Annotation:Cluny Castle

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CLUNY CASTLE (INVERNESS-SHIRE). Scottish, Slow Strathspey or Pastoral Air (4/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. The melody first appears the collection of Scottish fiddler-composer James Scott Skinner (1843-1927) entitled Harp and Claymore, published in 1904. The melody was composed by Alexander Troup of Crathie and Ballater, born at Dalbadgie, in the vicinity of Ballater, in September, 1835. He was locally renowned as a violinist and musicographer and was often called upon as a judge at pipe and violin competitions. He had a wide and accurate knowledge of the works of Scottish violin composers, and possessed a valuable collection of works on Scottish music and musicians. A contemporary account [c.f. Mackintosh, History of the Valley of the Dee, 1895, p. 146] said "he is esteemed as one of the highest living authorities upon all points relating to Scottish music. He has played on various occasions at Balmoral. He is also a good vocal musician. In his twenty-first year, he led the psalmody in the church of Crathie before Her Majesty the Queen. He is a man of rare gifts and energy. His elder brother, James, who went to Australia, is also a fine violin player. He also performed before her with Willie Blair, 'The Queen's Fiddler'."

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Hardie (Caledonian Companion), 1986; p. 14 (includes variations). Hunter (Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 16. Skinner (Harp and Claymore Collection), 1904; p. 15.

Recorded sources:

See also listing at:
Hear the tune played by Simon Thoumire on concertina [1]

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