Annotation:Mrs. Graham of Orchill’s

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MRS. GRAHAM OF ORCHILL'S STRATHSPEY. Scottish, Strathspey. D Mixolydian. Standard tuning. AABBC. A rare three-part strathspey, printed by Malcolm MacDonald of Dunkeld, Perthshire, in his 2nd collection, dedicated to the Earl of Breadalbane. The Grahams of Orchill were a cadet branch of the family of the Dukes of Montrose, whose seat was Orchill Castle, Perthshire, a manor built in the early 18th century. The Grahams were Scottish music enthusiasts and patrons. The story is told of Mr. Graham of Orchill and Niel Gow:

The late Mr Graham of Orchill, used to sit up whole nights with Neil Gow, playing reels with him, and on one occasion Neil exclaimed, "Troth, Orchill, you play weel;—be thankfu’, if the French should overturn our country, you and I can win our bread, which is mair than mony o’ the great folk can say." [Significant Scots]

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: MacDonald (A Second Collection of Strathspey Reels), 1789; p. 8.

Recorded sources:




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