A Collection of New Strathspey Reels
by Leburn, Alexander

Full title: A Collection of New Strathspey Reels &c. with a Bass for the Violincello or Harpsichord … by Alexr. Leburn, Auchtermuchty

Publisher: Edinburgh: Johnson

Printer: Edinburgh: Printed for the Author

Date: [1793?]

Description:

The subscriber list includes many from Fife and Perthshire, including two musicians in Kettle.
Several tunes are attributed to 'A Lady', possibly Lady Jane Belsches [Belches] of Queen Street, Edinburgh.
Transcription included in HMT volume Fiddle Music from Fife (2006).

Notes:

Some 2/4 tunes (alamandes?) and jigs. Single note basslines, some with the rarer pattern of minim/crotchet/crotchet as the basic rhythm; also crotchet/quaver 2+1 jig basslines, broken octaves, and other keyboard figurations.
There are some unusual harmonic progressions here and there. The final piece, 'Miss Pillans's Strathspey' by A.J. [Alex Jaffray? from subscriber list] has the stock bassline that appears many times in John Clark's Collection of New Strathspey Reels.

RISM: L1240

Gore: L4

Biographical info: Alexander Leburn (1767-1836) of Auchtermuchty was a self-taught musician, and a druggist by trade, as well as a keen mathematician. (Fiddle Music from Fife, HMT, 2006)

Location(s):

GB-DUcl 10492
GB-En Inglis 183
GB-En Glen 373 (dated c.1800)
GB-En E.l.111 (no subscriber list, signed John Sturrock [Forfar] 1799)
GB-Gm M8840/ 786.45
GB-Gu Ca12-x.49
GB-P Be66

Digitised items

This source has not been digitised.