Annotation:Duchess of Bedford's Strathspey (The)
X:1 T:Dutchess of Bedford's Strathspey, The M:C L:1/16 R:Strathspey S:Marshall - 1822 Collection Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:Bb B,B3 B3c B4 F2B2|dc3 c3d e4 F2e2|d2f2g2f2 e2d2c2B2|A3B ~c3d cBAG F2E2| DB3 ~B3c B4 F2B2|cc3 c3d e4F2e2|d2f2g2f2 e2d2c2B2|F3B ABcA B4 B2|| e2|defg f2f2 b4 f2a2|bagf gfed edcB c3d|cdef g3f .e2.d2.c2.B2|A2B2c3d cBAG F3E| D2B2F2B2 F2c2A2c2|F2d2B2d2 E2g2e2g2|dfga b3f gfed edcB|F3B ABcA B4 B2||
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD'S STRATHSPEY, THE. Scottish, Strathspey. B Flat Major. Standard tunng (fiddle). AB. "Slow when not danced." Composed by biography:William Marshall (1748-1833), who worked for the Duke of Gordon as Steward of the Household; the Duke was an enthusiastic supporter of Marshall's music. Hunter (1979) identifies the duchess as Georgiana, fifth and youngest daughter of Alexander (1743-1827), the 4th Duke of Gordon, and Jane Maxwell, who wed the John Russell, the Duke of Beford in June, 1803. He was a widower with three sons and much older than his second wife. The Duke's first wife also had been named Georgiana, and the second of that name was much resented by her stepchildren. Ormond described her as "a large and exhuberent character, doted on by her husband." Their wedding festivities lasted an entire week, and one night the couple danced until six o'clock in the morning.
Despite the numerous dwellings owned by the Duke, Georgianna and her husband loved the Highlands and built two hunting huts (bothies) there so they could hunt and fish. One of the huts was also employed by the Duchess for her reputed passionate affair with the famous artist Edwin Landseer. The Duke was a friend and patron of Landseer's, who drew and painted Georgiana numerous times, and although Russell must have known about the depths of their affection for one another he remained tolerant and overlooked his wife's many lapses. The Duchess and Landseer, according to contemporary gossip, had a daughter together, who was given the Russell name (see note for "Lady Rachael Russell"). The intimate friendship between the artist and the Duchess continued from the 1820's to the Duchess's death in 1853, at Nice.
