Annotation:Sandy ower the Sea
X:1 T:Sandy ower the Sea C:J. Scott Skinner B:Skinner - The Logie Collection (1888, p. 10) N:Dedicated to Miss Watt, Inverness, “Queen of Song”. M:C L:1/8 R:Slow Air Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:G (D2|d2).B2.A2.G2|A2G2E2D2|(EG3) G3{B}A|G6 B2|{B}(c3B) (c2A2)| d2B2G2.D2|(E2A2) (A3B)|A6 A2|B2(.B2.B2.B2)|c2(.c2.c2.c2)| d2B2A2G2|e6 e2|d2g2f2e2|d2B2!fermata!G3D|.D2.G2.(G3A)|!fermata!G6||
SANDY OWER THE SEA. Scottish, Slow Air (whole time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. Composed by James Scott Skinner (1848-1927), first published in his Logie Collection (1888) with words by "W.M." Skinner pointedly noted that the poetry was suggested by the music, not vice-versa. Kate Dunlay[1] remarks that, while Skinner's instrumental music has been highly influential, his settings of Victorian songs may never have been very popular. Perhaps Skinner was aware of this, for he republished several song melodies without the words in his Scottish Violinist (1900). "W.M.'s" words to the melody begin: "The sora tak my weel-faur'd face," and Skinner dedicated the composition to 'Miss Watt, Inverness', “Queen of Song”. Miss Watt (along with her sister, also a singer) seems to have regularly entertained with Scottish songs at the Gaelic Society of Inverness meetings in the 1870's and 1880's. She is referenced in the record of the 7th Annual Assembly (Thursday, July 11, 1878): "A most delightful feature in the musical program was the appearance of Miss Libbie Watt, who sang in a charming manner 'Cam' ye by Athole' and 'Whistle and I'll come to you, my lad', and was on both occasions encored." Her married name became Munro.
Skinner's older brother was Alexander "Sandy" Skinner, who, like James, was a dancing master and fiddler of note. He may have had his brother in mind when he composed the air.
- ↑ See her liner notes to Rounder 82161-7032-2, Bill Lamey (1914-1991) – “From Cape Breton to Boston and Back: Classic House Sessions of Traditional Cape Breton Music 1956-1977” (2000).