Strathspey (Dance)

A strathspey (/stræθˈspeɪ/) is a type of dance tune in 4/4 time, featuring dotted rhythms (both long-short and short-long "Scotch snaps"), which in traditional playing are generally somewhat exaggerated rhythmically. Examples of strathspeys are the songs "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond" and "Coming Through the Rye" (which is based on an older tune called "The Miller's Daughter").

Strathspeys may be played anywhere from 108 beats per minute for Highland dance up to 160 beats per minute for step dance). Traditionally, a strathspey will be followed by a reel, which is in 2/2 with even eighth-notes, as a release of the rhythmic tension created during the strathspey.

It has been hypothesized that strathspeys mimic the rhythms of Scottish Gaelic song. Among traditional musicians, strathspeys are occasionally transmitted as canntaireachd, a style of singing in which various syllables are used to vocalize traditional bagpipe embellishments.