Annotation:Miller o' Dervil (The)

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 MILLER O' DERVIL. AKA and see "Auld Brig o' Ayr (The)," "Benholm Castle," "Bob Steele," "Johnnie Steele," "New Brig o' Dee (2) (The)." Scottish, Strathspey. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. A popular reel reworked in several genres by different players, although it is principally associated (as "Johnnie Steele") with and attributed to James Barnett of Kirkwall (1847-1898). It is attributed to Tom Barnett (Orkney) in Skinner's Scottish Violinist (1900) (See note for Annotation:Johnnie Steele for more). Skinner also printed the reel under the title "Bob Steele." "James Barnett was born Kirkwall, Orkney in 1847 and died there in 1898. An instrument maker, fiddler and composer, he also held an official post, the Crown Chamberlain of Orkney. Barnett produced a few decent violins and cellos based on classical patterns with distinctive elongated sound holes and covered in dark brown oil varnish, his works generally date from the 1880’s. Printed label: ‘James Barnett / Kirkwall / 1886’. Barnett’s many compositions include this well known strathspey 'The Miller O’ Dervil'." Many thanks to esteemed Scottish Luthier David Rattray for supplying this interesting background information on the composer of this lovely tune.  Source for notated version:  Printed sources: Hardie (Caledonian Companion), 1992; p. 54. Martin (Traditional Scottish Fiddling), 2002; p. 141. Skinner (The Scottish Violinist), 1900; p. 11.  Recorded sources: Hardie Music Press, James Hardie - "The Fiddler's Companion" (2009). Scots Disc SDL-001, Ron Gonnella - "Scottish Violin Music" (1966).  See also listing at: Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings Index See a handwritten manuscript of the tune by Alexander Grant (1856-1942) at Am Baile