Annotation:Miss Gordon of Park

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MISS GORDON OF PARK. AKA and see “Miss Menzies.” Scottish, Jig. F Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Marshall): AA’B (Silberberg): AA’BB’ (Cranford). Composed by Biography:William Marshall (1748-1833). A Scottish fiddler and composer, Marshall is most famous for his many fine strathspeys. Marshall worked for much of his life for the Duke of Gordon as the Steward of his Household, and it is fortunate that the Duke was an enthusiastic supporter and patron of Marshall’s music. Moyra Cowie, in her book The Life and Times of William Marshall (1999), suggests that the tune was composed in honor of one of the children of Sir James Gordon of Park and Joanna Maria, the eldest daughter of David McDowell Grant of Arndilly. Park is a fortified mansion that dates from 1536 near the village of Cornhill, famous for its markets. See also “Miss Menzies” for a Cape Breton setting of the melody.

Source for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford]; Terry Wergeland [Silberberg].

Printed sources: Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 198, p. 77. Marshall, Fiddlecase Edition, 1978; 1845 Collection, p. 5. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 100.

Recorded sources: Celtic CX 34, Winston Fitzgerald (appears as “Lady Menzies”). RC2000, George Wilson – “Royal Circus” (2000).

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