Annotation:Earl of Haddington's (The)

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 EARL OF HADDINGTON'S, THE. Scottish, Strathspey. C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. "A very old tune," notes Gow (1784). The family seat of the Hamilton family, the Earls of Haddington, is Mellerstain House in the Scottish Borders north of Kelso. The magnificent Georgian manor was begun in 1725, overseen by architect William Adam, and completed 70 years later by Robert Adam, and is occupied by the Hamiltons to this day. Since Gow indicates it was a very old melody in his day, it is unclear which Hamilton earl exactly is honoured by the title.  Source for notated version:  Printed sources: Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 51. Gow (First Collection of Niel Gows Reels), 1784 (revised 1801); p. 7.  Recorded sources:

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