A Collection of Reels Strathspeys and Slow Tunes
by Mackay, Alexander

Full title: A Collection of Reels Strathspeys and Slow Tunes, Arranged for the Piano Forte Chiefly composed by Alexander Mackay Musician Islay. Dedicated by permission to the Right Honble. Lady Elinor Campbell Of Islay and Shawfield.

Publisher: Glasgow Published for the Author by J. Mc.Fadyen 30, Wilson Street

Date: [c. 1824]

Description:

This is the earliest example of an island musician compiling his own collection, and includes many tunes by J. Pattison as well as by Mackay.
The GB-En copy has pencil notes, most likely by J. Murdoch Henderson, dating the watermarks to 1822. In 2025 Cameron Duff dated the book to between the building of Ardemersay Cottage (after which one of the tunes is named) in 1820, and the death of the book’s dedicatee Lady Elinor Campbell in 1832. Humphries & Smith noted that McFadyen’s shop moved to another address in Wilson St in 1826, so if Henderson’s watermark date is correct, the book's publication can be dated to between 1822 and 1826.

Notes:

Simple 4-beat basslines in single notes for the most part, but some octaves and dyads near the beginning of the book.
'Mr. Dunn. Campbell Rockside's Reel' (p.8) is a simple but exciting tune using a gapped scale, almost impossible to harmonise.
Many tunes referencing places on Islay: 'The Pier of Bowmore', 'The New Bridge of Lagavuillin', Ballinaby, Ardmore, Ardbeg etc.

Gore: MC16

Link: GB-En: National Library of Scotland digital collection

Biographical info: Alexander Mackay (b.1775) was an Islay fiddler/composer.

Location(s):

GB-DUcl 10497
GB-En Glen 344

Digitised items

This source has not been digitised.