Annotation:Duke of Gordon's Strathspey (2) (The)

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 DUKE OF GORDON'S STRATHSPEY [2], THE. Scottish, Strathspey. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. Composed by the famous Scots fiddler-composer Niel Gow (1727-1807), of Inver, for Alexander (1743-1827), 4th Duke of Gordon, a patron. Neil (1991) notes that the Gordon family was one of the most powerful in Scotland, probably descended from the Gourdons who came to Britain with William the Conqueror. Most of the Scottish Gordons descend from one Sir Adam de Gordon who was given the lordship of Strathbogie in Aberdeenshire by Robert the Bruce. Adam's descendent George (4th Marquis of Huntly) attained the title of Duke in 1684, which expired in 1836 upon the death of the childless 5th and last Duke of Gordon. Niel remarks the powerful Gordons often stood alone in disputes with the crown, and, under the Earl of Huntly, lieutenant of Scotland, obtained land forfeited by others. As a result the Gordons were frequently engaged in clan disputes with such as the Mackintoshes, Camerons, Murrays and Forbeses.  Source for notated version:  Printed sources: Gow (The First Collection of Niel Gow's Reels), 1784 (revised 1801); p. 16. Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 44  Recorded sources: Green Linnet GLCD 1187, Cherish the Ladies - "One and All: the Best of Cherish the Ladies" (1998).

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