Annotation:J. Scott Skinner's Compliments to Mr. Peter Davidson
X:1 T:J. Scott Skinner's Compliments to Mr. Peter Davidson N:”In the style of Fairbairn’s Strathspey.” N:”Inland Revenue.” C:J. Scott Skinner M:C L:1/16 R:Solo Strathspey B:Skinner – Miller o’ Hirn Collection (1881, No. 73, p. 38) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:A E2|EA3A3c {c}B3A[D3F3]A|(3E2A2c2 (3e2c2A2 (GB3B3c)|EA3A3c {c}B3AF3A|(3E2A2c2 (3G3B2e2 cA3 [C2A2]:| g2|(3a2c'2e'2 (3g2b2e'2 (3f2b2d'2 (3e2a2c'2|(3d2f2b2 (3c2e2a2 (Bb3b3g)|(3a2c'2e2' (3g2b2e'2 (3f2b2d'2 (3e2a2c'2|(3d2f2b2 (3g2b2e'2 (c'a3a3g)| |(3a2c'2e'2 (3g2b2e'2 (3f2b2d'2 (3e2a2c'2|(3d2f2b2 (3c2e2a2 (Bb3b3g)|(3a3e2c2 (3f2d2B2 (3e2c2A2 (3d2B2G2|(3A2F2D2 (3E2G2e2 cA3[C2A2]|| E2|(3C2E2A2 (3E2A2c2 (3A2c2e2 (3c2e2a2|(3e2d2a2 (3e2c2A2 (GB3B3c)|(3C2E2A2 (3E2A2c2 (3A2c2e2 (3e2c2a2|(3e2g2b2 (3b2g2e'2 c'a3 a2:|]
J. SCOTT SKINNER'S COMPLIMENTS TO MR. PETER DAVIDSON. Scottish, Strathspey (whole time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABCC. The strathspey was composed by Aberdeenshire fiddler-composer and Scottish dancing master wikipedia:James_Scott_Skinner (1843-1927) for Peter Davidson (1837-1915), a classically trained Scottish musician and violin maker, and homeopathic physician and herbalist, who lived at Forres, near Findhorn, Scotland, and later in Banchory. He was also the author of a very successful book on the history of the violin (which ran into five editions), and subsequently a publisher. Local tradition has it that he set out to become a priest, but lost his vocation when he met a woman on a train on the way to Rome. He married Christina Ross in 1866.
However, Davidson was best-known as a student of the occult who corresponded with various occult notables throughout Britain, including Hargrave Jennings, and his is particularly associated with the occult Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, founded in 1884. By the 1880's Davidson had began to dream of a Utopian colony in the United States, which he forwarded by moving with his family and settling on a farm near Loudsville, Georgia. His movement gained some momentum in the United States and in France. He authored several books, including Masonic Mysteries Unveiled and The Book of Light and Life. From 1892 to 1910 he edited The Morning Star, a periodical similar to The Occult Magazine he had published in the 1880s. In Georgia, he established himself as a herbalist and practitioner of alternative medicine, and it is in this capacity most of the local populace knew of him. In the 1890's Davidson came under scrutiny of the local authorities, and was arrested for practicing medicine without a license, although he was acquitted. He also was a victim of infighting in his movement. By the time of his death, his family had become established in White County and his son was the editor of the newspaper in Cleveland, Georgia. His descendants can still be found in the county.
