Annotation:Alex Sandy Skinner

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X: 1 T: Alex Sandy Skinner C:J. Murdoch Henderson R:Reel I:speed 232 Q:232 F:http://www.math.mun.ca/~bshawyer/reels/AlexSandySkinner K:F M:4/4 L:1/8 |:((3ABc) cB AFFB|A2 FA cfcB|((3ABc) cB AFFA|G2_EG B_eBG| ((3ABc) cB AFFB|A2 FA cfeg|afeg fcAc|G2_EG B_e BG:| |:Acce fccB|AFFB ABcB|Accf afcA|G_EEB GABG| ABce fcfa|fdcB ABcA|BcdB Acfa|g2_EG B_eBG:|

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ALEX SANDY SKINNER. AKA - "(Alex) Sandy F. Skinner." Scottish, Canadian; Reel (cut time). Canada, Cape Breton. A so-called 'double-tonic' tune composed in 1934 by Aberdeen fiddler and composer J. Murdoch Henderson (1902-1972), who has been named by some as the greatest exponent of the Scottish fiddle in the 20th century, and creator of the first index of fiddle music collections.

Henderson's reel honors Alexander Forbes Skinner (1833–1883) of Banchory, the elder brother of the great Scots fiddle-composer biography:J. Scott Skinner (1843-1927), who was himself an accomplished fiddler and dancing master. Sandy, who helped raise his younger brother after their father's death in 1845, was J. Scott Skinner's first fiddle teacher, and they remained close until Sandy's death. After their father's death Sandy helped keep the family financially afloat by giving dancing lessons and playing dances. He taught his younger brother to vamp (play bass) on the cello so as to be able to accompany him at engagements, and by the time he was eight, James was playing the cello at dances with Sandy. J. Scott Skinner also played cello for fiddler-composer Peter Milne (1824–1908), who also became a mentor and friend. Sandy continued to perform and teach, and in 1856 traveled to Edinburgh to take part in one of the first nationally organized fiddle competitions. There had been a resurgence of Scottish nationalism due in part to Queen Victoria's affinity for her Highlands residence of Balmoral Castle, purchased in 1852. He placed fifth in the competition (Archie Menzies took first place), winning a purse, and he must have enjoyed the event, for he recreated a local version on his return to Aberdeen, as recorded in The Aberdeen Journal, 23rd April 1856:

Sandy Skinner playing and dancing a sword dance. He wears a championship medal on his jacket.

Competition of Scottish Music.–On Friday evening [21st April 1856], Mr Skinner gave a musical entertainment, including a competition by violin players from different parts of the country. The entertainment consisted of singing and piano-forte playing by Miss Wilson and Miss M. Wilson–both of whose efforts were very well received. Mr Skinner himself played the solos for which he was recently awarded a prize at Edinburgh, effectively, and to the satisfaction of the audience. For the prizes, 15 competitors entered the lists for reel and strathspey playing, and 8 for slow airs. They were Messrs William Blair and James Blair, Balmoral; Forbes Morrison, Tarves; John Thomson, George Paterson, Peter Milne, John Melvin, Sen., Alexander Adam, J. Nisbet, A. Wilson, John Melvin, Jun., Andrew Henry, and John Smart, Aberdeen; George Gaul, Whitehouse, Tarland; and Mr Hardie, Knockespock. The Judges were Messrs John Marr and William Smith, Aberdeen; Alexander Walker, Castle Newe, Strathdon; and David Mortimer, Birse. The competitors played behind a screen, where they were sufficiently heard by the audience and yet not seen by the Judges. The playing generally was not of so high an order as might have been expected. There were several pretty good reel players, but there were only two or three performers who could lay claim to much ability at slow airs. The first prizeman, however, played admirably. The Judges awarded prizes as follows: –

For Strathspey and Reel–1st prize (Silver Medal), P. Milne, Aberdeen; 2d (Silver Medal), Forbes Morrison, Tarves; 3d (Fiddle Bow), G. Patterson [sic[, Aberdeen; 4th (Merit), A. Henry, do.

For Slow Airs–1st prize (Silver Medal), P. Milne, Aberdeen; 2d (Merit), J. Nisbet, do.

–The after part of the entertainment consisted of the competitors playing before the audience in solo and combination. There was a considerable audience.

Sandy married Madame de Lenglée, also a dancing master, who survived him and who later joined J. Scott Skinner and his daughter in running their dancing classes.

The tune was in the repertoire of Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton), whose recording helped to popularize the reel among Cape Breton fiddlers.