The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz

_______________________________

HOME       ALPHABETICAL FILES        REFERENCES

 

SIR

 

 

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]

 

 

 

SIR ADAM FERGUSON. AKA and see “Adam Ferguson's Reel,” “Lads of Leith [2],” “Lads of Laois{e},” “Sic a Wife as I hae Gotten.” Scottish, Reel. E Minor. Standard tuning. AAB. John Glen (1891) finds the earliest appearance of the tune in print in John Riddell's 1766 collection (pg. 14). Sir Adam Ferguson (1733-1813) was MP for Ayrshire and a friend of writer Sir Walter Scott (according to Henry Cockburn, Memorials of His Time, 1856).   

X:1

T:Sir Adam Ferguson's Reel

T:Lads of Leith, The

T:Sic a Wife as I hae Gotten

B:Riddell's Collection (via Murdoch Henderson)

Z:Nigel Gatherer

M:4/4

L:1/8

K:Em

B,EEF E/F/G FE | A,DDE D/E/F ED | GFED EFGA | Bedc B2 E2 :|]

eB BA/B/ gfed | Adfa gfed | eB BA/B/ gfed | g>bag f2 ed |

eB BA/B/ gfed | Adfa gfed | g>bge fafd | gfed e2 E2 |]


 

SIR ALEX MACDONALD'S REEL. AKA and see “The Braes of Mar [1],” “Johnny Will/Won't You Marry Me?” Lord MacDonald [1],” "Strath Spray's Rant." Scottish, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AABBCC. Appears in David Young's Duke of Perth MS (also known as the Drummond Castle MS), 1734. Glen (1891) finds it in Bremner's 1757 collection, where he directs: “In this Reel the 1st part is played twice over between the 2nd & last parts.” Bremner (A Collection of Scots Reels), 1757; pg. 22.

X:1

T:Sir Alex’r McDonald’s Reel

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

B:BremnerScots Reels (1757)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D Major

F(AA)(f/g/ a)fed | gfed BdBA | F(AA)(f/g/ a)fed | (e/f/g) (f/g/a) “tr”e2 d2 :|

|: FAA>B A>BAF | G/G/G G2 GABG | F(AA>)B (A>B)AF | GBAF “tr”E2D2 :|

|: (f/g/a) a>b a>baf | g/g/g g2 g>aba | (f/g/a) a>b a>baf | gafg “tr”e2d2 :|

 

SIR ALEXANDER CUMMING. Scottish, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by Alexander Walker in honor of Sir Alexander Cumming, Baronet of Altyre. Walker (A Collection of Strathspeys, Reels, Marches, &c), 1866; No. 181, pg. 62.

 


SIR ALEXANDER DON [1]. Scottish, Strathspey. F Major. Standard tuning. AB. "Composed by Major Logan," asserts MacDonald in the Skye Collection. See note for "Auld Lang Syne." Sir Alexander Don, 5th Baronet, of Newton-Don, Berwickshire, was born in 1751 and died in 1815. He married in 1778 the ‘divine’ Lady Harriet (Henrietta Cunningham), sister of the Earl of Glencairn, a patron of the poet Robert Burns. The couple’s two daughters died of accidental drowning in 1793, but a son survived to take the title upon his father’s death. A grandson, William Don, however, left the army deeply in debt, and had to part with what remained of the estate. He became a well-known actor and died in 1861 in Australia, where he was touring with a company. In the 1790’s in response to the growing threat from post-revolutionary France, local fencible regiments for home defence sprang up, and, like many of the gentry, Sir Alexander formed a unit. It was called the Berwickshire Fencible Calvary, and he served as Colonel during the five years of its existence. Sir Alexander was a sporting man; when the Kelso races began in earnest in the 1760’s, he sponsored competitors, and his horse Cheviot won a famous race there in 1765.

***

The melody “The Caledonian Hunt [1]” was composed by Alexander Don, who, along with other gentry, formed the Caledonian Hunt society whose annual ball was the event of the year among the Scottish aristocracy of his era. Sir Alexander even presented Nathaniel Gow (whose band often provided the music for the ball) with a valuable Italian violin, in admiration of Gow’s music. Variation sets for “Miss Ketty Hall” are also attributed to him (and Nisbet of Dirleton). MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; pg. 144. Surenne (Dance Music of Scotland), 1852; pgs. 100-101.

