William Marshall (Scottish composer)
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William Marshall (December 27, 1748 – May 29, 1833) is regarded as one of the greatest composers of Scottish fiddle music.
Marshall was born in Fochabers, Scotland. He entered the service of the Duke of Gordon, eventually becoming his butler. James Hunter's The Fiddle Music of Scotland credits Marshall with writing 257 tunes. Many of these compositions were named in honor of the Duke's guests. Robert Burns called him "the first composer of Strathspeys of the age". Marshall died at Dandaleith on May 29, 1833, and was buried in Bellie Parish churchyard near Fochabers.
Some of Marshall's best known compositions are the strathspeys The Marchioness of Huntly, The Marquis of Huntly's Farewell, Craigellachie Brig (named after the Craigellachie Bridge), and Lady Madelina Sinclair; the air The Nameless Lassie; and the reel Easter Elchies. Marshall published two collections of his work, A Collection of Strathspey Reels with a Bass for the Violoncello or Harpsichord in 1781, and Marshall's Scottish Airs, Melodies, Strathspeys, Reels, &c. for the Piano Forte, Harp, Violin & Violoncello in 1822. A third collection, Volume 2nd of a Collection of Scottish Melodies Reels Strathspeys Jigs Slow Airs &c. for the Piano Forte, Violin and Violoncello was published posthumously in 1845. At present, his compositions are available in William Marshall's Scottish Melodies, published by Fiddlecase Books.
[edit] References
- Alburger, Mary Anne (1983), Scottish Fiddlers And Their Music, Victor Gollancz Ltd., ISBN 0-575-03174-3.
- Emmerson, George S. (1971), Rantin' Pipe And Tremblin' String, McGill-Queen's University Press, ISBN 0-7735-0116-9.
