Annotation:Mr. Brander of Pitgavney's Strathspey
X:1 T:Mr. Brander of Pitgavney's Strathspey C:Donald Grant M:C L:1/16 R:Strathspey B:Donald Grant – Collection of Strathspeys, Reels, Jigs &c. (1820-21, p. 25) B:The volume was perhaps first issued c. 1790, from a penciled note in a copy. N:The collection was dedicated to Mrs. Col. Grant of Grant (“Sir James and N:Lady Grant of Grant”). S: https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/105814079 Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Bb c2|{B}d4 Td3c BG3G3B|~F3G~B3c dc3c3d|{B}d4 Td3c B3GG3B|F3DTC3D B,4B,2:| D2|F3GF3D F3GB3F|TG3FG3B dc3c3d|{B}d4 Td3c B3GG3B|F3DTC3D B,4B,4D2| F3GF3D F3GB3F|TG3FG3B dc3cd3|Bcde f3d g3ab3g|{g}fd3Tc3d B4B2||
MR. BRANDER OF PITGAVNEY'S STRATHSPEY. Scottish, Strathspey (whole time). B Flat Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. "Mr. Brander of Pitgavney's Strathspey" was composed by Elgin fiddler-composer biography:Donald Grant and was published in his Collection of Strathspeys, Reels, Jigs &c. (1820-21). John Brander Esq. (c.1760-1826), 2nd Laird of Pitgavney, was the father of Mary Brander, who became the second wife of Sir Archibald Dunbar of Northfield, Baronet, in 1822. Grant composed tunes for each of them (Mary is probably who is referred to in Grant's "Miss Brander (2)"), as he did for many of the Morayshire aristocracy from whom he sought patronage. John Brander was involved in the local Drainie Volunteer Regiment of the Napoleonic Wars period, but John was primarily interested in improving his estate(s). He and his uncle Alexander embarked upon the task of draining the Loch of Spynie in order to increase the area and quality of their agricultural lands. Alexander died leaving no issue and John inherited Kinneddar and Aikenhead in 1794. The resulting estate was known as 'Pitgaveny and Kinneddar', this being shortened simply to 'Pitgaveny' over the years.
Pitgavney itself was a mansion house, built in 1776 on, or near, the site of an earlier house or manor, with later additions. It was once part of lands of Bishopric of Moray, passing later to the Brodies of Lethen. It was purchased in circa 1765 by James Brander, 1st Laird and John's father.