X:1

T:Sir Alexander Don [1]

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

S:MacDonaldSkye Collection  (1887)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

c/B/|AFF>A Bdd>B|Acc>A BGGc/B/|AFF>A BddB|c>f e/f/g/e/ fFF c/B/|AFF>A Bdd>B|

AccA BGGc/B/|AFF>A BddB |c>f e/f/g/e/ fFF||c|f<ag<a f2 cB|AF (d/c/)B/A/ BGGc|

f<ag<a f<a c>A|BG c>B AFFc|f<ag<a f2 cB|AF (d/c/)B/A/ BGGc|f<ag<a f<a c>A| B<G c>B AFF||

 

SIR ALEXANDER DON [2]. Scottish, Strathspey. D Major. Standard tuning. AB. "From the Opera of Rosina" (Gow). Rosina (1782) was a very successful comic opera by the once-popular English light composer William Shield (1748-1829). “Sir Alexander Don” is the theme from the overture, and sounds quite like “Coming Through the Rye.” Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 212. Gow (The First Collection of Niel Gow’s Reels), 1784 (revised 1801); pg. 10.

X:1

T:Sir Alexander Don’s [2]

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

S:Gow – First Collection of Niel Gow’s Reels (1784)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

A,|D<D D>F “tr”E>DEF|D<D D>F A3d|D<D D>F “tr”E>DEF|D>B,B,>A, D3A,|D<D D>F “tr”E>DEF|

D<D D>F A3d|D<D D>F E>DEF|D<B, ~B,>A, D3||B|A<F F>D FEEF A<F F>D F3B|A<F F>D “tr”E>DEF|

D<B,”tr”B>A, D3B|A<F F>D “tr”FEEF|AFFD [D3B3] (c/d/)|(B/A/G/F/) (G/F/E/D/) “tr”E>DEF|D<B,”tr”B,>A, D3||

 

SIR ALEXANDER DON [3]. Scottish, Strathspey. G Minor. Standard tuning. AABCD. Composed by Robert Mackintosh. Glen (The Glen Collection of Scottish Dance Music), vol. 2, 1895; pg. 35.

X:1

T:Sir Alexander Don

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

S:Glen Collection, vol. 2  (1895)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G Minor

d|B<G G>D B,A,G,B|A/G/F c/B/A fcAf|B<G G>D B,<A,G,<g|f/e/d/c/ d/c/B/A/ BGG:|

d|g<dB<G b<gd<B|f<cA<F a<fc<A|b<dB<G b<gd<B|c>e d/c/B/A/ BGGd|

g<dB<G b<gd<B|f<cA<F a<fc<A|d<bc<a B<gA<^f|g>e d/c/B/A/ BGG||D|

G,<DB,<G D<dB<G|A,<FC<F A,<cA<F|G,<DB,<G D<dB<G|c>e d/c/B/A/ B<GGD|

G,<DB,<G D<dB<G|A,<FC<F A,<cA<F|G<BD<G B,>DC>E D>CB,>A, B,G,G,||

d|B/a/g d/c/B b>g d<B|A/G/F c/B/A a>f c<A|B/A/G d/c/B b>g d<B|

A/B/c d/c/B/A/ BGGd|B/A/G d/c/B b>g d<B|A/G/F c/B/A a>f c<A|d<bc<a B<gA<^f| g>e d/c/B/A/ BGG||

 

SIR ALEXANDER DON'S MEDLEY. Scottish, Reel. A later composition by Nathaniel Gow which Collinson (1966) uses as an example of the progress of the Gow family's compositions away from the strict confines of the old modes and gapped scales.

 

SIR ALEXANDER DUNBAR’S STRATHSPEY. AKA and see “Sir Archibald Dunbar.”

 

SIR ALEX. McDONALD'S REEL. AKA and see “Braes of Mar.” Scottish, Reel. The melody appears in the Drummond Castle Manuscript (in the possession of the Earl of Ancaster at Drummond Castle), 1734, inscribed "A Collection of the best Highland Reels written by David Young, W.M. & Accomptant." The melody also appears in the Robert Bremner's 1757 collection and the Gillespie Manuscript of Perth, 1768.

