The Fiddler’s
Companion
© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz
_______________________________
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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] |
MR. A. G. WILKEN'S
FAVOURITE. Scottish, Solo Strathspey. F Major.
Standard tuning. AB. Composed by the great Scottish fiddler and composer J. Scott Skinner (1843-1927). The Mr. Wilken was an
amateur violinist from
MR. A. McWHINNIE. Scottish, Reel. G Mixolydian. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by Duncan
Macintyre. Glen (The Glen Collection of
Scottish Music), Vol. 2, 1895; pg. 13.
X:1
T:Mr. A. McWhinnie
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Reel
S:Glen Collection, Vol. 2 (1895)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:G
c|BGdB cABG|A=fcf A=FFc|BGBd
cABG|Agdg BGG:|
g|bgaf gdeB|cA=fc A=FFg|bgfa
gdeB|cAgd BGGg|bgaf gdeB|
cA=fc A=FFc|BgcA dBec|fdaf gGG||
MR. ABEL BANKS. Scottish, Slow Strathspey. C Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Source for
notated version: Mr. William Martin (
X:1
T:Mr. Abel Banks
M:C
L:1/8
R:Strathspey
S:MacDonald – Skye Collection (1887)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:C
E<E cA (AGE)D|E<E c>A
G>c E>c|(3ABc GA (3AGE D2|C<C cd eE Gc:|
e<g g>a (3age d2|e<g e<a
e<a e<c’|e<g g>a (ag/e/) de|cd ed cEGc|
e<g g>a (3age d2|e>g g>a
(3gdd (3eBB|(3cBA (3GFD (cEE)D|C<C cd eEGc||
MR. ADAM GEORGE. Canadian, Reel.
MR.
ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM'S STRATHSPEY. Scottish, Slow Strathspey. D Major.
Standard. AAB. MacDonald (The Skye
Collection), 1887; pg. 67.
X:1
T:Mr. Alexander Cunningham’s
Strathspey
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Strathspey
S:MacDonald – The Skye Collection
(1887)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
D>E G/F/E/D/ B,<E
E>F|D>E (G/F/)E/D/ F<A A2|(d>e/2f/2) AF BB,B,>A,|
D/D/D D/D/D F>E F<A:|
d>f (g/f/)e/d/ ceef|d>efb
adf(b|a)dAF BB,B,>A,|D/D/D D/D/D F>E F<A|
d>f fe/d/ ceef|d>efb afge|fdAF
BB,EC|D/D/D F>A d>D F<A||
MR.
ALEXANDER LAING'S HORNPIPE--LEUCHOLD. Scottish, Hornpipe. E Major (
X:1
T:Mr. Alexander Laing’s
Hornpipe—Leuchold
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Hornpipe
S:
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:E
E2 ge edcB|cdec cBAG|GABc defg|acfe
edcB|e2 ge edcB|cdec cBAG|
GABc defa|gefd e2e2||GABG cAAc|FGAF
BGGB|EFGA Bcde|fgaf edcB|
GABG cAAc|FGAF BGGB|B,EGB egba|gfed
e2 e2||
MR. ALEXANDER LAWSON. Scottish, Strathspey. E Major. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by
Alexander Walker for Alexander Lawson of Mill of Newe.
MR. ALEXANDER
MONTGOMERIE. Scottish. John Glen (1891) finds
the earliest appearance of this tune in print in John Riddell's 1766 collection (pg. 59).
MR. ALEXANDER MUNRO. Scottish, Strathspey. G Major. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by
Alexander Walker in honor of one Alexander Munro of Braemar.
MR. ALEXANDER MUNRO'S
FAVOURITE. Scottish, Strathspey. A Mixolydian.
Standard tuning. AB. Pipe tune. MacDonald (The
Skye Collection), 1887; pg. 42.
X:1
T:Mr. Alexander Munro’s Favourite
M:C
L:1/8
R:Strathspey
S:MacDonald – The Skye Collection (1887)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
e|A<A c>A d>Bc>A|B<B
c>A d>BG>B|A,A c>A d>Bc>A|e>Be>d c>BA>a|
A<A c>A
c>Bc>A|B>Gg>d B>AG>B|A<A c>A d>Bc>A|d>Ba>e
c>BA>a||
e>ac>a
e>ac>a|d>Bg>d B>AG>B|e>ac>a e>ac>a|d>Be>d
c>BA>e|a>ec>e a>ec>e|
B<Bg>d
B>AG>g|a>fg>e f>de>c|d>Ba>e c>BA:|
MR. ALEXANDER SHERIFF. Scottish, Strathspey. A Major. Standard. AAB. Composed by Alexander
Walker in honor of
MR. ALEXANDER THOM’S. Scottish, Reel. F Major. Standard. AABB’. A 19th century composition by
James Daniel. Source for notated
version: Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987,
MR. ALEXANDER TROUP. Scottish, Strathspey. F Sharp Minor. Standard. AAB. Composed by
Alexander Walker in honor of Alexander Troup of Dalbagie.
