Annotation:Mr. Edward Simpson’s Fancy—Edinburgh
X:1 T:Mr. Edward Simpson’s Fancy—Edinburgh M:C| L:1/8 R:Reel S:Marshall – 1822 Collection Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:F F>GFd cBAG|~F>GFa gfec|b>ga>f g/a/b/g/ af|e/f/g/a/ g/f/e/d/ c>d c/B/A/G/| F>GFd cBAG|F>GFa gfec|b>ga>f g/a/b/g/ af|c>f e/f/g/e/ [A2c2f2] [A2c2f2]|| (A/B/)c/d/ cc ca a2|e/f/g/a/ (g>a) g/f/e/d/ c2|(A/B/)c/d/ cc cb b2|(b/a/)g/f/ (e/f/)g/a/ (a2g)z| ~F>GFd cBAG|~F>GFa gfec|bgaf (g/a/)b/g/ af|(c>f) e/f/g/e/ [A2c2f2] [A2c2f2]||
MR. EDWARD SIMPSON'S FANCY--EDINBURGH. Scottish, Reel. F Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. "Mr. Edward Simpson's Fancy--Edinburgh" was composed by William Marshall (1748-1833). It is adjudged (by David Baptie, for one, cited in his Musical Scotland) to have been one of Marshall's better compositions. According to Marshall researcher Moyra Cowie (The Life and Times of William Marshall, 1999), Simpson was a member of the Marquis of Huntly’s staff at Huntly Lodge. However, Marshall specified "Edinburgh" in the title. There was an Edward Simpson who was a member of the Theatre Royal's theater band in that city in the early 19th century. The leader of the band was always given a benefit by the management, and Simpson was so honored in 1811. Further, at least two tunes (a reel and a strathspey) were attributed to an Edward Simpson in Joseph Lowe's Collection of Reels... Book 4 (1844-45). A connection, if any, between these Simpsons is unknown at this time.
