Annotation:Queen's Welcome to Invercauld (The)

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QUEEN'S WELCOME TO INVERCAULD, THE. Scottish, Marching Air. A Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Composed by Biography:J. Scott Skinner. Skinner published the march in three of his collections, later altering it slightly for use as a pipe march. See Skinner's handwritten alterations in the manuscript to this effect at the University of Aberdeen's Skinner site [1]. Toward the end of his life, he included as one of the tunes in his 1921 concert set romantically entitled "Warblings From the Hills."

J. Scott Skinner

The castle of Invercauld, Braemar, Aberdeenshire, has been the seat of Clan Farquharson chiefs since the 16th century. The present structure was redone in 1874 in the Scottish baronial style, with the front entrance re-oriented to face Balmoral in recognition of the new owners, the Queen of England, Victoria, and her husband Albert. It was the 12th Laird of Invercauld who played host to Victoria at the time. Famous Highland games (the Braemar Gathering) are held there yearly, although in 1848 they were delayed until September to allow Queen Victoria, coming to Balmoral for the first time, to attend.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Glen (Collection of Highland Bagpipe Music, Book 11), No. 22, p. 13 [2]. Skinner (Elgin Collection), 1884. Skinner (The Scottish Violinist), 1900; p. 31 (with variations). Skinner (Harp and Claymore), 1904; p. 42.

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