T. L. Stillie, A Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1900)
“ Burns says he wrote to the tune of 'Ballendalloch's Reell.' 'Dr. William Grant's Reell' was laid under contribution for the words written in 1795, 'This is no my ain house.' 'Whistle o'er the lave o't' is a good Strathspey, and to it Burns wrote the verses beginning, 'First when Maggie was my care,' as a substitute for old verses, witty but indecent. ”
T. L. Stillie, A Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1900)
“ McKnight, who had frequently heard Neil play, and who was himself a famous fiddler, thus describes his style of execution:—'His bow-hand as a suitable instrument of his genius was uncommonly powerful; and when the note produced by the up-bow was often feeble and indistinct in other hands, it was struck in his playing with a strength and certainty which never failed to surprise and delight skilful hearers.... ”
T. L. Stillie, A Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1900)
“ Burns' 'Wilt thou be my dearie?' was written to the tune of 'The Souter's Daughter,' named by Angus Gumming, in the volume above referred to, 'Dutchess of Buccleugh's Reell.' Burns, in his instructions as to the setting of the music, says in a note annexed to the words–'Tune, The Souter's Daughter. ”
