![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
James Scott Skinner – The Other CollectionsMusic Home · The
Collection's Music Entries · The
Music Clips
Harp and Claymore Collection · JSS Other Collections · Discography First compositionsThe ‘Highland Polka’, published when he was 17, was the first of more than 600 compositions by James Scott Skinner. Many of his early compositions were connected with his work as a dancing-master, composed to suit the popular ballroom dances he taught in his classes. His first set of quadrilles, ‘The Ettrick Vale Quadrilles’ (JSS0666 – JSS0674), were published in 1863, the year he started teaching. He also taught, and composed music for Quadrille Lancers, Galops, Waltzes and Polkas. As well as ballroom dances, he also wrote Strathspeys and Reels, which he could also use in his dance classes. PerformanceSkinner was also thinking about performance. By the time he moved to the Elgin area, around 1871, he was playing the fiddle in concerts all over the north east of Scotland. He usually performed with his brother Sandy and other local musicians. Concert programmes show that audiences were entertained with light ‘classical’ music more often than with Skinner’s own Scottish selections. Ballroom DancesWe have included some examples of his ballroom music, such as The Election Galop (JSS0765 – JSS0769). Although a delightful composition, it is more reminiscent of the Viennese ballroom and compositions by the Strauss family. By comparison, the ‘Northern Meeting Quadrilles’, also for the ballroom, sounded decidedly Scottish. The ballroom compositions were published as singly as sheet music although Skinner collected some of them together under the title, ‘Beauties of the Ballroom’ (1884). James Scott Skinner’s best known collections are:
We have also included examples from a Scrapbook Skinner compiled and presented to Mrs Barclay of Keith. A strathspey, ‘Good Morning Mrs Barclay’ (JSS0795) appears in the Logie Collection). In the Scrapbook, Skinner has sketched in very simple basses to accompany his tunes. The collections are fascinating. Although Skinner produced some wonderful tunes, he also produced many mediocre pieces. This is to be expected – he did compose more than 600 tunes. Some of the reels, for example, are very alike, almost formulaic. Skinner even said that he did not play many of his tunes at concerts, as he considered them to be mere ‘pot-boilers’ and not worthy of his attention! Pat Ballantyne
|
|
Return to top | ![]() |
|
![]() |
Historic
Collections · Kings College · Old
Aberdeen · AB24 3SW |