Annotation:Duncan Gray (1)

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 DUNCAN GRAY [1]. English, Scottish; Reel or Slow March: New England, Polka. D Major (Kerr, Miller & Perron, Raven): C Major (Howe): G Major (Aird, Johnson, McGibbon, O'Farrell): A Major/A Minor (Gow). Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Howe, Miller & Perron): AABB (Kerr, Raven): AABBCCDD (Aird): AABBCCDDEEFFHHGG (O"Farrell): AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ (Johnson, McGibbon). Johnson (1983) thinks that the tune may have originally been an English march in trumpet style, but notes that by 1760 it had Scottish words set to it (describing somewhat rudely a country courtship). Several sets of variations were written for it, notably Oswald's (in the Caledonian Pocket Companion c. 1750) and McGibbon's (Scots Tunes c. 1755), but Johnson thinks the ones that Gillespie printed in 1768 (not written by him) are superior.   Source for notated version: Gillespie MS, 1768, p. 56 [Johnson].  Printed sources:  Aird (Selections of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs), vol. II, 1785; No. 111, p. 41. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 4, 1817; pp. 18-19. Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; p. 122. Johnson (Scottish Fiddle Music in the 18th Century), 1983; No. 35, p. 35. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 3; No. 379, p. 42. McGibbon (Scots Tunes, Book 1), c. 1746; p. 1. Miller & Perron (101 Polkas), 1978; No. 45. O'Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol. IV), c. 1810; pp. 94-95. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 150.  Recorded sources:

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