Annotation:Millbank Cottage

Back to Millbank Cottage

MILLBANK COTTAGE. Scottish, March (2/4 time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCCDD (Brody): AABB'CCDD' (Martin). "Millbank Cottage" is the best known composition of Pipe Major William Dumbreck (1866-1935) from Linlithgow (although often listed as "traditional"). Dumbreck, according to his obituary, was "pipe-major of the 1st Black Watch, to which, when he was appointed, was the youngest pipe-major in the British Army." The melody was composed in 1887, and was dedicated to his sister who had moved into a newly constructed house, 'Millbank Cottage', on Station Road in the town of Uphall, Midlothian.

The march is favored at pipe competitions, and was played at Dumbreck's funeral.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 188. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), vol. 2, 1988; p. 6.

Recorded sources: Olympic 6151, The Angus Strathspey and Reel Society- "Scottish Traditonal Fiddle Music" (1978). Philo 1042, Boys of the Lough- "Piper's Broken Finger" (1976).