First revival Scottish folk music

francis james child, 1 of key figures in beginning first folk revival

from late nineteenth century there renewed interest in traditional music, more academic , political in intent. harvard professor francis james child s (1825–96) eight-volume collection english , scottish popular ballads (1882–92) has been influential on defining repertoire of subsequent performers , english music teacher cecil sharp important in understanding of nature of folk song. in scotland collectors included reverend james duncan (1848–1917) , gavin greig (1856–1914), collected on 1,000 songs, aberdeenshire. tradition continued figures including james scott skinner (1843–1927), known strathspey king , played fiddle in venues ranging local functions in native banchory, urban centres of south , @ balmoral. in 1923 royal scottish country dance society founded in attempt preserve traditional scottish dance threatened introduction of continental ballroom dances such waltz or quadrilles. accordion began central instrument @ highland balls , dances.

this revival began have major impact on classical music, development of in effect national school of orchestral , operatic music in scotland. major composers included alexander mackenzie (1847–1935), william wallace (1860–1940), learmont drysdale (1866–1909), hamish maccunn (1868–1916) , john mcewen (1868–1948). mackenzie, studied in germany , italy , mixed scottish themes german romanticism, best known 3 scottish rhapsodies (1879–80, 1911), pibroch violin , orchestra (1889) , scottish concerto piano (1897), involving scottish themes , folk melodies. wallace s work included overture, in praise of scottish poesie (1894). drysdale s work dealt scottish themes, including overture tam o’ shanter (1890), cantata kelpie (1891). maccunn s overture land of mountain , flood (1887), 6 scotch dances (1896), operas jeanie deans (1894) , dairmid (1897) , choral works on scottish subjects have been described i. g. c. hutchison musical equivalent of scots baronial castles of abbotsford , balmoral. similarly, mcewen s pibroch (1889), border ballads (1908) , solway symphony (1911) incorporated traditional scottish folk melodies.