Annotation:John Begg

Back to 

 JOHN BEGG. Scottish, Strathspey. F Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. Composed by Alexander Walker (b. 1819, Aberdeenshire) in honor of John Begg (-1880) of Lochnagar (Lochnagar is not the name of a lake, but rather a modest mountain of 3,789 ft.). Begg was an Aberdeen man who leased land from the Abergeldie estates and founded the Lochnagar Distillery, producing the fine Lochnagar Scotch malt whisky. His fortune was made in 1848, when Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and family (who were in residence at Balmoral Castle) accepted his invitation to visit the nearby distillery and were impressed with his works and product. Begg received a Royal Warrant of Appointment as supplier to the Queen. In 1861 he felt secure to use the Royal name, and a trademark was obtained in 1876.  Source for notated version:  Printed sources: Walker (A Collection of Strathspeys, Reels, Marches, &c.), 1866; No. 149, p. 50.  Recorded sources:

Back to