MR. ALEXANDER WATTIE. Scottish, Reel. G Major. Standard. ABB'. Composed by Alexander Walker
for Mr. Alexander Wattie who was a drummer in the Castle Newe band of
musicians;
MR. AMBROSE BEATON. Canadian, Reel.
MR. AND MRS. A. ROSS. Scottish, March (6/8 time). D Major. Standard tuning. AABBCCDD. Composed
by John Macgregor. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle),
Vol. 1, 1991; pg. 19.
MR. AND MRS. MAPLE. Canadian, Waltz. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by
fiddler Ward Allen, who won contest after contest in
X:1
T:Mr. and
Mrs. Maple
M:3/4
L:1/8
R:Waltz
K:Bb
Bc|d3 ^c
de|d2 B2 d2|f3 =e fg|f2 e2 d2|
c4 cd|f2 f2
e2|d3 ^c de|d2 F2 B2|
d3 ^c de|d2
B2 d2|f3 ^e fg|f2 e2 d2|
c3 c de|d3 A
cA|B3 A Bc|B4:|
|:DE|F3 =E
FG|F2 D2 F2|d3 ^c de|dB FB dB|
c4 cd|f2 f2
e2|d3 ^c de|d2 D2 E2|
F3 =E FG|F2
D2 F2|d3 ^c de|dB FB dB|
c3 c de|d3 A cA|B3 A Bc|B4:|
MR. ANDERSON'S
STRATHSPEY. AKA and see "Grey Daylight." Scottish,
Strathspey. D Major. Standard tuning. AAB. The tune is said by some to have
been reworked by William Marshall into his famous
melody "Craigellachie Bridge"
which he composed sometime around 1812‑1815. The first strains are very similar, though
John Glen (1895) for one does not believe him guilty of musical plagiarism. "Mr. Anderson's Strathspey" was
published by Kirkmichael, Perthshire, fiddler and composer Robert Petrie in his Second Collection (1796, pg. 23), and reappeared four years later
as "Grey Daylight" in a collection by the Perthshire publisher John Anderson.
X:1
T:Mr.
Anderson'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 23
L:1/8
M:C
R:Strathspey
K:D
E|DAFA
d/c/B/A/ FD|=C<CTE>D C2CE |DAFA
d/c/B/A/ FD|E<E e>c d2d :|
f|d<df>d
g>ef>d|eeed =c2ce|d<df>d
g>ef<d|e<ea>f d2(df)|
d<df>d
g>ef>d|e<ee>d =c2(cg)|f<ae<f
d<fB<d|E<Ee>c d2d |]
MR.
BAILLIE OF MELLERSTON. Scottish, Strathspey. E Minor.
Standard tuning. AAB (Gow, Glen): AABB' (Athole). Composed by Nathaniel Gow
(1763-1831), Scottish fiddler, composer, music publisher and bandleader,
and one of the sons of the famous Dunkeld, Perthshire, fiddler Niel Gow. Mellerstain House is a stately
manor north of Kelso in the Borders, Scotland, home of the earls of Haddington.
The title perhaps honors George Baillie (1763-1841) of Mellerstain House and
Jerviswood—the latter was the original seat of the Baillie family, the former
was the principal property and their private residence. He was brother to
Thomas, 7th Earl of Haddington, and younger son of Charles Lord
Binning. George married Mary Pringle, youngest daughter of Sir James Pringle,
in 1801. He was a Captain in the Hopetoun Fencibles (Lord Hoptoun’s regiment),
formed after war with France broke out in 1793. In 1796 he was elected MP for the
county of Berwick, defeating Sir Alexander Don, and he retained his seat until
the election of 1818. Carlin (The Gow
Collection), 1986; No. 160. Glen (The
Glen Collection of Scottish Dance Music), vol. 2, 1895; pg. 45. Gow (Third Collection of Niel Gow’s Reels),
1792; pg. 25 (3rd ed.). Stewart-Robertson
(The Athole Collection), 1884; pg.
