Annotation:Earl of Dalkeith's Reel (1)

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 EARL OF DALKEITH('S REEL). AKA and see "Colonel Crafurd's Reel." Scottish, Reel. F Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Surenne): AAB (Athole, Gow, Skye): AABB (Kerr). The reel was originally published by Robert Bremner as "Colonel Crafurd's Reel" in 1759 (pg. 49), and retitled and republished by the Gows as "Earl of Dalkeith's Reel" in their Third Collection (1792, pg. 20). The Earl of Dalkeith is the courtesy title used by the Duke of Buccleuch's eldest son and heir. At the time of publication of the 3rd Collection (1792) the Earl of Dalkeith was Charles William Henry Scott (1772-1819) of Buccleuch, who eventually became the 4th Duke of Buccleuch and 6th Duke of Queensberry. He was educated at Eton and sat as MP for Marlborough 1793 and 1806, for Luggershall 1796, and St. Michael's in 1805, after which he joined the House of Peers as Baron Tynedale. The earl married Harriet Katherine Townshend in March, 1795 and they had nine children. The couple were cordial-even affectionate-friends of Sir Walter Scott who dedicated his "Lay of the Last Minstrel" to the Duke. The Duke and the writer corresponded often, and the Duke stood security for a loan for Sir Walter during an early period of his financial difficulties. The Duke and Duchess were also the kind patrons of another famous Scottish man of letters, poet James Hogg, the 'Ettrick Shepherd', to whom they bestowed the life-rent of the farm at Altrive on his favourite banks of Yarrow. Charles William died in Lisbon, Spain, in 1819, where he had gone for the sake of his health (many of the family died young). Sir Walter Scott eulogized: Others of his rank might be more missed in the resorts of splendour and of gaiety  ''frequented by persons of distinction. But the peasant while he leans on his spade, '' age sinking to the grave in hopelss indigence, and youth struggling for the means  of existence, will long miss the generous and powerful patron, whose aid was  never asked in vain when the merit of the petitioner was unquestioned.  Source for notated version:  Printed sources: Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 247. Gow (Third Collection of Niel Gow's Reels), 1792; p. 20 (3rd ed.). Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 186, p. 21. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; p. 141. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 234. Surenne (Dance Music of Scotland), 1852; p. 150.  Recorded sources: Angus Cameron - "String to the Bow" (1977).  See also listings at: Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index

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