Annotation:Stark Mad

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X:1 T:Stark Mad M:C| L:1/8 R:Reel S:William Vickers’ music manuscripts, p. 22 (1770) B: http://www.farnearchive.com/show_images.asp?id=R0302208&image=1 Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D Dorian (A/B/4c/4)|dDAG FDD B/c/|dDAF ECC B/c/|dDAF BGAG|GBAF ECC:| |:e|~fedc dDDe|~fedf eEEe|~fedc faeg|BGAF ECC:|



STARK MAD. English, Reel (cut time). D Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody was entered into the 1770 music manuscript copybook of Northumbrian musician William Vickers as “Stark Madd” [sic]. There are no sharps or flats in the key signature in Vickers’ ms., although that may be a mistake of omission (either mixolydian or major also works for the tune). However, musician and Vickers researcher Matt Seattle[1] notes that one other instance of the tune can be found in the Ralph Hutchinson manuscript[2] (Durham, 1818), also with key signature with no sharps or flats indicated.

The first two bars of Scottish fiddler-composer Robert MacKintosh's minor mode "Miss Mary MacDonald of Clanranald" are very similar, although the remainder of the tune differs.


Additional notes
Source for notated version : - William Vickers' 1770 music manuscript collection (Northumberland) [Seattle].

Printed sources : - Seattle (Great Northern Tune Book/William Vickers), 2007; No. 109, p. 22.






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  1. http://www.farnearchive.com/detail.asp?id=R0302208
  2. Newcastle Society of Antiquaries manuscript Mu190