 

SIR ALLAN McLEAN. Scottish. John Glen (1891) finds the earliest printing of the tune in Robert Ross's 1780 collection (pg. 37).

 

SIR ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL'S JIG. The version in The Scottish Country Dance Book is reprinted from a 1788 collection of Joshua Campbell. The first half equals the first of "Dublin Jig [3]". Scottish Country Dance Book, 1930‑57, Pt. 15, No. 3 (second tune).

 

SIR ARCHIBALD DUNBAR. Scottish, Strathspey. D Mixolydian. Standard. AAB (Gow): AABB (Perlman, Skye): AABB' (Athole, Kerr). Source for notated version: Paul MacDonald (b. 1974, Charlottetown, Queens County, Prince Edward Island) [Perlman]. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 3, 1806; pg. 36. Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 2; No. 155, pg. 18. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; pg. 41. McGlashan (A Collection of Reels), c. 1786; pg. 7 (appears as “Sir Alexander Dunbar’s Strathspey”). Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996; pg. 191. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 107. A & M Records 79602 2000-2, Ashley MacIsaac - “Close to the Floor” (1992).

X:1

T:Sir Archibald Dunbar

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

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

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

F|D/D/D F>D G>E =C>E|D/D/D F>D A>DF>D|A>DF>D G>E=C>E| D<d A>F D/D/D D:|

|:f|d<d f>d g>e=c>e|d<d f>d a>df>d|1 a>df>d ge=ce|D<d A>F D/D/D D:|2

a>df>d g>e=c>e|d<b a>f d/d/d d||

           


SIR ARCHIBALD GRANT OF MONEMUSK'S REEL. AKA and see "Money Musk/Monymusk(, Sir Archibald Grant of)." Scottish, Strathspey. G Major. Standard tuning. AAB (Alburger, Johnson, McGlashan): AABB' (Johnson). Either composed or set (the latter according to a note in Gow's Caledonian Repository) by Donald/Daniel Dow (1732‑1783) in 1776, whose c. 1780 Thrity‑Seven New Reels & Strathspeys is the earliest appearance of the tune in print. Two earlier tunes are either models or cognate airs, depending on whether Dow actually did compose the tune or not, namely "Roy's Wife of Aldivalloch" and "The Ruffian's Rant." Sir Archibald founded the town of Archiestown, near Monahoudie Moss on Speyside. See notes entered under "Money Musk" for more. Source for notated version: Dow's Thirty‑seven New Reels, pg. 5 [Johnson]. Alburger (Scottish Fiddlers and Their Music), 1983; Ex. 42, pg. 65. Johnson (Scottish Fiddle Music in the 18th Century), 1984; No. 82, pg. 228. S. Johnson (A Twenty Year Anniversary Collection), 2003; pg. 28. McGlashan (A Collection of Reels), c. 1786; pg. 19. TAC002, Don Bartlett & The Scotians ‑ "Play Favourites.” WMT002, Wendy MacIsaac – “That’s What You Get” (1997?).

X:1

T:Sir Archibald Grant’s Reel

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

S:McGlashanReels (c. 1786)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

e|d<G B>G d>Gc>e|d<G B>G A/B/A ce|d<G B>G B/c/d d>g|e>cA>d B>G G:|

(g|g)>dd>g B>gd>f|g>dcg B>gA>f|g>de>g d>gB>g|e>cA>d B>GG>(g|

g)>dc>g B>gA>(f|g)>de>g d>gc>g|B>gA>g B>G G||

 

SIR ARTHUR SHAEN. Irish, Planxty. G Minor. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by Turlough O'Carolan. Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 159, pg. 108.

 

SIR CHARLES COOTE. AKA and see "Planxty Charles Coote." Irish, Planxty. C Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by Turlough O'Carolan. Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 18, pg. 34.

 

SIR CHARLES DOUGLAS. AKA and see “Caillich Odhar.” Scottish, Strathspey. D Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by Nathaniel Gow (1763-1831) in honor of Sir Charles Douglas, Bart. (d. 1789), a British admiral and a descendent of the Scottish earls of Morton. Douglas became a lieutenant in the British navy at the time of the Seven Years War, in 1753, promoted to captain in 1761. He took part in the defence of Canada during the American Revolution, relieving Quebec by forcing his way up the icy St. Lawrence, and he commanded the 64-gun HMS Stirling Castle in the Battle of Ushant in 1778. Later he distinguished himself at the Battle of Dominica, 1782, when he convinced Admiral Rodney to “break the line” and thus divide the French fleet, resulting in a victory. It was his improvements in naval gunnery, however, that sealed his reputation, among which was the replacement of the slow-match system with flintlock mechanisms for the firing of ship-board cannon, both more effective and safer to operate. Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 213. O’Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol. III), c. 1808; pg. 48. Jerry O’Sullivan – “O’Sullivan meets O’Farrell” (2005).

