Annotation:Miss Robertson of Tullybelton
X:1 T:Miss Robertson of Tullybelton L:1/8 M:C| R:Reel B:Stewart-Robertson – The Athole Collection (1884) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Bb D|~B,3B cBGB|FDBD C/C/C C>D|~B3B cBGg|~fdcd B/B/B ~B:|| g|fbdf Bdfd|ecdB G/G/G Gg|fbdf Bdfd|ecfd B/B/B Bg| fbdf Bdfd|ecdB G/G/G GB|FBDB FGBg|fdcd B/B/B ~B||
MISS ROBERTSON OF TULLYBELTON('S STRATHSPEY). AKA and see "Mrs. Lockhart's Strathspey." Scottish, Strathspey (whole time). B Flat Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. Composed by fiddler, composer, orchestra leader and music publisher Nathaniel Gow [1] (1763-1831), third son of fiddler-composer Niel Gow [2] (1727-1807).
Tullybelton is located in central Perth and Kinross, Scotland, northwest of Perth. It derives its name—Tulach Bealltuinn (Beltane Hill)—from association with the Druidic festival of Beltane held on May 1st. At that time fires were lit in sacred places, almost always on hills. At the time of Gow’s publication, there was a manor called Tullybelton House, a farm called Little Tullybelton, and Loch Tullybelton. Miss Robertson was the daughter of Robert Robertson, 4th of Tullybelton, and Charlotte, daughter of John Robertson, 11th of Lude. They had four children, two boys and two girls. Since one of them, Charlotte, married John Stewart Mezies of Culdares prior to the Gow’s publication, it can be assumed that the “Miss Robertson” of the title was Elizabeth Robertson, who was born at Perth on October 17, 1764. She died unmarried.
Researcher Conor Ward finds the tune in the 1789 collection of Joshua Campbell, albeit under the title "Mrs. Lockhart's Strathspey."
