Annotation:Warlock's Strathspey

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X:1 T:Warlocks, The C:Robert Lowe M:C L:1/16 R:Strathspey B: Joseph Lowe - Lowe's Collection of Reels, Strathspeys and Jigs, B:book 4 (1844–1845, p. 15) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Emin e|BE3G3F E4 E2FG|Ad3A3F D4 Dd3|BE3G3F E3B e3f|g3e gfe^d e2e:| B|e3gB3g eB3 ge3|f3ad3a fd3 fgaf|e3gB3g e2B2 g3e|d3BAF3 E4 EB| e3gB3g eB3 g3e|fa3da3 fd3 fgaf|eg3f3e d3BAF3|GB3AF3 E4 E2||

WARLOCK’S STRATHSPEY. AKA – "The Warlock(’s)," "Peter Milne’s Strathspey." Scottish (originally), Canadian; Strathspey (whole time). Canada, Cape Breton. E Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. "The Warlock" (i.e. sorcerer) was composed by Scottish dancing master and composer in Brechin, Robert Lowe, and published in his brother biography:Joseph Lowe’s (1797-1866) 1844 collection. It is a companion piece to Joseph's reel "Witches (2) (The)," and both were inspired by Robert Burns' poem "Tam o'Shanter" (see Lowe's "annotation: Tam's Grey Mare" for more information).

"The Warlock" was first recorded on a 78 RPM disc by Cape Breton fiddler Bill Lamey (Cranford), and has since become a very popular strathspey among fiddlers on the island (where it occasionally has been recorded as "Peter Milne's Strathspey"). It has been recorded frequently.

Additional notes

Printed sources : - Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 109, p. 72. Cranford (Jerry Holland’s Collection), 1995; No. 137, p. 40. Joseph Lowe (Joseph Lowe's Collection of Scottish Strathspeys and Reels), 1844-45; p. 15.

Recorded sources : - Green Linnett GLCD 1119, Cherish the Ladies – “The Back Door” (1992). Rounder Records 7052, Buddy MacMaster – “The Cape Breton Tradition” (2003). Shanachie Records 14002, Bill Lamey - "Classic Recordings of Scottish Fiddling" (1979). “The Rankin Family” (1989).

See also listing at :
Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings [1]
Hear the Rankin Family play the tune on youtube.com [2]

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