X:1

T:Sir Charles Douglas’s Strathspey

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

S:O’FarrellPocket Companion, vol. III (c. 1808)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

ADAF ADDB | ADFD F/G/A d2 | ADFD ADAF | GdFd E23B2 :|

A<d d>f edcB | A<d d>f ef g2 | A<d d>f ecdA | BdFd E2B2 | A<d d>f edcB |

Addf ef g2 | faef dfBd | AdFd E2B2 ||

 

SIR CHARLES FORBES BART. OF NEWE. Scottish, Strathspey. A Major. Standard. AB. Composed by Alexander Walker for his patron; he notes "slow, when not danced." Walker was the gardener at Castle Newe. Bart. = baronet. Walker (A Collection of Strathspeys, Reels, Marches, &c.), 1866; No. 1, pg. 1.

 

SIR CHARLES FORBES OF NEW(E) AND EDINGLASSIE. Scottish, Slow Strathspey. F Minor. Standard. AB. Composed by William Marshall (1748-1833). Marshall, Fiddlecase Edition, 1978; 1845 Collection, pg. 34.

X:1

T:Sir Charles Forbes of New and Edinglassie

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

S:Marshall1845 Collection

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F Minor

C|F>GA>B A/G/F/E/ c/B/A/G/|F>GA>B dA, cB/A/|Ge ed/c/ B/A/G/F/ E>G|

B/A/G/F/ A/G/F/E/ F2 FC|F>GA>B A/G/F/E/ c/B/A/G/|F>GA>B cA, cB/A/|

Be ed/c/ B/A/G/F/ E>G|B/A/G/F/ A/G/F/E/ F2F||c|f>ga>f geeg|f>ga>f a/g/f/=e/ fg|

f>gab geeg|f>ec=e f2 fc|f>ga>f geeg|fagb af g=d|=e/d/c/B/ eB GEEG|

F/G/A/B/ cC F2F||

 

SIR CHARLES SEDLEY'S MINUET. Scottish, English; Minuet (3/4 time). England, North‑West. D Major. Standard. AABB. The melody appears in the Gillespie Manuscript of Perth, 1768, and also appears in a minuet collection by David Rutherford in the 1750’s (a copy of which is in the music collection at Thomas Jefferson’s home Monticello). In America the melody appears in the music manuscript copybooks of Captain George Bush, and of Henry Livingston, Jr.  Livingston purchased the estate of Locust Grove, Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1771 at the age of 23. In 1775 he was a Major in the 3rd New York Regiment, which participated in Montgomery’s invasion of Canada in a failed attempt to wrest Montreal from British control. An important land-owner in the Hudson Valley, and a member of the powerful Livingston family, Henry was also a surveyor and real estate speculator, an illustrator and map-maker, and a Justice of the Peace for Dutchess County. He was also a poet and musician, and presumably a dancer, as he was elected a Manager for the New York Assembly’s dancing season of 1774-1775, along with his 3rd cousin, John Jay, later U.S. Chief Justice of Governor of New York. Source for notated version: the MS collection of Captain George Bush (1753?-1797), an officer and fiddler in the Continental Army [Keller]. Keller (Fiddle Tunes from the American Revolution), 1992; pg. 9. Knowles (Northern Frisk), 1988; No. 71.

