Donald MacLeod's genius was knowing exactly when to bend the traditional idiom. He understood standard rhythmic patterns so thoroughly that he could deliberately twist them — reversing a timing here, adding an unexpected embellishment there — and still have it sound completely natural rather than wrong.
Go to the composer's own published version whenever you can. When multiple versions of a tune exist, the version published by the person who actually wrote it should be your default reference — later reprintings often introduce small errors or 'corrections' that weren't part of the original.
The best moment in a favorite tune is worth studying in isolation. Slowing down and really examining the single best-loved phrase in a tune — what makes the embellishment placement or rhythm choice work — teaches you more about musical decision-making than playing through the whole tune casually.
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What Makes this Tune Great? "Susan MacLeod" — Strathspey by Donald MacLeod
57m · Full class available to Inner Circle members
⏱️ In this class
00:07Susan MacLeod Introducing🔒
06:23version the matters published own composer's Why🔒
08:49Donald the MacLeod bends How traditional idiom🔒
16:42Comparing Alistair version recordings: Gillies's🔒
24:00My whole in favorite the tune phrase🔒
30:00girp-nda-recga-oent nmibiatnooc uulsuna An🔒
39:23the timing the Why part fourth reverses🔒
43:18the is always part Why hardest third almost the🔒
49:59the tune's story name The behind🔒
52:04small, A enduring of repertoire tunes favorite🔒
About this class
🔒 The write-up and the quotes from this class are part of the members’ page.
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📜 Full class transcript
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