Annotation:Captain Francis Wemyss
Tune properties and standard notation
CAPTAIN FRANCIS WEMYSS. Scottish, Strathspey. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Glen): AABB' (Kerr). Captain Francis Wemyss (pronounced 'Weems') was a member of the ancient family who have possessed lands in Fife since the 12th century. The melody appears in John Bowie's (1759-1815) collection entitled A collection of Strathspey Reels and Country Dances with bass for violincello or harpsichord (1789). Bowie was a musician from Perth, who eked out a living by concertizing, playing balls (which he sponsored with his brother Peter, then provided the music for), teaching, and selling music and musical instruments. Bowie also included another tune in his collection in Wemyss' honor, "Captain Francis Wemyys Delight." See also the version played in Ireland as a slide, under the title "Game Cock (The)" (An Coileach Comhraic). See also the companion piece "Mrs. Francis Wemyss."
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Glen (The Glen Collection of Scottish Dance Music), vol. 1, 1891; p. 29. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 3; No. 1, p. 3.
Recorded sources: