Annotation:Ayrshire Lasses (2)

AYRSHIRE LASSES [2]. Scottish, Strathspey. C Major. Standard tuning. AB (Surenne): AAB (most versions). Composed by Hugh Montgomerie (1739-1819), the twelfth Earl of Eglinton. He was a Scottish peer, politician, musician and composer, and was a member of Parliament for Ayrshire for 16 years, after which, in 1796, he became Lord-Lieutenant for Ayrshire. Mongomerie was one of the backers of the partially built Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal, which facilitated shipping to the Scottish interior. Montgomerie fought in the American wars of the latter 18th century and was had a reputation for being a fine cellist and fiddler, and an exponent of the national music (Emmerson, 1971). As MP he would have wanted to promote Ayrshire, and so added yet another tune title extolling the "beauties" of one region or another. Perhaps there was some merit to this particular affection, however, for Robert Burns mentioned the town of Ayr in "Tam o'Shanter:"

(Auld Ayr, wham ne'er a town surpasses

For honest men and bonny lasses.)

Printed sources: Gow (Complete Repository), Part 4, 1817; pg. 31. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 74, pg. 11. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; pg. 112. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884. Surenne (Dance Music of Scotland), 1852; pgs. 24-25.