The John Murdoch Henderson Collection
Flowers of Scottish Melody
Published in 1935 by J. Murdoch Henderson.
From the Banffshire Journal
16th July 1935
These last few days have seen the publication of a work that will be regarded with the highest sense of interest by that large number of people who hold Scottish music in regard. It is entitled "Flowers of Scottish Melody" (Bayley and Ferguson, Glasgow, 5/- and 10/-) and is described as a First Companion to the Scottish Violinist and Pianist. It contains the music of 130 "Masterpieces of the Ages" including forty original contributions, the whole comprising slow airs, pastorals, quicksteps, reels, strathspeys, hornpipes etc., expressly arranged for violin and piano with full instructions and history of origins, by Mr J. Murdoch Henderson of Aberdeen.
The cover contains five portraits, each of which is furnished with a descriptive
phrase that distinguishes the work of the composer. In the centre appears
the familiar features of James Scott Skinner, 1843-1927, "the Strathspey
King"; and occupying the four corners are illustrations of Neil Gow,
1727-1807, "the Father of Strathspey and Reel Players"; Nathaniel
Gow, 1763-1831, "the Greatest Preserver and Improver of the Age";
Peter Milne, 1824-1908, "the Tarland Minstrel"; and Wm. Marshall,
1748-1833, "the First Composer of Strathspeys of the Age"; five
names of abiding fame in the sphere of Scottish music, and notable surely
for the long ages they all reached.
Mr Henderson has provided a collection of Scottish music of the highest distinction and there are very many who will thank him heartily for what may have been a labour of love, but necessarily involved also work on a large scale, engrossing labours that entailed inevitably much time and much research ere it left his hands with the impress of knowledge and authority that it bears. Mr Henderson's work marks a distinct point in the collection, arrangement and composition of Scottish music the importance of which will be recognised by everyone who takes concern in a subject of much fascination.
DISTINCTIVE NEW SCOTS COLLECTION
Flowers of Scottish Melody
Over 130 STRATHSPEYS, Etc..
Arranged by J. MURDOCH HENDERSON, M.A.
Price 5/- Notes and Biographies 1/-
To be had from the AUTHOR
37, Westburn Road. Aberdeen and from
PATERSON SONS AND MARR WOOD, Aberdeen;
also from the SECRETARY, Highland Strathspey and Reel Society, Inverness
Advertisement from The Inverness Courier
29th October 1935
Tunes from "Flowers of Scottish Melody"
A personal selection of favourite tunes, arranged and published by Henderson
in 1935 under the title Flowers of Scottish Melody.
Henderson's own compositions are initialled and dated in bold type.
A
Alexander R Findlay (Hornpipe) To A. R. Findlay,
Aberdeen. JMH 1928.
Annie is My Darling (Reel) Capt. Simon Fraser's 1815 Collection.
Auld Brig o' Don, The (Pastoral) James Henry, Aberdeen, 1860-1914 arr JMH.
Aul'er Style, The (Reel) To Thomas Sinclair Rae, Craighead, Barrhead. JMH
1931.
B
Beauty of the North, The (Strathspey) Capt.
Simon Fraser 1815 Collection, arr JMH.
Braes o' Bushbie (Busby), The (Slow March) McFadyen's Repository c1795,
arr JMH.
Braes o' Mar, The (Strathspey) Bremner Collection 1757, arr JMH
Braes o' Tullymet, The (Strathspey) Neil Stewart Collection 1761-1770,
arr JMH.
Brechin Castle (Strathspey) M Macdonald's 3rd Collection 1792, arr JMH.
Bridge of Dee, The (Strathspey) James Young 1815-1851, arr JMH.
Bridge of Dee, The (Reel) James Young. Lowe's Collection Book 4, arr JMH.
C
Cailleach na Beinne Brice (Slow Air) The Old Witch of the Varicoloured Hill. D Campbell's Collection 1862.
Cairdin' o't,
The (2/4 country dance) aka Salt Fish and Dumplings, Aird's Selection 1788.
Captain Gillan's Strathspey (Strathspey) William
Christie c1778-1849, arr JMH.
