James Scott Skinner

James Scott Skinner ( * August 5, 1843 in Banchory, † March 17, 1927 in Aberdeen) was a Scottish composer, violinist, fiddler and dance teacher.

Life

James Skinner was born on 5 August 1843 in Arbeadie, in the municipality of Banchory - Ternan, Aberdeenshire. His father, a dance teacher, died already in 1845. When James was seven, he received from his older brother Sandy violin and cello lessons. Already with eight years played James with Peter Milne (1824-1908) at local dances.

In 1855 he became a member of " Dr Mark's Little Men ", an orchestra from Manchester, which occurred throughout the UK. He received a six-year intensive musical training there. There he learned to play classical music in the French violinist Charles Rougier.

In 1861 he returned to Aberdeen and took dance lessons with William Scott. He then earned his living as a dance teacher in the area of Aberdeen. In 1862 he won a Sword -dance- competition in Ireland, a year later as Fiddler a Strathspey and Reel competition in Inverness.

In 1871 he married his first wife, Jean Stewart. In the same year was born his daughter Jeanie, in 1881, his son Manson. The family moved to Elgin, where Skinner continued dance classes throughout the north of Scotland was.

The publication of the Elgin Collection ( 1884) was an ambitious undertaking, from which he emerged in debt. His wife fell ill under these circumstances, and did not recover again. She died on 5 January 1899.

On June 6, 1899 Skinner married Gertrude Mary Park. Gertrude left him 1909.

In 1899, he wrote some of his best pieces, and he makes his first phonographic recording. It thus belongs to the first Scottish musicians at all, of which recordings were made.

In 1904 he published his largest collection, " The Harp & Claymore Collection", edited by Gavin Greig.

By 1925 he gave concerts. He died on 17 March 1927 in Aberdeen.

Works

His first published composition, " Highland Polka", appeared in a magazine when he was 17. In total, more than 600 works by him were printed. Later, numerous publications have appeared longer:

• The Ettrick Vale Quadrille (1863 )
• Twelve New Strathspeys (1865 )
• Thirty New Strathspeys and Reels (1868 )
• The Miller o ' brain Collection ( 1881)
• The Elgin Collection ( 1884)
• The Beauties of the Ballroom (1884 )
• A Guide to Fashionable Dancing ( 1884 )
• The Logie Collection ( 1888)
• A Guide to Bowing (1900)
• The Scottish Violinist (1900)
• The Harp and Claymore (1904 )
• The People 's Ballroom Guide ( 1905)

Skinner made ​​over 80 recordings on cylinders and shellac discs. A selection of original recordings was released by Temple Records on CD:

• J. Scott Skinner: The Strathspey King ( 2002)

Skinner's compositions still play in the Scottish and Irish folk music a major role. Most of the pieces are Strathspeys and Reels. Among the most famous, still played today pieces include " The Bonnie Let o ' Bon Accord ", " The Iron Man " or "The Laird o' Drum Blair ".