Beauty of the North (The)

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BEAUTY OF THE NORTH, THE (Mais' An Taobh Tuath). Scottish, Slow Strathepey. E Flat Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Hardie): AAB (Athole, Fraser, Hunter, Martin, Skye). The melody, composed by Captain Simon Fraser, first appeared in his collection published about 1816, also known as the "Fraser Knockie" collection. It was a great favorite of Scottish violinist James F. Dickie (1886-1983) of New Deer, Buchan, renowned for his skill at slow strathspey playing. Christine Martin (2002) remarks it is often used as a showcase tune among modern Scottish fiddlers.

Printed sources: Fraser (The Airs and Melodies Peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland and the Isles), 1874; No. 181, p. 74. Hardie (Caledonian Companion), 1986; p. 45. Henderson (Flowers of Scottish Melody), 1935. Hunter (Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 179. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; p. 195. Martin (Traditional Scottish Fiddling), 2002; p. 140. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 267.

Source for notated versions in print: Hector MacAndrew [Martin].

Recorded sources: Green Linnet GLCD 3105, Aly Bain - "Lonely Bird" (1996). Olympic 6151, Angus Cameron - "Scottish Traditional Fiddle Music" (1978).

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