Keppoch's Rant

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s+2s circle 4H round to left for 3 steps, 1s cast to 2nd place as 2s dance up, 1s+3s repeat this Fig circling to right
9-16 3s+1s set, dance ½ R&L and cross RH
17-24 2s+1s+3s circle 6H round and back
25-32 2s+1s+3s turn partners RH and turn LH

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

Keppoch's Rant - Full Size And Key To Symbols

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Dance Information

The online websites and minicribs attribute this to David Rutherford, but Johnson published the same figure earlier.

(Dance information copyright, reproduced here with the kind permission of George Williams)

It all seems to go back to one Alasdair Carragh (in Gaelic: pillar of strength), although he was more frequently known by the less salubrious surname Carrach, which means "scruffy". Alasdair seems to be closely associated with the founding of the Keppoch MacDonalds, and was a grandson of King Robert II, the first of the Stewart kings, who brought about what I have seen described in historical references as "evil consequences" and "a heritage of woe on Scotland" because of his many conjugal relationships. They resulted in Robert siring 21 offspring who in turn were said to be responsible for numerous subsequent problems in maintaining a royal line of succession. Worth noting is that the current Chief of Keppoch challenges the accuracy of these past historic references and is in the process of having them rewritten.

All of which is to say that a history of the Keppochs is highly complex but may well be somewhat fanciful. Despite the foregoing, the MacDonalds of Keppoch were staunch supporters of Scottish independence over the centuries and spilled much blood at Bannockburn and Culloden plus a host of battles in between.

Now let's get back to the dance...

Puzzling to me is that while one might expect Keppoch's Rant to be a lively dance, it is in fact a strathspey. I am a little bemused as to how that can be. My trusty OED (Oxford English Dictionary) defines a rant as a "high-flown, extravagant, or bombastic speech or utterance".

To rant is "to rave or talk foolishly". My Dictionary of Scots Dialect includes the word "ranty" to mean lively, cheerful, or gay. These are words to describe a strathspey? Could it be that the Keppoch MacDonalds, much like the Robertsons whose strathspey is also described as a rant, are in fact a far more sober, restrained group of Highlanders than we might expect?

The Barry Pipes Canon 062- November, 2013.

(Dance information from set and link, RSCDS Toronto Newsletter - What's In A Name? The Barry Pipes Canon 2005-2018, reproduced here with kind permission. Copyright Barry Pipes. All rights reserved)

The name is likely derived from Gaelic. One interpretation suggests it comes from the Gaelic ceapach, meaning a tillable plot or piece of cultivated land. This word was historically used to describe small areas of arable ground, particularly in the Highlands, where land suitable for farming was limited. Over time, ceapach evolved into various anglicised forms, including Keppoch, Keppock, and related spellings.

Keppoch is historically associated with Lochaber in the western Highlands, particularly near Spean Bridge and Roy Bridge. The MacDonells of Keppoch held lands in this area for centuries. They were involved in various conflicts and uprisings, including support for the Jacobite cause. The chief of the clan was traditionally styled as "Mac Mhic Raonuill", which translates as "son of the son of Ranald."

In modern times, the word Keppock is still found in place names, especially in parts of the Scottish Highlands, and occasionally as a street or area name in urban settings, such as in Glasgow. It can also be encountered as a surname, although it is relatively uncommon.

The different spellings-Keppoch, Keppock, and others-are often used interchangeably in historic records, depending on regional pronunciation or anglicisation practices.

Mac Donald Of Keppoch, Robert Ronald McIan (1803-1856), Illustration, c. 1835
From The Highland Clans Of Scotland, 1923

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