Oh, can you tell more about their musical preferences? I like the topic of art of this kind, but I have never had anything to do with either music or dance. Please tell about the moments when they decided to take up music or dance together?🌸
Sure! Some historical context because as a history major, I can't help myself.
Seeing as my rewrite takes place in 1905, music was pretty limited in Scotland. And by limited, I just mean anything released or 'recorded; was refined to a handful genres and subjects as Scottish folk music and agricultural ballads were often at the forefront of the music scene and culture. Jazz hadn't reached the UK until around 1919 and classical music was under the influence of the Scottish Reformation so it was highly religious until Italian classical was introduced in the 1770s. By the early 20th century, classical music was a national school art so it was often limited in scope.
That being said, Anderson is a Scotsman to his core and thoroughly enjoys folk music. I made him able to play the guitar and sing out of pure self-indulgence and is a shadow of my love for The Sound of Music, in which Anderson and Christine are a parallel to Maria and Georg. His adoration for music is definitely a coping mechanism for him and allows him to tap into his true self. Christine has a deep love for folk music as well, but her heart belongs to hymnals. Christine is adept in the guitar as well and has the voice of a lark (a lark learning to pray, anyone? /ref)
In the scope of the fic, I am not sure if there will be a musical moment between the two, quite frankly. I want the fic to be pretty speedy but I can definitely imagine I will selfishly cram in a song or two between them. I am thinking of two songs in particular --
The Braes of Balquhither - a Scotish/Irish folk song not fully recorded until 1957, retitled as Wild Mountain Thyme (popular thanks to Sinners right now) but had lyrics and a melody prior.
Mo Shùil Ad Dhèidh (My Eye Is After You) - a poem about lost love eventually attached to folk music composition. The guy who wrote it is kinda....ew. But I digress. It fits thematically.
I tried to pick songs about longing, beauty, and adoration - some underlying feelings between the two that might never be realized fully or lived out.
Dance wise? Oh to have them engage in dancing together... but again, it may not fit within the scope and tone of my fic. We'll see. Both grew up dancing, both enjoy it, but perhaps Christine wouldn't find it suitable for her dance anymore and Anderson would hate to insult her honor. Lol