The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz

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[COMMENT1] [COMMENT2] 

MISS A – MISS F

 

 

Notation Note: The tunes below are recorded in what is called “abc notation.” They can easily be converted to standard musical notation via highlighting with your cursor starting at “X:1” through to the end of the abc’s, then “cutting-and-pasting” the highlighted notation into one of the many abc conversion programs available, or at concertina.net’s incredibly handy “ABC Convert-A-Matic” at

http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html 

 

**Please note that the abc’s in the Fiddler’s Companion work fine in most abc conversion programs. For example, I use abc2win and abcNavigator 2 with no problems whatsoever with direct cut-and-pasting. However, due to an anomaly of the html, pasting the abc’s into the concertina.net converter results in double-spacing. For concertina.net’s conversion program to work you must remove the spaces between all the lines of abc notation after pasting, so that they are single-spaced, with no intervening blank lines. This being done, the F/C abc’s will convert to standard notation nicely. Or, get a copy of abcNavigator 2 – its well worth it.   [AK]

 

 

 

MISS ABERCROMBY'S REEL (--OF BIRKENBOG). AKA and see "Hobb's Favorite," "Boston Rattlers'," "Colonel McBain's." Scottish, Reel. C Minor. Standard tuning. AAB (Athole, S. Johnson): AABB' (Marshall). Composed by William Marshall (1748-1833), first printed in his 1781 collection. The title refers to the daughter of Sir Robert Abercromby of Birkenbog near Portsoy, Banffshire, according to Moyra Cowie (1999). The Abercrombys were friends with the 4th Duke and Duchess of Gordon, and through this relationship would have had contact with Marshall, who was employed as the Duke’s Steward of the Household. Cowie points out that Banff was a favorite wintering place for the well-to-do of North-East Scotland, many of whom maintained town-homes there, spending the season visiting and socializing. Birkenbog was a farm house south of Cullen and was a well-developed and substantive property. A variant, set as a slow strathspey in the key of G Minor, appears in the William Sydney Mount manuscripts under the title “Mrs. Abercromby of Glupas Reel.” S. Johnson (A Twenty Year Anniversary Collection), 2003; pg. 30. Marshall, Fiddlecase Edition, 1978; 1781 Collection, pg. 5, and the 1822 Collection, pg. 23. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 273.

X:1

T:Miss Abercromby

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

B:Stewart-Robertson – The Athole Collection  (1884)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:C Minor

EDCD EFGE|FBEB DB,FD|EDCD EFGc|BGFD C/C/C C2:|

edcd efge|dcBc defd|edcd efge|dc=Bd c/c/c ~c2|edcd efge|

dcBc defd|gefd ecdB|GBFD C/C/C C2||

X:2

T:Miss Ambercromby’s Reel

L:1/8

M:C|

S:Marshall – 1781 Collection

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:C Minor

(EDC)(D EF)GE|FBFB DB,FD|(EDC)(D EF)Gc|B<G F>D C/C/C C2:|

(edc)(d ef)ge|(dcB)(c de)fd|1 (edc)(d ef)ge|d>cBd c/c/c c:|2

gefd ecdB|G<B F>D C/C/C C2||                       

X:3

T:Mrs. Abercrombys of Glupas Reel

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

N:”Slow”

S:William Sydney Mount (1807-1868) manuscripts, c. 1840’s?

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G Minor

F | G>DG>A B>cd>g | f<b d>B (c/B/A/G/ F>)A | G>DG>A B>cd>g |

f>c d/(c/B/A/) B>G G2 :| g>fd>f “tr”(g/f/g/a/) b>g | f>dc>d (f>g{f/g/}a>f |

(b>a)(a>g) (g>f)(f>d) | c3f (d/c/B/A/) (B<G) G2 | g>fd>f “tr”(g/f/g/a/) b>g |

f>dc>d (f>g){f/g/}(a>f) | (g>f)(e>d) (c>e)(d>c) | “tr”B/(A/b/c/) (d/c/B/A/) B<G G||

                       

MISS ADAM. Scottish. John Glen (1891) finds the earliest appearance of the tune in print in Daniel Dow's c. 1775 collection (pg. 33).

                       

MISS ADIE.  Scottish, Strathspey. B Flat Major. Standard. AAB. Composed by Major Logan. Source for notated version: Hector MacAndrew [Martin]. Martin (Traditional Scottish Fiddling), 2002; pg. 130.