X:1

T:Sir Charles Sedley’s Minuet

M:3/4

L:1/8

R:Minuet

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

d2 fdec | d2e2f2 | A2 BcdB | A2G2F2 | D3 FEG |

F2 DFEG | F2 GFED | A6 :: AFDFA=c | B2 AB G2 | B^GEGBd |

c2 Bc A2 | ecAceg | fdec d2 | fdec d2 | Ag f2e2 | d6 :|

X:2
T:Sir Charles Sedley's Minuet
C:Traditional
S:GINA LE FAUX "Masquerades And Operas" Lefaux Music LFM004
N:Ms Le Faux writes to say she “recorded the tune on an 18th century

N:fiddle which is in its original condition with gut strings tuned down to

N:old pitch. This version is in the key of D, old pitch, and not C.” [A.K.]
S:The CD notes list the 1760 Joseph Barnes manuscript as the source.
M:3/4
L:1/8
K:D

(3ABc |: d2 +d2f2+ +d2f2+ | d2e2f2 | A2 Bc dB | A2G2F2 |

DF EG FA | A2G2A2 | +A,4G4+ +A,4F2+ |[1 +A,4E4+ (3ABc :|

[2 +A,4E4+ AB |: AF DF A=c | B2A2G2 | BG EG Bd | c2B2A2 |

ec Ac eg | f2e2d2 | a4c2 | [d4 dB :| [2 d4 ||

 

SIR CHARLES'S RANT. English, Jig. England, Northumberland. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The tune appears in Northumbrian piper John Peacock's collection dated c. 1805. Peacock (Peacock’s Tunes), c. 1805/1980; No. 20, pg. 7. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 117.

           

SIR DAVID DAVIDSON OF CANTRAY. Scottish, Canadian; Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. D Major. Standard tuning. AAB (Kerr): AA’B (Cranford). Composed by John Lowe (1797-1866, who also composed “Archie Menzie’s” and “Rachael Rae”), father of the Joseph Lowe who published a collection in 1840. The tune is heard in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, fiddle repertoire, as well as Scottish traditional fiddle repertoire. The Battlefield Band recorded a slow version of the tune in the mid-1970’s, influencing for a while the popular tempo of the tune, although the original tempo seems to have been restored in modern sessions. There were two David Davidsons of Cantray, father and son. David Davidson (Sr.), son of William Davidson and Agnes MacKercher, built the estate, purchasing in 1767-8 the lands of Cantray and Croy (in the valley of the Nairn, Inverness-shire) and afterwards adding Clava. This laird married Mary, daughter of George Cuthbert of Castlehill, Sheriff-Substitute of Inverness, and is alluded to in the statistical account of 1842 as "a man of singular sagacity, of most active powers of mind, and practical good sense," and as "a liberal-minded and fatherly landlord." David and Mary’s son was David Davidson (Jr.), of who was born around the year 1788. It was David Davidson (Jr.) who was knighted by King George III. See also “Lady Davidson of Cantray.” Cranford (Jerry Holland’s), 1995; No. 106, pg. 31. Henderson (Flowers of Scottish Melody), 1935. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 3; No. 14, pg. 4. Martin & Hughes (Ho-ro-gheallaidh), 1990; pg. 18. Rounder 82161-7032-2, Bill Lamey – “From Cape Breton to Boston and Back: Classic House Sessions of Traditional Cape Breton Music 1956-1977” (2000). Topic Records 12TS, Alex Green - “The Caledonian Companion” (1975).

See also listings at:

Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index

Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources 

X:1

T:Sir David Davidson of Cantray

M:4/4

L:1/8

R:Reel

K:D

A|d2 fd cdBd|AdFd EecA|d2 fd cdAF|GEec d2 dA|

d2 fd cdBd|AdFd EecA|d2 fd cdAF|GEec d2 d:|

|:f|afdf afba|gfed cdef|gfed cbag|fedc d2 df|afdf afba|gfed cBAG|FAdc Bbge|cABc d3:|

                       

