Annotation:Lord Mauchline
X:1 T:Lord Mauchline M:C L:1/8 R:Reel C:MacLeod of Raasay B:Gow - Fifth Collection of Niel Gow's Reels (1809, p. 17) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:Emin E|B(EE>)F GABd|FDAF dFAF|TG>FEF GABe|dBAF E/E/E E2| BEE>F GABd|FDAF dFAF|TG>FEF GABg|fdaf e/e/e e|| f|Tgfef gabg|Tfede fgaf|gfef gabg|fdaf e/e/e ef| Tgfef gabg|Tfede fgaf|gef^d egfe|dBAF E/E/E E||
LORD MAUCHLINE. Scottish, Reel. E Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB'. "By Mr. MacLeod of Raasay" (Gow). The Laird of Raasay in Edinburgh bandleader, fiddler and music publisher Nathaniel Gow’s (1761-1831) time was the 12th, James MacLeod (1761-1724) who lived contemporaneously. In 1786 James inherited several western islands, including Rassay and the family seat of Raasay House (built c. 1750), and enlarged it in 1790, adding a seven-bayed front block. Both he and his wife Flora (daughter of Lt. Col. Maclean Angus of Muck) were excellent musicians. Alexander Campbell visited the MacLeods at Raasay during his travels in 1815 around the Hebrides, collecting Gaelic melodies and remarked that the laird was:
a celebrated Dilletante, or gentleman performer. His instrument is the violin, which he touches with great neatness, & expression. He plays dancing measures, with spirit and execution, and blends his own fancies with the originals, so happily, that one is often at a loss to distinguish which is which. He was as obliging, even in the midst of his hurry, as to allow me to prick down seven melodies, one of which is an Ossianic air and another is pretty enough melody as played by Mrs Macleod ... who, by the bye, is an excellent performer on the pianoforte and whose gentleness of manner, is, in fine harmony with the graces of her elegant form, and lovely countenance.
For more, read Cooke, MacLeod & Baoill's "The Elizabeth Ross Manuscript: Original Highland Airs Collected at Raasay in 1812" [1]
Lord Mauchline is a courtesy title applied to the heir of the Earls of Loudon. At the time of the publication of Gow's Fifth Collection, Lord Mauchline was the infant George Augustus Francis Rawdon-Hastings, who in 1840 became Earl of Loudoun upon the death of his mother. He died in 1844, aged 35.
Sliabh Luachra's "Ballydesmond Polka (2)" is a generally similar tune, although whether it is a cognate tune is debatable.
