Annotation:Mrs. Major L. Stewart of the Island of Java

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MRS. MAJOR L. STEWART OF THE ISLAND OF JAVA. Scottish, Slow Strathspey. A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. Composed by William Marshall (1748-1833). A Scottish fiddler and composer, Marshall is most famous for his many fine strathspeys. Marshall worked for much of his life for the Duke of Gordon as the Steward of his Household, and it is fortunate that the Duke was an enthusiastic supporter and patron of Marshall’s music. The 'Mrs.' of the title was Margaret Fraser of Newton near Beauly, who married Ludovick Stewart of Pittyvaich. Stewart was a Major in the 24th Regiment of Foot (the South Wales Borderers), serving in India and the Island of Java, before returning home (see Annotation:Major L. Stewart's Reel--of the Island of Java) for more. Margaret and Ludovick had eleven children, nearly all of whom survived into adulthood.

Source for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987) [Cranford].

Printed sources: Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 214, p. 85. S. Johnson (A Twenty Year Anniversary Collection), 2003; p. 30. Marshall, Fiddlecase Edition, 1978; 1822 Collection, p. 17.

Recorded sources: Culburnie Records CUL 118, Alasdair Fraser – “Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, vol. 1” (2001). Greentrax CDTRAX 9009, Hector MacAndrew (1903-1980) - “Scottish Tradition 9: The Fiddler and his Art” (1993). INVER226, Pete Clark – “Now and Then.”