 

MISS ADMIRAL GORDON'S REEL/STRATHSPEY. AKA and see "Glasgow Flourish," "Of a' the airts the wind can blaw." Scottish, Slow Strathspey ("Slow when not danced"). A Major (most versions): D Major (O’Farrell). Standard. AB (most versions): AABB (O’Farrell): ABCD (McGlashan). One of the first composed and most famous tunes (c. 1775) by Scots fiddler William Marshall (1748‑1833) in honor of Margaret Gordon, daughter and only surviving child of Admiral William Gordon (d. 1769), Carmelite House, Banff; four other children died before adulthood. Margaret survived to marry Mr. Forbes-Seton of Aberdeen, and their daughter married Lord James Hay. Moyra Cowie (1999) points out that Banff was a social hub for the well-to-do of North East Scotland in the 18th century, many of whom retained town-houses there and who spent the season socializing.  Cowie believes Marshall would have met many through his position as the 4th Duke of Gordon’s Steward of the Household. The Admiral’s Carmelite house, which he built, survives today and has been converted into a small hotel.

***

“Miss Admiral Gordon” was first published in Marshall's Strathspey Reels (1781, pg. 3).  As was not uncommon, it was republished afterwards by Joshua Campbell, although unattributed and renamed "Glasgow Flourish" after that city's motto (Alburger, 1983). Niel Gow wrote a tune called "Major Graham (of Inchbrakie)," which has a similar motif, and there have been accusations by some (e.g. John Glen) of plagerism; it appears derivative in any case (as is the Gows' "Sir John Whitefoord's Strathspey," both published in their 1784 First Collection). Its popularity is due in part to the fact that Robert Burns wrote one of his best songs to it which begins: "Of a' the airts the wind can blaw."  Burns' manuscript notes for the Scots Musical Museum contain the following ‑‑ "I have been told by somebody who had it from Marshall himself, that he took the idea of his three most celebrated pieces, 'The Marquis of Huntley's Reel,' 'His Farewell,' and 'Miss Admiral Gordon's Reel' from the old air, 'The German Lairdie'" (Emmerson, 1971). William Stenhouse maintains that Marshall fashioned the tune from the old melody of "The Lowlands of Holland" (by adding a second part), but John Glen (1891 & 1895) disputes this, saying that Stenhouse was in error and that "The Lowlands of Holland," especially as published by James Oswald in the Caledonian Pocket Companion, bears no resemblance. Nor does Glen credit Johnson (Scots Musical Museum) or Urbani (2nd Volume, 1794) who also published "The Lowlands of Holland" with originating "Miss Adimiral" for they were both published after Marshall published his tune. Burns wrote his lyric in honor of his bride‑to‑be, Jean Armour, while he was at Ellisland awaiting her arrival from Mauchline in Ayrshire, where he had first met her.

***

O a' the airts the wind can blaw,

I dearly lo'e the west

For there the bonnie lassie lives,

The lass that I lo'e best.

Tho' wild woods grow an' rivers tow,

Wi' mony a hill between,

Baith day and nicht, my fancy's flicht,

Is ever wi' my Jean.

***

The melody has been used for other songs, including a Canadian folksong, “The Scarborough Settlers’ Lament” and a Scottish song “The Scottish Settlers’ Lament” (see Stan Rogers’ album “For the Family” and the Tannahill Weavers’ album “Land of Light,”, respectively.

***

Source for notated version: Marshall's Strathspey Reels, 1781; pg. 3 [Johnson]. Alburger (Scottish Fiddlers and Their Music), 1983; Ex. 64, pgs. 104‑105. Emmerson (Rantin’ Pipe and Tremblin’ String), 1971; No. 61, pg. 150. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 1, 1799; pg. 5. Hunter (Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 147. Johnson (Scottish Fiddle Music in the 18th Century), 1984; No. 80, pg. 227. Marshall, Fiddlecase Edition, 1978; 1781 Collection, pg. 3. Marshall, Fiddlecase Edition, 1978; 1822 Collection, pg. 16. McGlashan (A Collection of Reels), c. 1786; pg. 4. Neil (The Scots Fiddle), 1991; No. 62, pg. 86. O’Farrell (Pocket Companion for the Union Pipes, vol. IV), 1810; pg. 78. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 163.

