Annotation:Earl of Seaforth's Reel (The)
X:1 T:Earl of Seaforth's Reel, The M:C| L:1/8 R:Strathspey S:McGlashan - Strathspey Reels (c. 1780-81) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:A E3c B>AFB|A/A/A c>A eAc>A|E3c B>AFf|ef/g/ ac A/A/A A2| E3c B>AFB|A/A/A c>e Aec>A|E/E/E Ec BAFf|ef/g/ ac A/A/A A2|| f|ef/g/ ac B>AFf|ef/g/ ae f>eae|faec BAFf|e>dc>B A/A/A Af| ef/g/ ac B>AFf|ef/g/ ae f>eae|f>ac>a B>AFf|ef/g/ ac A/A/A A2||
EARL OF SEAFORTH, THE. AKA and see "Captain Ross (1)." Scottish, Strathspey. A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. Glen (1891) maintained the earliest appearance of this tune in print was in in Alexander McGlashan's 1780 collection (p. 19). However, under the title "Captain Ross" the tune appears earlier in the Bodleian Manuscript, housed in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. It is inscribed "A Collection of the Newest Country Dances Performed in Scotland written by D.A. Young, W.M. 1740". Glen (1891) was aware of the "Captain Ross" tune and title, which he identified was printed earliest in Robert Bremner's 1757 collection. The strathspey appears in the c. 1785 music manuscript collection of John Sutherland of Aberdeenshire, note-for-note the same setting as McGlashan printed. Sutherland was a pastoral pipe player, the precursor to the Scottish smallpipes.
Given the date of publication of "Earl of Seaforth" in McGlashan's volume, the tune may refer to Kenneth MacKenzie, Viscount Fortrose and Baron Ardelve, and Irish peer in 1766, who managed to have the title of Earl of Seaforth restored to him in 1771. His grandfather, the 5th Earl of Seaforth, had his title revoked by the crown for participating in the Jacobite rising of 1715, but Kenneth wisely declined to attach himself to Prince Charlie's cause in 1745, remaining loyal to the Hanoverians despite his Jacobite leanings. In gratitude to George III for proclaiming him the 6th Earl of Seaforth he raised in 1778 a 1,130 man strong regiment, the Seaforth Highlanders (originally the 78th, re-numbered the 72nd). Kenneth died in 1784 without male heirs and his titles became extinct.
