Annotation:New Bridge of Dumfries (The)

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NEW BRIDGE OF DUMFRIES, THE. Scottish, Reel. G Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. Composed by John Anderson (1737-1808) and printed in his second volume, A Collection of New Highland Strathspey Reels (Edinburgh, 1790-91), which contains seven of his compositions. Little is known about him, although he seems to have connections to both Perthsire and Edinburgh. The fiddler-composer died at Inverness. Musicologist Gavin Greig wrote critically of Anderson in the Aberdeen Journal (1908, p. 178), after reviewing four of Anderson's own pieces from the volume ("Bonny Links of Aberdeen (The)," "Sir James Grant," "Mr. James Ramsay," "New Bridge of Dumfries"):

These exhibit no originality, and have hardly any melodic interest or value--being little more than mere exercises in arpeggios. Anderson, indeed, would appear to have been rather an executant than a composer.

The New Bridge of Dumfries was built in 1791-94 by local architect Thomas Boyd and is a five span arch over the River Nith. It was widened in 1893.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Glen (The Glen Collection of Scottish Dance Music), vol. 2, 1891; p. 39.

Recorded sources:

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