Annotation:Master F. Sitwell
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MASTER F. (Francis) SITWELL. AKA and see "Francis Sitwell." Scottish, Slow Strathspey, Reel, Air or March. B Flat Major (most versions): C Major (Anderson, Surenne). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Hardie, Surenne): AAB (Anderson, Carlin/Gow, Glen, Honeyman): AABB' (Gatherer, Kerr, Stewart-Robertson): AAB & variations CCD (Cranford/Fitzgerald). Composed by Nathaniel Gow (1768-1831). It is not known for whom the tune is written. There was a Francis Sitwell (1768-1813) who, in Dunbarton in 1795, married Anne Campbell (c. 1766-1821), daughter of Sir Illay Campbell of Succoth, 1st Bart, and Susan Mary Murray. Sitwell (whose original name was Hurt) was master of Barmoor Castle, Northumberland, and sometime MP for Berwick (1803-1806). However, the title "Master" usually is applied to a boy or young man.
Nathaniel was the third son of famed Scots fiddler-composer Niel Gow (1727-1807), and was himself a fiddler, composer, bandleader and music publisher. A master set of variations to this tune were recorded by Aberdeenshire fiddler J.F. Dickie ("Master of the Slow Strathspey", according to J. Murdoch Henderson) in the early 1950's. Indeed, the melody has been set as a reel, strathspey, slow air and march. There is also a strathspey name "Miss Sitwell" by Nathaniel, perhaps for a sister or relation of Francis.
Source for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford].
Printed sources: Anderson (Anderson's Budget of Strathspeys, Reels & Country Dances), c. 1820; p. 11. Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 137. Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald's Collection), 1997; No. 219, p. 87. Gatherer (Gatherer's Musical Museum), 1987; p. 37. Glen (The Glen Collection of Scottish Dance Music), vol. 2, 1895; p. 28. Gow (Fourth Collection of Niel Gow's Reels), 2nd ed., originally 1800; p. 33. Hardie (Caledonian Companion), 1992; pp. 68-69 (with variations by J.F. Dickie). Honeyman (Strathspey, Reel and Hornpipe Tutor), 1898; p. 27. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 202, p. 23. N. Stewart (The Fall of Paris with Four Fashionable Tunes and Five Fashionable Reels or Strathspeys), c. 1796. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 283. Surenne (Dance Music of Scotland), 1852; pp. 16-17.
Recorded sources: Ron Gonella - "A Tribute to Niel Gow." "James F. Dickie's Delights" (1976). RC2000, George Wilson - "Royal Circus" (2000). Risk 0401, Laura Risk - "" (2004).
See also listing at:
Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings Index [1]