X:1

T:Miss Admiral Gordon’s Reel

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:McGlashan – Reels       (c. 1786)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

E|A/A/A A<A A>E A<f|e<c B>A F2 F2|A/A/A A<A A>E A<f|

e>f a<c (e2 e>)f|e>f a<c e<cB<A|Bc d/c/B/A/ F2 F2|A/A/A A<A AE A<f|

e<c B>c A2 A||E|C>E A<E F<EA<E|c>e d/c/B/A/ F2 FE|C>E A<E F<EA<E|

c>d e/f/g/a/ (e2 e>)g|a>g f<e f<e d<c|B>c d/c/B/A/ F2 F2|A/A/A A<A A>E A<f|

e<c B>c A2 A||E|A/A/A A/A/A A<E A<f|f/e/d/c/ d/c/B/A/ F2 F2|

A/A/A A/A/A AE A<f|e>f a<c e2 e>f|e>fa>b e<cB<A|B/A/B/c/ d/c/B/A/ F2F2|

A/A/A A/A/A A<E A<f|e<c B>c A2A||E|C/E/D/E/ A/E/D/E/ F/E/D/E/ A/E/D/E/|

c/B/c/e/ d/c/B/A/ F2 F>E|C/E/D/E/ A/E/D/E/ F/E/D/E/ A/E/D/E/|

c/B/c/d/ e/f/g/a/ e2 df/g/|a<gf<e fed<c|B>c d/c/B/A/ F2F2|A/A/A A/A/A A>E A<f|

e<cBc A2 AE|C/E/D/E/ A/E/D/E/ F/E/D/E/ A/E/D/E/|c/B/c/e/ d/c/B/A/ F2 FE|

C/E/D/E/ A/E/D/E/ F/E/D/E/ A/E/D/E/|c/B/c/d/ e/f/g/a/ e2 e>g|

(3agf (3gfe (3fed (3edc|(3dcB (3cBA F2 F2|A/A/A A<A AE a<f|e<cB<c A2A2||

                       

MISS AGNES ROSS'S REEL. AKA and see "Miss Ross(' Strathspey—of Elgin) [1]," "Lassie, Look Before You/Ye," "Look Before You." Scottish, Reel. D Mixolydian. Standard. AAB. Composed by William Marshall (1748-1833), first published in his 1781 collection (pg. 12), but retitled by the Gows ("Look Before You") when they published the tune. It is a reel version of his "Miss Ross' Strathspey--Elgin." Miss Agnes has been identified as the daughter of James Ross, the secretary/factor at Gordon Castle, Fochabers, who was a colleague of Marshall’s in his position of Steward of the Household at the castle (Moyra Cowie, The Life and Times of William Marshall, 1999). Marshall, Fiddlecase Edition, 1978; 1781 Collection, pg. 12 and the 1822 Collection, pg 33 (appears as "Miss Ross' Strathspey ‑ Elgin"). McGlashan (A Collection of Reels), c. 1786; pg. 21.

X:1

T:Miss Agnes Ross’s Reel

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:McGlashan – Reels    (c. 1786)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

F|D>AF>A D>AF>A|E=cc>E E2 CE|D>AF>A D>AF>A|DddA F2 D:|

f|d>fd>f d>fA>f|=cdef g2 a/g/f/e/|d>fd>f dfAf|defg a2 b/a/g/f/|d>fd>f d>fA>f|

=cdef g2 a/g/f/e/|a>fg>e f>de>c|dABG F2 D||

                       

MISS ALICIA HEGGIE. AKA and see "Mrs. Walter Biggar."

                       

MISS ALMA BEAUDRY’S FANCY. Canadian, Hornpipe. Canada, Cape Breton. D Major. Standard. AB. Composed by Cape Breton fiddler and composer Dan R. MacDonald (1911-1976). Cameron (Trip to Windsor), 1994; pg. 69.

                       

MISS AMBERCROMBIE. See “Miss Abercrombie.”

                       

MISS AMELIA ELIPHANT GASK. Scottish, Strathspey. D Major. Standard. AABB'. Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 3; No. 25, pg. 5.

