Annotation:Top of the Law (The)
X:1 T:Top of the Law, The C:John Clark M:6/8 L:1/8 R:Jig B:John Clark – A Collection of New Strathspey Reels & Country Dances (1795, p. 7) B: http://hms.scot/fiddle/copy/4/ N:”Dedicated to the Musical Society of Perth” Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D D2A (AG).F|E3 (C2E)|D2A (AB).G|ABA AGF| ABA AGF|E3 C2E|D2A (AB).A|F3D3:| d2g (fa).f|e3 (A2c)|d2g (fa).f|d2g (fa).f| gbg faf|e3 ABc|(Bc).B (ge).c|d3 D3| d2g (fa).f|e3 (A2c)|d2g (fa).f|d2g (fa).f| gbg faf|efd cBA|BcB (ge).c|d3 D3||
TOP OF THE LAW, THE. Scottish, Jig (6/8 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. "The Top of the Law" is a jig and country dance tune from the sole publication of fiddler-composer John Clark, who dedicated his volume to the Musical Society of Perth. Unfortunately, there is no further information to be had on Clark (John Glen and David Baptie are silent). The title perhaps refers to Law Hill, Dundee, an extinct volcano which, at 572 feet, is the tallest location in the city. The top of Law Hill affords a grand view. During the Iron Age, it was used as a hillfort, and prehistoric graves dating back to around 1500 BC have been discovered around the area. Various items of Roman pottery which date back to the 1st Century AD have been found nearby, with the most notable items now on display in the McManus Galleries.
