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Enjoy this curated selection of theme-related dances for celebrations and holidays, or find a dance associated with a special calendar day, or EVEN your own birthday!
Mar 29
Piano Day
Humberstone's Magic Piano
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Practice is the only way to learn. There is no magic shortcut.”
~ Sparky's Magic Piano, 1947
True enough, for both pianists and Scottish Country Dancers!
There are 88 keys on a piano—which is why the 88th day of the year is celebrated as Piano Day!
The piano itself dates back to around 1700, when Bartolomeo Cristofori devised an instrument that could play both soft and loud—piano and forte.
The tune associated with this dance was composed by Ian R. Muir of Craigellachie, a prolific and much-loved contributor to Scottish dance music. Muir’s compositions often carry personal stories, and this one is no exception. Inspired in part by the childhood favorite Sparky’s Magic Piano, it also reflects the lasting influence of pianist Alan Corkett, whose imaginative, rhythmically alive playing left a deep impression on Muir’s early musical life. From formative days at Cecil Sharp House to years performing with McBain’s Band, that “magic piano” spark helped shape his musical voice and love of Scottish dance style.
The dance by prolific devisor John Mitchell, is a 32 bar 4 couple strathspey and contains a magical “Double turn Corner, Partner, Corner, Partner” which uses all four couples!
Thank you to all the musicians who provide the lift and drive that keeps us all moving! 🖤 🤍 🖤 🎹 🎼 🎶 🎶 🎶
Humberstone's Magic Piano
Inspiration for this tune composed by Ian R Muir is related by himself here:
I first met Alan, when I was 13 years old, at Cecil Sharp House – the Headquarters of the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) . I had been taken, as a very inexperienced accordion player to take part in the ‘come all ye’ Thursday night sessions run by the society. Alan Corket led the musicians and Alan was the resident pianist. Over my formative years I attended many times trundling my accordion up to Cecil Sharp House on the tube from Hownslow where we lived. Alan’s piano playing inspired me from my first hearing. It was certainly magical, inventive and had trmendous lift. Alan was also a founding member of McBain’s Band who played for Scottish Dances in the Southern Counties of England and through his influence I became increasingly more and more influenced and intrested in the Scottish style of playing. Alan also pursuaded Bill Farr, the then leader of the band, to give me an audition which reulted in me joining the band when I was 17. I p layed with McBain’s for 15 years before branching out and forming my own band which later became Craigellachie. Alan became a good friend and there was nothing better than hearing his many stories about his playing experiences, having a tune and and of course marvelling at his inspirational playing. As a young child I remeber a 45 rpm record that we had listened to many many times called Sparkey’s Magic Piano and when I wasl looking for the name of this tune it sprung to mind and seemed a good way of remebering the musical times that we had had together and of the tremdous influence that Alan had on my playing from an early age.
Humberstone’s Magic Piano is the recomended tune for The Indian River Strathspey devised by George and Odie Senyk. https://my.strathspey.org/dd/dance/7560/
For more background on Ian's tunes, click the music!
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