C D Strathspey, The (Strathspey) To Charles
Davidson, Lecturer Uni. Aberdeen. JMH 1931.
Charles Hardie (Strathspey) CH 1849-1893 "The Methlick Wonder" violinist. JMH 1933.
Charles Sutherland (Reel) Violinist, Fraserburgh. JMH 1933.
Clydeside Lasses, The ((Reel) Nathaniel Gow, 6th Collection 1822.
Coilsfield House (Slow Air) Nath. Gow, 5th Collection,
1809, arr JMH.
Crichtons' Gowanlea, New Deer (Jig). JMH 1929.
Cross of Inverness, The (Reel) Anon. Capt. Simon
Fraser's Collection 1815, arr JMH.
D
Departed Worth (Lament) In memory of his father, Charles Henderson 1867-1917. JMH 1928.
Donald Morison, Beauly (Reel)
Alexander Grant, "The Wonderful Genius
of Tomnahurich" arr. JMH.
Duchess of Bedford, The (Slow Strathspey) William
Marshall, 1822 Collection, arr JMH.
Duke of Atholl,
The (Strathspey) Alexander Walker, 1866 Collection, arr JMH.
E
East Neuk o' Fife, The (2/4 country dance)
Nath. Gow's Ancient Curious Collection c1833.
Eugene Stratton (Hornpipe) J. Scott Skinner
- Regal Gramophone Record G.6616.
F
F D Mainland, M.A. Aberdeen (Quickstep) Shetland
musician. JMH 1934.
Fire and Fervour (Reel) To John Dickie, Penny
Whistle Wizard, Turriff. JMH 1929.
Firth House, The (Hornpipe) Anon. Kohler's Violin
Repository, arr JMH.
Flowers of Edinburgh, The (2/4 country dance)
aka Earl of Hopetown's Reel, arr JMH.
Forth Bridge, The (Strathspey) James Young 1815-1851,
Low's Collection 1844-5, arr JMH.
Forth Bridge, The (Reel) William Blyth, arr JMH.
Frank Gilruth (1853-1915) (Strathspey) Peter
Milne, arr JMH.
Frank Gilruth (Reel) Peter Milne, arr JMH.
G
Gavin Greig (Strathspey) Dedicated to musician
and collector, Gavin Greig. JMH 1934.
George Riddel (Reel) To G.R., musician of repute,
Rosehearty. JMH 1934.
George's Delight (Reel) To George Wright, violinist,
Turriff. JMH 1933.
George I. Taylor (Strathspey) Celebrated left
handed fiddler, Aberdeen. JMH 1931.
Gillan's
Reel (Reel) Attributed to Peter Milne,
arr JMH.
Good Old John (Reel) To John Webster, violinist of Strichen. JMH 1931.
Greig's Strathspey (Pastoral) Nath. Gow's favourite
ancient melody.
H
Haslam's Hornpipe (Hornpipe) Anon. Kohler's
Violin Repository, arr JMH.
Heiress, The (Reel) Capt. Simon Fraser, Lowe's
Collection Book 6.
Hey The Cupar (Pastoral) Anon. R. Bremner Collection
1761.
Highlands of Banffshire, The (Strathspey) Anon.
Capt. Simon Fraser Collection 1822.
Highland Troop, The (Pastoral) Capt. Simon Fraser
(1773-1852), arr JMH.
House of Skene, The (Slow Air) James Davie,
Cal. Rep. 2nd series 1850-1855.
I
Inverary Castle (Strathspey) Anon. Capt. Simon Fraser Collection 1815, arr JMH.
J
J B Reel, The (Reel) To James B. Paterson, Headmaster Bracoden later Cullen. JMH 1932.
J F Dickie's Delight (Slow Strathspey) To James
F. Dickie, violinist, New Deer. JMH 1932.
J F Dickie's Reel (Reel) To James F. Dickie,
violinist, New Deer. JMH 1932.
J Scott Skinner 1843-1927 (Strathspey) To J.S.S. JMH 1934.
J Scott Skinner, The Strathspey King (Reel) To
J.S.S. JMH 1933.
Jenny
Dang The Weaver (Reel) Orpheus Caledonius,
1733, arr JMH.
