem to be a very common tune. Googling it was remarkably unproductive even with variant spellings. It's on Scott Odena's dulcimer recording, Song for Grandpa, but there are no sound clips that I can find.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fort Belvoir Schottische
From: Peace
Date: 15 May 07 - 10:44 PM

"The Schottische

This is a circle dance that was introduced to Scotland from the continent. Firstly the common schottische (which means "Scottish Dance" and is based on the the German Polka) was introduced around 1849 and it was initially not very popular. But when the Highland Schottische was introduced (a combination of the common schottische and the old reel) it had immediate success and has been popular as a ceilidh dance ever since."

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fort Belvoir Schottische
From: Peace
Date: 15 May 07 - 10:52 PM

I think Google will be a wash. However, perhaps these people could point you in a direction where there be answers.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fort Belvoir Schottische
From: Scoville
Date: 16 May 07 - 03:17 PM

Yeah, except that schottisches in my experience are associated almost exclusively with Midwestern fiddlers, mostly those of German/Danish/etc. extraction. I suppose they could have gotten some of them from some kind of Scottish music tradition, but most of these guys are pretty dyed-in-the-wool Scandinavian and Teutonic so I wouldn't bank on it.

My Midwestern fiddle buddies, however, do not seem to be familiar with it (they learned it from me). It seems to be about the only schottische with which they are not familiar.

Sigh. Thanks all the same.


I managed to find an email for Scott. I don't know if it's still valid but I'm hoping it is and that he knows a little more about it.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Fort Belvoir Schottische
From: Scoville
Date: 17 May 07 - 10:28 AM

Okay, we seem to be on our way to tracking it down, at least as far as it will go. When I find out what's up, I'll post it in case anyone else wants to know and then let this thread die quietly.

Thanks!