SIR DAVID HUNTER BLAIR('S REEL). Scottish, Reel. F Major (Athole, Campbell, Kerr, Martin): G Major (Surenne): D Major (Huntington). Standard. AB (Surenne): AAB (Kerr): AABB (Athole, Huntington, Martin). Sir David Hunter Blair (1778-1857), 3rd Baronet, Blair, became a religious man and was involved in the printing of Bibles, as well as serving as the Deputy-Lieutenant and Convener of the County of Ayr, and the one-time Colonel of the Ayrshire Militia. One of the finest Regency era castles in Scotland, Blairquhan (pronounced ‘blair-wan’) Castle, Ayrshire, designed by Scottish architect William Burn, was built for Blair in the Tudor style from 1821-1824 on the site of an older castle. It remains in the possession of the Blair family to this day. A version of the melody appears in the music manuscript copybook of keyboard player Ann Winnington’s music manuscript (under the title “Sir David Hunt of Blair”), c. 1810, wherein the frontispiece indicates she resided at the time in New York, although the manuscript eventually made its way back to England. Ship’s fiddler William Litten also entered a version of the tune into his music copybook around the year 1800, while at sea. He is believed to have served in a British merchant ship or perhaps naval vessel in the Pacific. However, his manuscript ended up on the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard. The reel was published in several early 19th century publications, including Thomas Balls’ Gentleman’s Amusement Book 2 (Norfolk, Conn., 1815), G.E. Blake’s Gentleman’s Amusement No. 3 (Philadelphia, c. 1825), Wheatstone’s Clarinet Preceptor (London, 1801), William Whiteley’s Instrumental Preceptor (Utica, N.Y., 1816), and William William’s New and Complete Preceptor for the Fife (Utica, N.Y., 1819). Campbell (Strathspey Reels...Irish Jigs...,) pg. 2. DeVille (The Universal Contradance Album), No. 30. Huntington (William Litten's), 1977; pg. 24. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 1; Set 27, No. 2, pg. 17. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), vol. 2, 1988; pg. 37. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 237. Surenne (Dance Music of Scotland), 1852; pg. 8.

X:1

T:Sir David Hunter Blair

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

B:The Athole Collection

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

a|~f2 cd cdcd|cf a2 cf a2|b2 ga gaga|gfef ge c:|

|:g|af ~f2 cfAc|FAcf eg ~g2|af ~f2 cfAc|FAcf ge ~f:|

X:2

T:Sir David Hunter Blair’s Reel

L:1/8

M:C

S:Button & Whitaker’s Selection of Dances, Reels, Waltzes No. 1 (undated, early 19th S:century)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

f2 cd cdcd|cf a2 cf a2|b2 ga gaga|gfef ge c2:|

|:af f2 cA A2|FAcf eg g2|af f2 cA A2|Acfa ge f2:|

X:3

T:Sir David Hunter Blair

M:C

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:SurenneDance Music of Scotland, pg. 8  (1852)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

g2d>e d>ed>e | d>gb2 d>gb2 | c’2a>b a>ba>b | a>gf>g a>fd2 | g2d>e d>ed>e | d>gb2 d>gb2 |

c’2 a>b a>ba>b | a>gf>g a>f d2 || b>gg2 dgBd | GBdg fa a2 | b>g ({a/g/f/}g2) dgBd |

GBdg af g2 | b>gg2 dgBd | GBdg fa a2 | b>g ({a/g/f/}g2) dgBd | GBdg af g2 ||


 

SIR EDWARD CROFTON. Irish, Planxty (6/8 time). G Major. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 22, pg. 36.

                       

SIR FESTUS BURKE, PLANXTY (Fiacha a Burc). AKA and see “Festus Burke,” "Planxty Sir Festus Burke," "Sir Festus a Burca." Irish, Air or Planxty (2/4 time, "spirited"). D Major. Standard tuning. AB. The melody, for which no words are extent, was composed by the blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan. O'Sullivan (1983) notes that Sir Festus Burke was the 5th baronet of Glinsk, County Galway, who succeeded to the title on the death of his father in 1721 (he was the half-brother of Sir Ulick Burke, for whom O'Carolan composed another piece). Sir Festus married the eldest daughter of the Earl of Clanricard, Lady Laetitia, in 1708, though the union proved barren, and he died around 1730. Source for notated version: the melody was noted by the Irish collector Edward Bunting from the playing of harper Charles Fannin in 1792. Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 9, pg. 30. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 244. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1979; No. 696, pg. 128. O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 44, pgs. 70-71. Green Linnet GLCD 1128, Brendan Mulvihill & Donna Long - “The Morning Dew” (1993. Appears as “Festus Burke”). Shanachie 79013, Derek Bell - "Carolan's Receipt" (1987).

