Annotation:Sir David Davidson of Cantray
X:1 T:Sir David Davidson of Cantray C:John Lowe M:4/4 L:1/8 R:Reel K:D A|d2 fd cdBd|AdFd EecA|d2 fd cdAF|GEec d2 dA| d2 fd cdBd|AdFd EecA|d2 fd cdAF|GEec d2 d:| |:f|afdf afba|gfed cdef|gfed cbag|fedc d2 df| afdf afba|gfed cBAG|FAdc Bbge|cABc d3:|
SIR DAVID DAVIDSON OF CANTRAY. Scottish, Canadian; Reel (whole time). Canada, Cape Breton. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Kerr): AA’B (Cranford). Composed by John Lowe (1797-1866, who also composed “Archie Menzie’s” and “Rachael Rae”), father of the Joseph Lowe who published a collection in 1840. The tune is heard in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, fiddle repertoire, as well as Scottish traditional fiddle repertoire. The Battlefield Band recorded a slow version of the tune in the mid-1970’s, influencing for a while the popular tempo of the tune, although the original tempo seems to have been restored in modern sessions. There were two David Davidsons of Cantray, father and son. David Davidson (Sr.), son of William Davidson and Agnes MacKercher, built the estate, purchasing in 1767-8 the lands of Cantray and Croy (in the valley of the Nairn, Inverness-shire) and afterwards adding Clava. This laird married Mary, daughter of George Cuthbert of Castlehill, Sheriff-Substitute of Inverness, and is alluded to in the statistical account of 1842 as "a man of singular sagacity, of most active powers of mind, and practical good sense," and as "a liberal-minded and fatherly landlord." David and Mary’s son was David Davidson (Jr.), of who was born around the year 1788. It was David Davidson (Jr.) who was knighted by King George III. See also “Lady Davidson of Cantray.”