John Cheap The Chapman (Reel) Nath.
Gow, 2nd Repository 1802, arr JMH.
Johnnie's Made a Wadding o't (Reel) Neil Stewart
Collection 1762, arr JMH.
K
Keep It Up (Reel) sub titled Be Off, Mackintosh!
Anon. Capt. Simon Fraser Collection 1815.
Keithmore (Pastoral) William Marshall, 1822 Collection.
L
Lady Ann Hope (Strathspey) John Pringle, 1st
Collection 1800-01, arr JMH.
Lady Caroline Montague (March) Nath. Gow's 4th
Collection, 1800.
Lady Charlotte Campbell (Strathspey)
Nath. Gow, 3rd Collection 1792, arr JMH
Lady Doll Sinclair (Reel) Robert Bremner Collection
1757, arr JMH.
Lady Margaret Stewart (Reel) Anon. Gow's 2nd
Collection 1788.
Lady Mary Primrose's Favourite (Pastoral) Clarkson's
Musical Entertainment c1796.
Lady Mary Ramsay (Strathspey) Niel Gow's 4th
Collection, 1800, arr JMH.
Lady Montgomery (Reel) Col. Hugh Montgomery 1739
- 1819, arr JMH.
Let Not Scotland Lose Her Fame (Heroic) To James
Scott Skinner. JMH 1933.
Loch
Earn (Reel) Nath. Gow, 2nd Collection 1788.
Loch Ericht Side (Pastoral) aka The Lass o'
Gowrie. Alex McGlashan's 3rd Collection 1788.
Loch Riach (March) "The Broch Dam" To
Alexander Grant, Inverness. JMH 1926.
Lodge of Glentana, The (Strathspey) J. Scott
Skinner, Elgin Collection 1884, arr JMH.
Lone Highland Glen, The (Slow Air) To The Highland
Strathspey and Reel Soc., Inverness. JMH 1928.
M
Madam Frederick (Slow Strathspey) Contemporary
Dancer. William Marshall, 1822 Collection, arr JMH.
Major and Minor (Reel) To H. P. Halstead, Director
of Music, Tivoli, Aberdeen. JMH 1932.
Mallard,
The (Hornpipe) To E. Calder, Aberdeen. JMH
1926.
Marchioness of Huntly, The (Strathspey) William Marshall, 1822 Collection, arr JMH.
Marquis of Huntly, The (Strathspey) William
Marshall, 1781 Collection.
Marquis
of Huntly's Snuff Mull, The (Pastoral)
Niel Gow's 4th Collection, arr JMH.
Minstrel's Home, The (Slow Air) To H. W. Coombs,
organist Capitol Cinema, Aberdeen. JMH 1926.
Mirth and Melody (Strathspey) To Miss Francis
Dickie, pianist, Turriff. JMH 1933.
Miss Campbell of Saddell (Pastoral) Robert Mackintosh (c1745-1807) 3rd
Collection, 1796.
Miss Graham of Inchbrakie (Slow
Air) Nath. Gow's 2nd Collection, 1788, arr JMH.
Miss Herries Forbes' Farewell to Banff (Slow
Air) Isaac Cooper 1794, arr JMH.
Miss Innes of Meldrum (Strathspey) Isaac Cooper
c1755-c1820, arr JMH.
Miss Laura Andrew (March) J. Scott Skinner, Harp
and Claymore Collection 1904, arr JMH.
Miss Maria Carr (Slow Air) Celebrated blind pianist,
Aberdeen. JMH 1927.
Miss Rose of Tarlogie (Slow Strathspey) Campbell's
2nd Collection 1786-88, arr JMH.
Mr Alexander Laing, Leuchold (Hornpipe) William
Marshall, 1822 Collection.
Mr Gordon of Hallhead (Strathspey)
William Marshall, 1822 Collection, arr JMH
Mrs A R Findlay (Reel) Conductor of Aberdeen
High School Orchestra. JMH
1931.
Mrs B Catto, Aberdeen (Slow Strathspey) Reciter
of Scots Poetry, JMH 1927.
