DOUGAL CREATURE, THE. Scottish (originally), Canadian; Jig (6/8 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB'. The composition is attributed to biography:James Fraser in Joseph Lowe's Lowe's Collection of Reels, Strathspeys and Jigs, Book 4 (1844-45, p. 9). 'The Dougal Creature' was a Highland character in Sir Walter Scott's Twa Drovers, also a minor character ("The Dougal Cratur") in his novel Rob Roy (1817). This passage from The Long Glen (Chapt. 34), uses the phrase "Dougal Creature", in an inditement of the absentee laird:
Trained up as an alien, mocked by delusive recollections of infancy, and misled by the fancy pictures of poets and novelists, the Laird,perhaps, thought every Highlander should be a submissive "Dougal Creature" to his born landlord, and on special occasions at least,wear plaid and kilt, and make himself picturesque.[1]
Additional notes Source for notated version : - Joseph Lowe (Lowe's Collection of Reels, Strathspeys and Jigs, book 4), 1844–1845; p. 9.
Printed sources : - Paul Stewart Cranford (Brenda Subbert: The Second Collection),
Recorded sources : - Rounder Records 82161-7051-2, John L. MacDonald - "Formerly of Foot Cape Road: Scottish Fiddle Music in the Classic Inverness County Style" (2005). Allie Bennett - "It's About Time
See also listing at : Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings Index [1]
