The Fiddler’s
Companion
©
1996-2008 Andrew
Kuntz
_______________________________
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MISS A – MISS F |
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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>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>,
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