Annotation:Hark! How Skinner's Fiddle Rings
X:1
%
T:Hark! How Skinner's Fiddle Rings
C:J. Scott Skinner
M:C
L:1/8
R:Schottische
N:"To Dr. MacDonald, Compiler of "Skye Collection"."
Q:"With Fire and Force"
B:Skinner - The Logie Collection (1888, p. 101)
K:A
E|(A>GA>c) (B>GA>F)|(E>AB>A) (c<A[e2a2])|(A>GA>c) (B>GA>G)|
F/"lift bow"z/ E C<B, C<E [C2F2]:|e>(Af>)(A e>)(Ac>)(A|e>)(Af>)(A e>)(A {A}a2)|
e>(Af>)(A e>)(Ac>B)|A/z/ G F<E C<E [C2F2]|e>Af>A e>Ac>A|e>Af>A e>A{a}a>g|
{g}a/A/A g/A/A f/A/A e/A/A|e/E/E d/E/E c/E/E B/[E/e/][Ee]!D.C.!||
HARK! HOW SKINNER'S FIDDLE RINGS. Scottish, Schottische (whole time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. Composed by fiddler-composer and dancing master biography:J. Scott Skinner (1843-1927), dedicated to Dr. Norman MacDonald, the compiler of The Skye Collection (1886). Skinner remarks that his elder brother, recently deceased "would have played this tune with great power." He directs that the 'A' string be played through the first strain to add to the effect, and that all D's, A's and E's be played in unison on the violin. He includes verses by "W.M.", the first two stanzas of which go:
If your heart should faint or fail you,
Striving sore and toiling ling,
If the wasps of care assail you,
Clear the way with dance and song;
Trample grief and gloomy notion
Under foot in Highland flings,
Mirth is more than pill or potion,
Hark! where Skinner's fiddle rings.
Has your dearest friend beguiled you?
Wife or sweetheart looked askance?
Has the gossips' tongue reviled you?
Drown the thought with song and dance,
Would you cure life's fret and canker
Burning in the blood like stings?
Truce awhile to strife and rancour!
Come, where Skinner's fiddle rings.