259. Rounder Records CDROUN7053, Theresa Morrison – “Lake
Bras d’Or: Scottish Violin Music from Cape Breton Island” (2005).
X:1
T:Mr. Baillie of Mellerstain
M:C
L:1/8
R:Strathspey
B:Stewart-Robertson – The
Athole Collection (1884)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:E Minor
e|B<E B>d D>E F<d|B>EB>F E>F G<A|B<dF<d D>E F<d|B>EB>F E2E:|
|:g/a/|b<e e>f d>ef>a|b<(e e)>g
e>ge<B|d>fB>d D>EF>d|1 B<E B>F E2E:|2 E>e B/A/G/F/
E2 E||
X:2
T:Mr.
Baillie of Mellerston’s Strathspey
M:C
L:1/8
R:Strathspey
C:Nathaniel
Gow
B:Gow – 3rd Collection of Niel Gow’s
Reels, 3rd ed., pg. 25 (orig. 1792)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:E Minor
e|B<EB>d D>EFd|B<EB>F “tr”E>FGA|B>dF>d D>EFd|B<EB>F {F}E2E:||g/a/|
b(ee>)f “tr”d>efa|b(ee>)g e>ge^c|d<fB>d D>Efd|B<E”tr”B>F {F}E2 Eg/a/|
(b(ee).f “tr”d>e f/e/f/a/|b(ee>).f e>ge^c|d<fB>d D>EFd|Ee (B/A/)G/F/ {F}E2E||
MR. BAIRD OF NEWBYTH’S
JIG. Scottish, Jig. E Minor. Standard
tuning. AABB. Composed by Malcolm
MacDonald, who dedicated his first collection to Baird's spouse, Mrs. Baird
of Newbyth. MacDonald (A Collection of
Strathspey Reels, vol. 1); pg. 18.
X:1
T:Mr. Baird of Newbyth’s Jig
M:6/8
L:1/8
R:Reel
S:MacDonald – Collection of Strathspey Reels, vol. 1
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:E Minor
d | B2E EGE | BGE BGE | F2D DFD |
AFD AFD | B2E EGE |
BGE BGE | BdB AFA | BGE E2 :: a |
^g2(ee)ge | ^geg geg |
f2d dfa | afa aba | ^g2e ege | ^geg
geg | fdf ecA | BGE E2 :|
MR. BAIRD OF NEWBYTH’S
REEL. Scottish, Reel. D Major. Standard
tuning. AAB. Composed by Malcolm
MacDonald, who dedicated his first collection to Baird's spouse, Mrs. Baird
of Newbyth. MacDonald (A Collection of
Strathspey Reels, vol. 1); pg. 7.
X:1
T:Mr. Baird of Newbyth’s Reel
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Reel
S:MacDonald – Collection of Strathspey Reels
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
d | D/D/D AD FDAF | E=cGc E=CGE |
FADA GBEg | fdec dD D :|
f | defg abag | fdaf geef | defg
abag | faeg fddf | defg abag |
fdaf geeA | FADA GBEg | fdec dD D ||
MR. BARCLAY. Scottish, Strathspey or Reel. D Minor. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by
Alexander Walker in honor of Mr. Barclay of Braes of Enzie. Walker (A Collection of Strathspeys, Reels, Marches,
&c.), 1866; No. 99, pg. 34.
MR. BARNARD('S REEL). AKA - "Mr. Bernard." Scottish, Reel.
F Major. Standard tuning. AB (Gow): AAB (Athole). Composed by Scottish
fiddler, composer, music publisher and bandleader Nathaniel Gow
(1763-1831), son of the famous Niel Gow. The tune was named after an Edinburgh dancing master.
Alburger (Scottish Fiddlers and Their
Music), 1983; Ex. 81, pgs. 132‑133. Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 293. Stewart-Robertson
(The Athole Collection), 1884; pg.
225. Atlantica Music 02 77657 50222 26, Jerry Holland
- “Atlantic Fiddles” (1994). Fiddlesticks Music CD1, Jerry Holland - “The
Fiddlesticks Collection” (1992). Rounder 7001, Joe Cormier ‑ "The
Dances Down Home" (1977).
