Annotation:Lord Saltoun

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X:1 T:Lord Saulton’s M:C L:1/8 R:Reel B: Joseph Lowe - Lowe's Collection of Reels, Strathspeys and Jigs, B:book 6 (1844-45, p. 2) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:A c|eaga bagf|eagf fedc|B2 Bc (dB)Bc|dBfB bBfB| eaga bagf|eagf fedc|ABcd efed|cAAB cAA|| e|cAEC A,CEA|ceag fedc|B2 Bc (dB)Bc|dBfB bBfB| cAEC A,CEA|ceag fedc|ABcd efed|cAAB cAA||



LORD SALTOUN. AKA - "Lord Saulton's," "Lord Saltoun's Reel." Scottish, Reel (whole time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. The Lords of Saltoun were the Frasers of Philorth, members of the large Fraser clan whose family seat is in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire at Cairnbulg Castle. Interestingly, the castle, which dates from the 15th century, sold by the 10th Lord of Saltoun in 1666 and by the 19th century it was in ruins. Restored in 1896, it was bought back by the 19th Lord Saltoun in 1915.

Cairnbulg Castle

The Saltouns took no part in the Jacobite risings. The 16th Lord Saltoun commanded the Light Companies of the First Guards in the Orchard at Hougoumont on the morning of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

It is a Lord Saltoun who is rejected by young Jeannie in the famous Scots ballad "Annachie Gordon." The heroine loves Annachie and adamantly refuses to wed another, despite her father's pressure:

Down came her father and he's standing on the floor,
Saying, Jeannie, you're trying the tricks of a whore;
You care nothing for a man who cares so very much for thee,
You must marry with Lord Saltoun and leave young Annachie.
For Annachie Gordon, he's only but a man,
And although he may be pretty, but where are all his lands;
Saltoun's lands are broad and his towers they stand high,
You must marry with Lord Saltoun and forget young Annachie.

The wedding goes on as planned despite Jeannie's wishes, and predictably ends with Jeannie's death:

The day that Jeannie married was the day that Jeannie died,
That's the day that young Annachie came rolling home from the tide;
And down came her maidens and they're wringing of their hands,
Saying, woe to you Annachie, for staying from the sands.

The Canadian group George Wade & His Cornhuskers recorded the tune with a dance caller as the first change in a square dance in the 1930's.


Additional notes



Printed sources : - Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 1), c. 1880; Set 26, No. 6, p. 16. Joseph Lowe (Lowe's Collection of Reels, Strathspeys, Jigs, Book 6), 1844-45; p. 2. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 28.

Recorded sources : - Victor 216579A (78 RPM), George Wade & His Cornhuskers (c. 1930's).




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