X:1

T:Planxty Sir Festus Burke

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Spirited”

S:O’NeillMusic of Ireland (1903), No. 696

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

dA de|{a}fe/d/ df|gf/e/ af/d/|cB AA|B/A?G GB|GB c/d/e|d/c/B/A/ Bc|d2 dz|

af da|a/g/f/e/ da|bg eb|b/a/g/f/ ez|a/g/f/e/ f/g/a/f/|e/d/c/B/ c/d/e/c/|d/B/G/B/ G/B/d/B/|

e/c/A/c/ A/c/e/c/|d/c/B/A/ G/F/E/D/|C/B,/C/D/ E/F/G/E/|FD DF|{G}A2 Az|BG GB|

{d}e2 {d}ez|e/d/B/A/ Aa|g/a/b f/g/a|gB c/d/e/c/|d2 dz||F/A/d/A/ F/A/F/D/|F/A/d/B/ AF/A/|

BG d/c/d/B/|cA e/d/e/c/|da eg|g/f/e/f/ ge|d2 zd|GG/B/ GG/B/|AA/a/ Aa/a/|GG/g/ GG/g/|

g/f/e/f/ g/f/e/d/|{g}ae/f/ g/f/e/d/|{a}be/f/ g/f/e/d/|cA AA|B/c/d/c/ B/A/G/F/|

A/G/F/E/ G/F/E/D/|AA, C/D/E/C/|D2 Dz||

                       

SIR GEORGE ABERCROMBIE. Scottish, Strathspey. A Major. Standard. AB. Composed by Alexander Walker in honor of Sir George Abercrombie, Baronet of Birkenbog and Forglen. Walker (A Collection of Strathspeys, Reels, Marches, &c.), 1866; No. 15, pg. 6.

 

SIR GEORGE CLERK OF PENNYCUICK. AKA – “Sir George Clark’s Strathspey.” Scottish, Slow Strathspey. G Major. Standard. AB. The melody is attributed to Nathaniel Gow in the 1819 Beauties of Niel Gow. Sir George (1787-1867) was a Scottish nobleman with Tory sympathies. He was a successful Member of Parliament and politician, became Master of the Mint in 1845, and President of the (London) Zoological Society in 1862. The family is still resident at Pennicuik House in modern times. Gow (Beauties of Niel Gow), 1819, Book 1, pg. 23. Hunter (The Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 85. Scottish Country Dance Book 20, 1959. Ron Gonella – “Tribute to Niel Gow.” Greentrax Alasdair Fraser & Paul Machlis – “Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, vol. 1.”

 

SIR GEORGE CLARK'S STRATHSPEY. AKA and see “Sir George Clerk of Pennycuick.” Scottish, Strathspey. G Major. Standard. AB. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 125. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 164.

X:1

T:Sir George Clark’s Strathspey

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

(g/>a/) | (b<g) ~g2 (d<B) B2 | (c<e) (c<e) A2 (AB/c/) | (d<B)B2 (G<E)E2 | (c>.A)(B>.G) (G/F/E/D/) (Dg/a/) |

(b<g)~g2 (d<B)B2 | (c<e)(c<e) A2 (AB/c/) | (d<B)B2 e<E) (EF/G/) | (G/F/E/D/) (E>.F) G2G ||

(d/>c/) | (B<d)~d2 (d<b) (b>.a) | (g<e) (e>.d) d2 (d>.c) | (B<d)~d2 (e<B) c2 |

(d>.A) (B>.G) (G/F/E/D/) (DE/F/) | (G<B)B2 (B>d)d2 | g>de>d d2 (7d/e/f/g/a/b/c’/ |

(d’<b) (b<g) (g<e) (e<c) | (B<G) (({B}A>)F) G2G ||

 

SIR GEORGE MACKENZIE [1]. Scottish, Reel. A Major. Standard tuning. AB (Surenne): AAB (Gow). Composed by Niel Gow (1727-1807). Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 314. Surenne (Dance Music of Scotland), 1852; pg. 137.

X:1

T:Sir George Mackenzie of Coul [1]

M:C

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:SurenneDance Music of Scotland, pg. 137   (1852)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

f | e2 cA d2 fd | e2 cA dBBa | e2 cA e3=g | fded cAAf | e2 cA d2fd | e2 cA dBBa |

e2 cA e3=g | fded cAA || g | (f/3g/2<a) ec e3f | (f/4g/2<a) ec fBBg | a2 ec e3=g |

fded cAAg | (f/4g/2<a) ec e3g | (f/4g/2<a) ec fBBg | a2 ec e3=g | fded cAA ||

 

SIR GEORGE MACKENZIE [2]. Scottish, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB'. A variation of version #1. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 92.

