Scotscores / Muriel Johnstone - Reviews : Dancing Fingers 1, 2 & 3

ALBUM: Dancing Fingers 1, 2 & 3

ARTISTS: Muriel Johnstone - piano, Ronnie Currie - bass

ARTICLE IN: TACTalk - June 2001

"If you've never heard these wonderful recordings with Muriel on piano, ably supported by Ronnie Currie on string bass, then you are in for a treat. If you bought the cassettes ten years ago when they first came out, then you need to buy the CDs - you simply have not really heard these recordings. I have all of Muriel's cassettes, and yet listening to these new CD transfers is like listening to completely recordings. The engineering is superb - to say nothing of the music! Have I convinced you?

Every last note is a Muriel Johnstone composition, from the lively reels and bouncing jigs, through superb strathspeys to some hauntingly beautiful airs. It is easy to take Muriel for granted, simply rejoicing in her exemplary playing for our dances and workshops, but in these recordings we are reminded that she is a composer of the first rank as well as a performer of enormous ability. Here we have the best of all worlds; excellent tunes, cleverly arranged in magnificent sets for dancing, performed by an artists of the highest calibre.

All three recordings are excellent and each has its own characteristics. I find Volume 1 a little more relaxed than the others, perhaps because of the inclusion of more listening music, but the compositions are wonderfully refreshing. Volumes 2 and 3 each hav their own personalities, but both are delightful. Of the three recordings my favourite has to be Dancing Fingers 3, simply because that was the one I first danced to. The title track, The Whiteadder Jig, is a wonderful set of tunes, and a tremendously fun dance. The strathspeys for the next dance, Anna Holden's Strathspey, are breathtaking, while a marvellous set of Shetland-inspired reels accompany the next dance, Da Rain Dancin'. It's almost a shame to single out dances or even one recording because each recording, and each dance is a gem.

On a slightly different note, you will be amazed at the difference in the dancing of your classes as they move to this music. There's something in the piano music for dancing that invites excellent technique. For those of us not fortunate enough to have live music for class, this offers a great opportunity. Try it and see."

Andrew Smith
RSCDS Atlanta Branch