Image |
Title |
Item Description |
![J.O Forbes of Corse, verso](thumbs/JSS0031.jpg)
JSS0031
|
J.O Forbes of Corse, verso |
The Note, written by Skinner, reads: 'The above is the original Key. The Founder of the present style of Strathspey playing, the best all round player & composer of his day, his left hand was as accurate as a machine. Composer of 'The Pride a' the Dee' Valse, 'The Dean Brig' was revised by him, but it... |
![Lady Mary Primrose](thumbs/JSS0032.jpg)
JSS0032
|
Lady Mary Primrose |
At a first glance, it appears that Skinner has kept his arrangement of the 'admired old melody' relatively simple. However, a look at just the first bar shows how most of the quavers are double dotted, and the player has to use 6 bow strokes in this bar in order to play the melody as Skinner intended.... |
![Lady Mary Primrose, Note](thumbs/JSS0033.jpg)
JSS0033
|
Lady Mary Primrose, Note |
The note, which is taped to the strathspey Lady Mary Primrose, reads: 'Lady Mary Primrose. This beautiful strain was composed by William Marshall & appeared in his collection as 'Invereshie'. We find it appears also in Nath Gow's coll: with the Strains reversed & altered little. Peter Milne did much... |
![The Sadness of Life](thumbs/JSS0034.jpg)
JSS0034
|
The Sadness of Life |
This 'Eerie Pastoral' by Skinner, dated 10th September 1890, is dedicated to his friend and early mentor, Peter Milne. Milne, an opium addict, was an invalid for the last ten years of his life and died in 1908. Skinner has marked the music 'Grave & Intensely'and states that the music is to be played... |
![Dean Brig](thumbs/JSS0035.jpg)
JSS0035
|
Dean Brig |
Although Skinner credits Archie Allan of Forfar with the composition of The Dean Brig, this is not entirely certain. Allan died in 1831 aged 37. Skinner has made this copy in great haste - note the notes lacking stems in bars 9 and 10, as well as blots and splodges. It is very similar to the version... |
![The Dean Brig o' Edinburgh](thumbs/JSS0036.jpg)
JSS0036
|
The Dean Brig o' Edinburgh |
This version of The Dean Brig makes an interesting comparison with JSS0035. There are only very minor differences: here, Skinner has added his characteristic flat slurs in bars 3, 7 and 15. He has thickened his accompaniment slightly with octaves. Bar 12 has a very slight melodic and rhythmic difference... |
![Fairbairns](thumbs/JSS0037.jpg)
JSS0037
|
Fairbairns |
This slow strathspey was not composed by Skinner. He has left a space at the top of the manuscript for the composer's name, but this has not been inserted. Skinner started his career by playing cello accompaniments for Peter Milne. This is apparent in all his arrangements - he uses an extremely simple... |
![Our Highland Queen](thumbs/JSS0038.jpg)
JSS0038
|
Our Highland Queen |
A short verse, defining the Victorian sentiment of the tune is pasted to the top LH corner: 'The blue bell may forget to spring, The Cold cease to blow; But Deeside men can ne'er forget The loyalty they owe. There are some differences between this and the version that appears in Harp & Claymore. Click... |
![My Bonnet Blue lies stained and Bloody, or The Farewell](thumbs/JSS0039.jpg)
JSS0039
|
My Bonnet Blue lies stained and Bloody, or The Farewell |
Skinner has given this dramatically titled piece some dramatic directions. To ensure that the performer gets the right degree of pathos, the directions are to play the tune very slowly and with 'intense and Patriotic feeling'. The many military campaigns involving Scottish soldiers which were mounted... |
![My Bonnet Blue lies stained and Bloody (verso)](thumbs/JSS0040.jpg)
JSS0040
|
My Bonnet Blue lies stained and Bloody (verso) |
Letter to the Skinner's friend 'The Laird of Drumblair' which has been entirely crossed out: My dear Laird, 14 Melodies composed here!!! This one just hot, please appreciate the sentiment and place in the Harp & Claymore MS. Peter Milne tells me that I compose better than ever. Alas, poor Peter, Alas... |