Annotation:Mrs. G. Forbes Ashgrove
X:1 T:Mrs. G. Forbes, Ashgrove C:”By a Lady” M:C L:1/16 R:Strathspey B:James Taylor – A Collection of Strathspeys & Reels, together with a Set of Scots Quadrilles (Elgin, c. 1835, p. 15) N:”Most respectfully dedicated to Lady Dunbar of Northfield.” Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D (dB)|AD3BD3 AD3dD3|B3d BAGF F3EE2F2|AD3BD3 AD3dD3|B3d BAGF AD3D2:| f2|~d3fa2f2 g3efd3|d3faf3 ge3e2f2|~d3faf3 g3ef2d2|B3dA2F2 AD3D2A2|~d3faf3 g3ef2d2| d3faf3 ge3e2f2|(3d2f2d2 (3B2d2B2 (3A2B2A2 (3A2B2c2|(3d2c2B2 (3A2G2F2 A2D2D2||
MRS. G. FORBES, ASHGROVE. Scottish, Strathspey (whole time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. "Mrs. G. Forbes, Ashgrove" is attributed to "a Lady" in Elgin fiddler, composer and music teacher James Taylor's first published volume (c. 1835). The person of the title is unknown. The estate of Ashgrove, Elgin, was owned in James Taylor's time by Dr. James Coull, Commissary of Elgin, who bought it in 1790 and raised his family there. On his death in 1831 Ashgrove was purchased and occupied by William Topp. Perhaps "Mrs G. Forbes" was a resident at the property at one time.
The "Lady" who composed the tune is perhaps Mary Brander, spouse of Archibald Dunbar of Northfield who figures so prominently in Taylor's collection. Taylor dedicated his c. 1835 collection to Lady Dunbar of Northfield.