X:1

T:Miss Amelia Eliphant Gask

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

S:Kerr – Merry Melodies, vol. 3, No. 25

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

B | A<F F>D E>D B,2 | A<F F>A B>cd>B | A<F F>D E>DE>F | D>B,A,>B, (D2D) :|

|: f | (d/e/f/g/) a>g f<d d>f | a>df>d f<e e>f | (d/e/f/g/) a>g f<d d>f |1 d>B A<B d3 :|2 d/c/B/A/ B/d/c/ed/ d3 ||

                       

MISS AMELIA STEWART’S. Scottish, Reel. D Major. Standard. AAB. The ‘A’ part is very similar to the ‘B’ part of “Miss Amelia Eliphant Gask,” above. Kennedy (Traditional Dance Music of Britain and Ireland: Reels and Rants), 1997; No. 127, pg. 30.

 

MISS ANDERSON(‘S). Scottish (originally), Canadian; Jig. Canada, Cape Breton. C Major. Standard. AABB. The tune was recorded in the 1950's in a medley with “The Braes of Elachie” by Joe MacLean (Cape Breton). Source for notated version: fiddler Brenda Stubbert (b. 1959, Point Aconi, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia) [Cranford]. Cranford (Brenda Subbert’s), 1994; No. 97, pg. 35. Rounder 7004, Joe Cormier ‑ "The Dances Down Home" (1977).

                       

MISS ANDY CAMPBELL'S. Scottish, Scottish Measure. F Major. Standard. AB. The piece was composed by Alexander McGlashan and appears in his "Collection of Scot Measures," of the late 18th century. Hunter (Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 322. McGlashan (Collection of Scots Measures), 177?; pg. 10.

X:1

T:Miss Andy Campbell’s Scots Measure

L:1/8

M:C

B:McGlashan – Collection of Scots Measures

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

c2|BAGF c3B|A2 c4 fg|a2 gf b3a|g2 G4 c2|BAGF f3d|gafg fedc|dcBA BGcB|A2 F4:|

cd/e/|fcAc f2c2|defc BAGF|GABc defg|e2 c4 de|f>gfe dcBA|bagf e2dc|dcBA BGcB| A2 F4:|

                       

MISS ANGUS, BOTRIPHNIE'S REEL. Scottish, Reel. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by William Marshall (1748-1833). Botriphnie, Drummuir near Keith. Marshall, Fiddlecase Edition, 1978; 1822 Collection, pg. 10.

X:1

T:Miss Angus, Bothriphnie’s Reel

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Marshall – 1822 Collection

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:B_

D|B,2 ~B2 Bdfd|cBAG FEDC|B,2 ~B2 Bdfd|c=Bc=E F2F:|

B|AFFB AFFd|eGcB AFFB|AFFB AFFd|eBcB A2 (GF)|

AFFB AFFd|eGcB AGFE|DEFG Abcd|egfA B2B||

                       

MISS ANN ĆMELIA STUART’S STRATHSPEY. Scottish, Strathspey. F Major. Standard tuning. AA’B. Composed by Duncan Mackintyre. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 1, 1799; pg. 30. 

X:1

T:Miss Ann Ćmelia Stuart’s Strathspey

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

S:Gow – 1st Repository  (1799)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

F>GAF cFA>f|a/g/f/e/ f>F {FG}AGG>A|F>GAF cFA>f|1 a/g/f/e/ f>d c>A A<f:|2 A/g/f/e/ f>d c<A A>c||

f>gfd c<a f>c|d<f c>A AGG>c|(f/e/f/g/ a/g/f/e/) f>c d<f|c<f f>d c<a a>g|

fadf cfA>f|a/g/f/e/ f>F {FG} AGG>A|F>GAc defg|a/g/f/e/ {e}f>d c<AA<f||

X:2

T:Miss Ann Amelia Stewart's Strathspey

C:R. Petrie

S:Petrie's Second Collection of Strathspey Reels and Country Dances &c.

Z:Steve Wyrick <sjwyrick'at'astound'dot'net>, 6/5/04

N:Petrie's Second Collection, page 5

L:1/8

M:C

R:Strathspey

K:F

f|F>GA<F c<FA>f|(a/g/f/e/ f)F AGGA  |F>GAF cFAf  |(a/g/f/e/ f)d cAA:|

c|f>gfc  c<ag<c|d>f d/c/B/A/  B(GGc)|f/e/f/g/ a/g/f/e/ f<cd>f|c<(ff>d) c<(aa>g) |

f<ad<f c<fA<f|(a/g/f/e/ f)F A<GG>A|F>GA>c d>ef>g|(a/g/f/e/ f)<d cAA|]

                       

MISS ANN AMELIA MURRAY. Scottish, Strathspey. F Major. Standard tuning. AA'B. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 211.