Mrs C Sutherland (Strathspey) To C.S., pianist,
Fraserburgh. JMH 1933.
Mrs Forbes Leith (Reel) J. Scott Skinner, 1868.
Later Miller o' Herne Collection 1st Ed. 1881.
Mrs Garden of Troup (Strathspey) Robert Petrie 1767-1830, gardener at Troup House.
Mrs Gordon of Park (Slow Strathspey) William
Marshall, arr JMH.
Mrs G Sinclair (Pipe March) To G.S., pianist in Aberdeen. JMH 1928.
Mrs
Johnston (later called Glen Ogle) (Reel)
Donald Grant c1760-c1839, arr JMH.
Mrs Shand, Aberdeen (Strathspey) Aberdonian
country dance pianist. JMH
1932.
Muir o' Gellan, The (Strathspey) Peter Milne
after J. F. Dickie's Set, arr JMH.
N
New Brig o' Dee, The (Strathspey) Evolved from
James Barnett's Johnnie Steel, arr JMH.
New Brig o' Dee, The (Reel) John Nivan, Aberdeen
1761, arr JMH.
New Brig o' Methlick, The (Strathspey) William
Hardie 1787-1884, arr JMH.
New Brig o' Methlick (Reel) William Hardie, arr
JMH.
New Kelvin Bridge (1891), The (Reel) Archibald
Morrison 1820-1895, arr JMH.
Niel Gow's Lament for James Moray of Abercairney (Lament)
Gow's Collection 1784, arr JMH.
Nimble Fingers (Quickstep) To Miss Carr, blind
pianist, Aberdeen. JMH 1926.
North Country Style, The (Reel) To John Pirie,
violinist Fraserburgh. JMH
1934.
North Shore, The (Hornpipe) Anon, arr JMH.
O
Old Reel, The (Reel) Anon. J. Davie's Caledonian Repository, 2nd series, arr JMH.
P
Pennan Den (Slow Air) James Watt of Pennan,
1832-1909, sailor, fiddle maker and teacher, arr JMH.
Perth
Assembly, The (Reel) Samson Duncan 1767-1837,
Lowe's Set Book 1, arr JMH.
Princess Beatrice (Hornpipe) W. B. Laybourn 1835-1866, arr JMH.
R
Riches
Denied (Pastoral)
To Peter Milne 1824-1908. JMH
1927.
Robert Cormack, Aberdeen (Pastoral) James Henry 1860-1914, arr JMH.
Roslin Castle (Slow
Air) aka House of Glams, William McGibbon's 2nd Collection 1746.
S
Sandy F Skinner 1833-1883 (Reel) (J.S.S. elder brother) Violinist, dancer, Banchory. JMH 1934.
Scottish Snap, The (Strathspey) To R. E. Cahill,
Manager The Playhouse, Aberdeen. JMH 1933.
Sir D. Davidson of Cantray (Reel) John (father
of Joseph) Lowe c1797-1866, arr JMH.
Strachen's (Strathspey) To Strachen's Music Shop, Aberdeen. George Wright, arr JMH.
T
Tarland Memories (Pastoral) aka George Ross
Wood, Peter Milne, arr JMH.
Tarves Trippers, The (Schottische) To Jamie Morrison,
violinist, dancing master, Aberdeen. JMH 1933.
There
Was A Lad Was Born In Kyle ( 2/4 country
dance) aka The Fiddlers' Morris.
Tullochgorum (Strathspey) The Blue Green Hill,
trad, arr JMH.
Tweedside Lasses, The (Slow Air) Alexander Walker 1819-1905. Castle Newe Collection 1866, arr JMH.
U
Urquhart Castle (Slow Strathspey) Anon. Capt.
Simon Fraser Collection 1815, arr JMH.
W
Whistle o'er the Lave o't (Sword Dance) Attributed to John Bruce c1720-1785, arr JMH.
White Cockade, The (2/4 country dance) aka The
Ranting Highlandman, Aird's Collection 1782.
William Duguid (Strathspey) Violinist, Fyvie,
1866-1905. William Martin 1836-1908.
William J Hardie (Reel) To W.J.H., violinist,
Aberdeen. JMH 1930.
