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Tune Req: Lady Margaret Robinson (strathspey)

06 Nov 98 - 03:33 PM (#44496)
Subject: LADY MARGARET ROBINSON -STRATHSPEY
From: Philippa

Where can I get musical notation and/or a recording of this strathspey?

Possibly by Scott-Skinner?

I only heard/heard of it once - played by fiddler Jim mcKillop of Co Antrim, Ireland (I hear he's since moved to Dundalk?) My interest stems from the title; name of an untitled niece of mine.


18 Nov 98 - 04:57 PM (#45969)
Subject: RE: LADY MARGARET ROBINSON -STRATHSPEY
From: Philippa

No one replied, but I'm still seeking the tune I also tried IrTrad-L, unsuccessfully


18 Nov 98 - 05:12 PM (#45971)
Subject: RE: LADY MARGARET ROBINSON -STRATHSPEY
From: Bruce O.

It isn't listed in Charles Gore's 'The Scottish Fiddle Music Index', 1994, which means it's fairly recent or extreemely rare or mis-titled. Try Scots-L. Charlie Gore, Nigel Gatherer, and Jack Campin are on that, and if they can't find it, it probably doesn't exist.


18 Nov 98 - 06:48 PM (#45995)
Subject: RE: LADY MARGARET ROBINSON -STRATHSPEY
From: John in Brisbane

Bruce, my main source of new tunes these days is the Web. I have a friend who is heavily into strathspeys, many of them inspired by Alasdair Fraser, and often in unusual keys such as Bb. They typically require a slightly more classical approach to play them, and I am still trying to wrap my brain (or is it soul?) around this unfamiliar idiom. Are you aware of any sites that have more than (say) the half dozen or so that typically appear?

Regards John


18 Nov 98 - 07:14 PM (#46000)
Subject: RE: LADY MARGARET ROBINSON -STRATHSPEY
From: Bruce O.

Wm. Marshal's collections are available as reprints, as are the 6 books of Gow's Strathspey Reels and 4 books of the Complete Repository. There are also some 19th century collections available as reprints (Skye collection, Athole collection). I have one of Scott Skinner's, 'The Harp and Claymore', as a reprint, but don't know if it's still available.

Try finding 'House of Musical Traditions' or 'Fiddler's Crossing' on the web. These handle reprints of British isles music in the U. S. [All mine came from HMT]. Philippe Varlet, a frequent contributer to IRTRAD-L, is in charge of books at HMT. I lost my web address for 'Fiddler's Crossing' when my computer crashed. The one in charge of it, Jan something, ocassionally contributes to the SCOTS-L list.

I don't know of a source that one can order from in the British Isles.


19 Nov 98 - 05:58 PM (#46170)
Subject: RE: LADY MARGARET ROBINSON -STRATHSPEY
From: John in Brisbane

Thanks Bruce - Regards John


20 Nov 98 - 05:51 PM (#46292)
Subject: RE: LADY MARGARET ROBINSON -STRATHSPEY
From: Philippa

I did, by the way, try Nick Gatherer and the IrTrad-L of which Nick and Philippa Varlet are members, before I went to Mudcat with the query. But I haven't tried the other sites mentioned

It's possible that the name got distorted, that the tribute wasn't originally to a woman of that name, but for the time being I'm working on the assumption that the name's right. It's my niece's name - she doesn't have a title.

I haven't got easy access to the books mentioned - am in a rural area.

Looks like I need to find out how to get in touch with Jim McKillop himself.

or keep this thread going until someone comes up with it.

I don't even recall how the tune went!

-which reminds me of what I heard about how John Dohery (Donegal fiddler) played tunes along with stories, so you might ask him to play a certain tune, and he'd tell you the same story but play a different tune in the midst of it.


20 Nov 98 - 06:07 PM (#46294)
Subject: RE: LADY MARGARET ROBINSON -STRATHSPEY
From: Jo Taylor

There are quite a few dedicated to people called Robertson. Will have a look.


20 Nov 98 - 07:04 PM (#46297)
Subject: RE: LADY MARGARET ROBINSON -STRATHSPEY
From: Bruce O.

Will I was searching Jo. T. anticipated part of this.

Miss Margaret Robertson's Strathspey, Miss Margaret Davidson's Strathspey, several Mrs. Robertsons jig/reel/strathspey.
Lady Margaret Stewart, Lady Margaret Carnegie, Margaret's Fancy.
But, I didn't find any Robinsons, or Margaret Robertsons in searching for titles starting with: Lady, Miss, Mrs., Margaret, Robinson, and Robertson


20 Nov 98 - 11:41 PM (#46322)
Subject: RE: LADY MARGARET ROBINSON -STRATHSPEY
From: Bruce O.

There are some Robinsons.
Miss Ann Robinson's Strathspey; Miss Nancy Robinson's Reel