Alastair Hardie''s Compliments to ''The King'': The Violin Music of James Scott Skinner with Piano Accompaniment

About

James Scott Skinner (1843-1927) was born in Banchory Kincardineshire. He had early fiddle lessons from his brother Sandy and was taught the art of vamping on the 'cello before meeting Peter Milne The Tarland Minstrel who instructed him in the art of strathspey playing. His formal musical education began in 1855 when he undertook a six-year apprenticeship as a member of Dr Mark's Little Men a celebrated juvenile orchestra and received lessons from Charles Rougier a violinist with the Halle Orchestra. Apart from a busy concert and recording career Skinner found time to compose and publish 600 tunes declaring: The great work of my life has been composing music for the people of Scotland.