Annotation:Bobby Cuthbertson
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BOBBY CUTHBERTSON. Scottish (originally), Canadian; Hornpipe. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'BBCCDD. A pipe hornpipe by John Wilson. The tune honors Scottish dancer Robert McNiven Cuthbertson, a native of Springburn, Glasgow, Scotland, he won his first dancing championship in 1913. World War I intervened and he joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, later serving with the Gordons. He continued to dance in the war in his leisure time and for army sponsored competitions (he won the championship of the 51st Division, the Canadian Brigade Medal and the Army Championship). Cuthbertson survived the war and continued dancing and teaching, producing many great dancers of the next generation. Piping and Dancing (October, 1935) said of him:
In action (if such a phrase can describe Bobby Cuthbertson), he is the embodiment of graceful ease that, combined with a mathematical precision, makes dancing look an effortless accomplishment, which can be acquired by anyone, is unquestionably the hallmark of supreme ability. We doubt, if there has ever been such an able dancer in Scotland, and we believe it will be may a long day before we see his equal, and we do not think we will ever see his master.
Source for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald [Cape Breton's Magazine].
Printed sources: Cape Breton's Magazine, No. 46, 1987; p. 20.
Recorded sources:
See also listing at:
Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings Index [1]
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