X:1

T:Miss Ann Amelia Murry

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

B:Stewart-Robertson – The Athole Collection  (1884)

K:F

F>GA>F c>FA>f|a/g/f/e/ f>F A<G G>A|F>GA>F c>FA>f|1

a/g/f/e/ f>d c<AA<f:|2 a/g/f/e/ f>d c<A A<c||

f>gf>d c<a f>c|d>fc<A A>GG>c|f/e/f/g/ a/g/f/e/ f<c d>f|c<f f>d c<a a>g|

f<ad<f c<fA<f|a/g/f/e/ f<F A<G G>A|F>GA>c d>ef>g|a/g/f/e/ f>d c<AA<f||


                       

MISS ANN BISSET LOGIERAIT. Scottish, Reel. E Minor. Standard tuning. AABB. The melody appears in the 4th collection of Malcolm MacDonald of Dunkeld, a volume dedicated to the Countess of Breadalbane. Logierait was a village and parish in north central Perthshire, on the banks of the River Tay. The name means ‘little hollow below the castle’ and refers to an Iron Age mound, once a fortified place. MacDonald (A Fourth Collection of Strathspey Reels), 1797; pg. 9.

X:1

T:Miss Ann Bisset (of) Logierait

M:C

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:MacDonald – 4th Collection of Strathspey Reels (1797)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:E Minor

e | gage abaf | gage fgab | gage abaf | gedB e/e/e e :|

|: f | gage dBGB | ABcd edef | gage dBGB | cABG E/E/E E :|

 

MISS ANN CAMERON'S JIG--BALVENIE. Scottish, Jig (9/8 time). B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by William Marshall (1748-1833). A Scottish fiddler and composer, Marshall is most famous for his many fine strathspeys. Marshall worked for much of his life for the Duke of Gordon as the Steward of his Household, and it is fortunate that the Duke was an enthusiastic supporter and patron of Marshall’s music. Moyra Cowie (The Life and Times of William Marshall, 1999) identifies Miss Ann as Dr. Grigor of Nairn’s maiden aunt, who lived at Balvenie Farm in lower Glen Fiddich. Marshall wrote several tunes for members of the family.  Marshall, Fiddlecase Edition, 1978; 1822 Collection, pg. 9.

X:1

T:Miss Ann Cameron’s Jig – Balvenie

M:9/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:Marshall – 1822 Collection

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:B_

B2b f2d cAF|B2b f2d fga|b2B f2d cAF|G2B (AB/c/)A B3:|

FdB e2d cAF|fdB e2d efg|fga bfd cAF|G2B (AB/c/)A B3|

FdB e2d cAF|fdB e2d efg|fga bfd cAF|G2B (AB/c/)A B3||

                       

MISS ANN CAMPBELL. Canadian, Jig. Canada, Cape Breton. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AABB’. Composed by Cape Breton fiddler and composer Dan R. MacDonald (1911-1976). Source for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford]. Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 181, pg. 72. Cameron, (The Trip to Windsor Collection), 1994.

                       

MISS ANN CARNEGIE. Scottish, Hornpipe. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The tune originally appeared in Achibald Duff’s 1811 collection. Source for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald (Cape Breton) [Cranford]. Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 19, pg. 7. Rounder CD 11661-7033-2, Natalie MacMaster – “My Roots are Showing” (2000).

                       

MISS ANN FORBES.  Scottish, Reel. A Major. Standard tuning. AABBCCDD. Jones [Ed.] (Complete Tutor Violin), c. 1815; pg. 3.

X:1

T:Miss Ann Forbes' Reel.

R:reel

M:C

L:1/8

B:Complete Tutor Violin  (c. 1815)

Z:Dr. Evan Jones, 2005

K:A

U:T=!trill!

