Riddell, Capt. Robert

Biographical info

Captain Robert Riddell of Glenriddel (c.1745-94) was an antiquarian, composer, gentleman amateur, and friend of Robert Burns. Glen echoed Edinburgh librarian David Laing in asserting that Riddell wasn't very musical and that the 'reels and other dances which the Editor has seen ... have little or no merit.' (Glen 1, xii) Alburger describes his Collection of Scotch Galwegian and Border Tunes as 'useful', but echoes Glen regarding Riddell's own compositions. (Alburger, 139-41)

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