Annotation:Lady Ann Erskin's Reel
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LADY ANN ERSKIN'S REEL. Scottish, Reel. C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. John Glen (1891) finds the earliest appearance of this tune in print in Robert Bremner's 1757 collection. The melody was also printed in Longman and Broderip's Compleat Collection of 200 Favorite Country Dances (London, 1781). There is a much repeated story regarding Lady Ann's chance meeting with the preacher, Rowland Hill. She was passing by one day when she noticed him preaching to a crowd, and, having heard of him she stopped her carriage to listen. Hill saw the crest on the carriage and recognized the noble crest on the door, and, recognizing an opportunity and extemporizing quickly, he began to act as if he were an auctioneer. He asked what Satan was willing to bid for her soul, and what Christ was willing to offer, then asked Lady Ann to choose. Reportedly she was so overcome by the performance she descended weeping from her carriage and was 'saved'.
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Bremner (Scots Reels), c. 1757; p. 86.
Recorded sources:
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