X:1

T:Sir George MacKenzie

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

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

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

f|d2AF DFAF|d2AF Eece|d2AF DFAF|GBAB FDD:|

|:A|FDAF BGAF|BGAF GEEA|1 FDAF BGAF|A,EGE FDD:|2

FDAF GABg|fdec dDD||

                       

SIR GEORGE MACKENZIE OF COUL. See “Sir George MacKenzie [1].”

 

SIR GEORGE McKENZIE OF COUL'S FAVORITE. Scottish, Slow Strathspey. C Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by Nathaniel Gow. Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 214.

                       


SIR GUY. English, Air (3/4 time). F Major. Standard tuning. AB. The song appears in the ballad opera Robin Hood (1730). Songs of Sir Guy are quite old and are mentioned in chronicles of the 16th and even 15th century. Chappel (1859) quotes William of Nassyngton who, writing around 1480, mentions stories of Sir Guy as usually sung by minstrels at feasts, and Puttenham, who wrote in 1589 that they were "commonly sung by harpers at Christmas dinners and bride‑ales for the recreation of the lower classes." 

***

Was ever knight for lady’s sake

So toss’d in love as I, Sir Guy!

For Phillis fair, that lady bright

As ever man beheld with eye.

She gave me leave myself to try

The valiant knight with shield and spear;

Ere that her love she would grant me,

Which made me venture far and near.

***

See also “Was Ever a Man So Tost in Love.” Chappell (Popular Music of the Olden Time), vol. 2, 1859; pgs. 156‑157.

X:1

T:Sir Guy

M:3/4

L:1/8

R:Air

S:ChappellPopular Music of the Olden Time  (1859)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

F Ac|f2c2 dB|c3F Ac|f2A2 BG|F3F Ac|f2c2 dB|c3F Ac|f2A2 BG|F3||

G AF|G2 AB/c/ BA|G3 GAF|G2c2 d=B|c3 c_BA|B2 AB/c/ BA|G3 CFG|A2c2 AG|F3||

                       

SIR HARRY INNES. Scottish. John Glen (1891) finds the earliest appearance of the tune in print in Angus Cumming's 1780 collection (pg. 18).

                       

SIR HARRY’S FAVOURITE.  English (?), Jig (9/8 time). D Major. Standard. AAB. Kennedy (Fiddler’s Tune-Book: Slip Jigs and Waltzes), 1999; No. 75, pg. 18.

 

SIR HARRY'S WELCOME HOME. AKA and see “The Thistle.” Scottish, Strathspey. G Major. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by Peter Hardie (c. 1775‑1863) of Dunkeld, principally remembered as a violin maker. Paul Cranford remarks that this strathspey is one of the Inverness County, Cape Breton, favorites. Hardie (Caledonian Companion), 1992; pg. 54. Rounder CD 11661-7033-2, Natalie MacMaster – “My Roots are Showing” (2000). WMT002, Wendy MacIsaac – “That’s What You Get” (1998?).

                       

SIR HENDRY’S STRATHSPEY. Scottish, Strathspey. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AB. The tune was published in 1799 by Thomas Calvert, a musician from Kelso, Scotland. A note with his collection states that Calvert supplied “a variety of music and instruments, instruments lent out, tun’d and repaired.” See also the related “Lady Mary Primrose’s Favorite.”

X: 1
T:Sir Hendry's Strathspey
M:C
L:1/8
Z:Nigel Gatherer
K:Bb
B|F>BDB "tr"F>GBc|BG"tr"F>D D<CCB|FBDB "tr"F>GBg|\
fBf z e/ eddf|gz/e/ Eg fz/f/ Df|ed"tr"cB B<GGB|
FBDB "tr"F>GBg|fc [B2F2D2] [BFD]||f|b>fd>f B>fd>f|\
ed "tr"cB BGGf|b>fd>f B>fd>f|g>b g/f/d
f2 fg/a/|bfdf g>ecg|fdc z B/B/ G>GB|FBDB F>GBg|\
fc "tr"[B2F2D2] [BFD]|]

                       

SIR HENRY MACDERMOTT ROE. AKA and see "Henry MacDermot Ro