N:  2nd system bar 2 g replaced with a

e |:: A/A/A (cA) (Bcdf) | A/A/A (ec) AAec | (de/f/) (cd/e/) Bcdf | edTcB AAce :||: A/A/A (ac) Bcdf |

A/A/A (ac) A/A/A (ac) | (a/g/f/e/) (ac) Bcdf | edTcB AAce :||: Aece Bcdf | Aece Aece | (d/e/f) (c/d/e) Bcdf |

edTcB AAce :||: A/A/A (ac) Bcdf | A/A/A (ac) AAae | (a/g/f/e/) (ac) Bcdf | edcTB AAce :|]

 

MISS ANN MACCORMACK. Canadian, Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. Composed by Cape Breton fiddler and composer Dan R. MacDonald (1911-1976). Breton Books and Records BOC 1HO, Winston “Scotty” Fitzgerald - “Classic Cuts” (reissue of Celtic Records CX 17.

           

MISS ANN MOIR'S BIRTHDAY. Scottish, Canadian; Strathspey. Canada, Cape Breton. G Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by Charles Duff and found in the Charles Duff Collection (c. 1790). Sources for notated versions: John Campbell (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia) [Dunlay and Reich]; Natalie MacMaster (Cape Breton) [Dunlay & Greenberg]. Dunlay & Greenberg (Traditional Celtic Violin Music from Cape Breton), 1996; pg. 91. Dunlay and Reich (Traditional Celtic Fiddle Music from Cape Breton), 1986; pg. 59. Appears in William Morrison Collection. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Atlantica 04 50222, NMAS 1972, Natalie MacMaster - "Fit as a Fiddle" (1993). DMP6‑27‑1, Doug MacPhee‑ "Cape Breton Piano III" (1981. Appears as "A Duncan MacQuarrie Strathspey"). JC 127, John Campbell‑ "Cape Breton Violinist" (1983. Appears as "Traditional Strathspey"). SA93130, Donny LeBlanc - “Rosining Up the Bow” (1993).

                       

MISS ANN MONRO. Scottish, Jig. D B Minor. Standard tuning. AAB. The melody was composed by Robert “Red Rob” Mackintosh. Glen (The Glen Collection of Scottish Dance Music), vol. 2, 1895; pg. 50.

X:1

T:Miss Ann Munro

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:Glen Collection, vol. 2  (1895)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:B Minor

F|B3f3|edc dcB|Acd edc|aed cBA|B3 fgf|edc dcB|efd edc|dBB B2:|

c|dfB dbB|dcB fdB|ceA daA|cBA edc|dfB dbB|dcB fdB|efd edc|dBB B2c|

dfB dbB|dfB dbB|ceA caA|deA caA|BdB cec|dfd ege|fgf edc|dBB B2||

                       

MISS ANN STEWART [1]. AKA – “Miss Ann Stewart East Craig’s Reel.” Scottish, Reel. G Minor. Standard tuning. AB (Surenne): AAB (Skye). East Craigs is north west of Edinburgh. Anne Stewart was the daughter of John Stewart of East Craigs. Ann(e) was a celebrated Endinburgh beauty who married an Edinburgh surgeon an apothecary named Forrest Dewar (d. 1816) in January, 1789, in the process breaking the heart (the story goes) of another suitor, Alexander Cunningham. Cunningham was a friend of poet Robert Burns, who knew how much in love he was with Miss Stewart, whom Burns once described as “an amiable and accomplished young lady with whom I fancy I have the honor of being a little acquainted.” Burns had encouraged Cunningham to marry her, penning a verse in 1788 called “To Alex. Cunningham, Esq., Writer, Edinburgh,” which ended:

***

Sweet Anna has an air—a grace,

Divine, magnetic, touching;

She talks, she charms—but who can trace

The process of bewitching?

***

The poet was less charitable after she spurned his friend, declaring the she had “prostituted her character” and married beneath her. In a letter to Cunningham from 1789, Burns consoled: “…I am certain that a disappointment in the tender passion must, to you, be a ver serious matter…to your scanty tribe of mankind, whose souls bear, on the richest materials, the most elegant impress of the Great Creator, Love enters deeply into their existence, and is entwined with their very thread of life.” It has been suggested that Burns’ poem “She’s Fair and Fause” was inspired by his friend’s loss. Gow (Second Collection of Niel Gow’s Reels), 1788; pg. 26 (3rd ed.). MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; pg. 147. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 202. Surenne (Dance Music of Scotland), 1852; pg. 110.

X:1

T:Miss Ann Stewart [1]

M:C

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:MacDonald – The Skye Collection  (1887)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G Minor

A|DGG>A Bcdf|AFcA FGAc|BAGA Bcdf|AFc>A BGG:|

A|Bcde fdcB|AFcF dF