Biography:Donald Grant

Biographical notes
 DONALD GRANT (c. 1760-1830's) was a fiddler-composer and dancing master of Elgin. His only collection was perhaps first issued around 1790 (according to a penciled note) but was repblished in 1820-21. It was dedicated to Mrs. Col. Grant of Castle Grant. It includes the epigram: The Grants, M'Kenzies, and M'Cays, Soon as Montrose, they did espy, They turn'd and fought most manfully, Upon the haughs of Cromdale. Grant was born in Elgin, and Baptie (Musical Scotland, 1894) records that "at the end of the last (18th) century he published two collections of 'Strathspey Reels, Jigs' etc. Baptie notes that a Donald Grant died at Elgin in 1839, but he does not know if it was the same person or not. Grant's two sons, John (c. 1799-1825) and Francis, both played the violin.