X:1
T:Mr. Bernard
L:1/8
R:Reel
B:Stewart-Robertson – The Athole Collection (1884)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:F
G|~F2 CF AFEF|DFCF A,FCF|~F2 CF AFEF|GA~BA GG,G,:|
d|~c2 df cdAB|cfAB caAB|~c2 df cdAc|~BGAF GG,G,d|~cfef dfcf|
cfef
afef|dbca BgAf|~BGAF GG,G,||
MR. BASSE, HIS CAREER. AKA and see "The Hunter
in His Career."
MR. BERNARD. Canadian, Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. Probably "Mr. Barnard." Atlantica Music 02 77657 50222 26, Jerry Holland - “Atlantic
Fiddles” (1994). Fiddlesticks Music CD1, Jerry Holland - “The Fiddlesticks
Collection” (1992). Rounder 7001, Joe Cormier ‑ "The Dances Down
Home" (1977).
MR. BEVERIDGE. Scottish, Slow Strathspey. E Flat Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed
by J. Scott Skinner, appearing first in his
"Miller o' Hirn Collection" (1881). Mr. Beveridge was a "violin
maker, late of Tough," a village near Alford in Aberdeenshire. Hardie (Caledonian Companion), 1986; pg. 42.
MR. BEVERIDGE'S MAGGOT. English, Country Dance Tune (3/2 time). G Minor. Standard tuning. ABB (Sharp): AABB (Barnes). Beverdige was a court dancing master whose hey-day was in the 1680's in England and who, along with Issacs, began devising maggots--distinctive longways country dances to triple-time hornpipes. A maggot was another name for a dram, a unit of liquid measure, but also meant a small thing of little consequence or a plaything, from the Italian maggioletta. The melody dates to 1701. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes), 1986. Fleming‑Williams & Shaw (English Dance Airs; Popular Selection, Book 1), 1965; pg. 8. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 28. Sharp (Country Dance Tunes), 1909/1994; pg. 79.
X:1
T:Mr. Beveridge’s Maggot
M:3/2
L:1/8
S:Sharp – Country Dance Tunes (1909)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:G Minor
g4 ^f3 =e/f/ g4|d2 cB AB c2 B2 G2|g4 a3 g/a/ b4|f2 ed cd e2 d2 B2|g4 ^f3 =e/f/ g4|
d2 cB AB c2 B2 G2|g4 a3 g/a/ b4|f2 ed cd e2 d2 B2||
|:d2 f4 f2 f4|c2 e4 e2 e4|B2 d4 d2 d2 cB|AB c2 B2 AG ^F2 D2|d2 a4 a2 a2 d2|
b2 a2 g2 ^f2 g4|de f2 Bc d2 AB c2|B2G2 G3 ^F G4:|
MR. BOBBIE. Scottish, Jig or Two‑Step. G Major ('A' & 'B' parts) & D
Major ('C' part). Standard tuning. ABCC. The tune was composed by Bert Murray
and named for his small daughter's imaginary friend. Neil (The Scots Fiddle), 1991; No. 68, pg. 93.
MR. BUSHBY MAITLAND. Scottish, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AA'B. Composed by Nathaniel Gow,
probably for John Bushby-Maitland (1767-1822), Member of Parliament for
Camelford,
X:1
T:Mr. Bushby Maitland’s Reel
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Reel
C:Nathaniel Gow
B:Gow – 3rd Collection of Niel Gow’s Reels, 3rd ed.,
pg. 8 (orig. 1792)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
A|FDAF “tr”d2 dA|d2 “tr”df eEEA|1
FDAF d2 dB|cdeg fdd:|2 FDAF dABG|
FA dg fdd||g|”tr”f>ede
fgaf|”tr”gfed cAeg|”tr”fede fgaf|
ecdB Addg|fdfg fgaf|”tr”g>fed
cAeg|fdgb afge|fdec dDD||
MR. CAMPBELL CRAIGNISH. Scottish, Reel. F Major. Standard tuning. AABB'. Stewart-Robertson
(The Athole Collection), 1884; pg.
210.
X:1
T:Mr. Campbell Craignish
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Reel
B:Stewart-Robertson – The
Athole Collection (1884)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:F
B|A/B/c cB Acfc|A/B/c cA BGGB|A/B/c cB Acfd|cABG F/F/F F:|
c|fcfa
fcfa|cfaf egga|1 fcfa cfag|fdcA F/F/F F:|2 fgag ~fcdf|cABG F/F/F ~F2||
MR. CAMPBELL OF GLENLYONS REEL. Scottish, Reel. A Major. St