Annotation:Mrs. Robertson of Ladykirk’s Favorite
Tune properties and standard notation
MRS. ROBERTSON OF LADYKIRK'S FAVORITE. Scottish, Slow Strathspey. D Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. Composed by John Gow (1764-1826), fourth and last son of Niel Gow, and a partner in a London publishing firm along with his older brother Andrew. They were also the English distributors of Nathaniel Gow’s music publications. The Robertsons of Ladykirk, near Coldstream, Berwickshire, close by the River Tweed, were Scotland’s first breeders of Shorthorned cattle. Mrs. Robertson of Ladykirk is the composer of “Miss Johnston‘s (1)” and (“Miss Johnston of Huttonhall’s Reel" (Houghton Hall). The melody was first published by Gow and Shepherd (Edinborough) in 1802, with “Miss Baird of Soughton Hall” (Miss Baird also composed a tune). See also the strathspey John’s brother Nathaniel composed for her husband, “Mr. Robertson of Ladykirk.” David Robertson of Ladykirk, was Master of the Berwickshire Hunt from 1840-1848, although he was not by blood a Robertson, only assuming the name after he inherited the family estates through marriage.
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 191. Gow (Fifth Collection of Strathspey Reels), 1809; p. 13.
Recorded sources: