Marquis of Huntly

I am currently working on one the major Strathspeys called the Marquis of Huntly.  Its composed by William Marshall and is a difficult tune.  The bowing is difficult - snaps, arrow bowing, loops and stops.  The key is quite difficult (G minor).  The runs are difficult - particularly one that has a turn at the end of it.  I have listened to recordings of the tune and it sounds like people have changed the bowing to slurs and missed out the turn altogether.  I don;t think I have found one yet that is played completely as notated.   I suppose that might be an option.  But at the moment I am bowing it close to the versions in Henderson's  Flowers of Scottish Melodies and The Caledonian Companion.  Still about five weeks to go until the recital.

I have also been working on  reel to go with it, John Cheap the Chapman by Nathaniel Gow - also taken from Henderson's.  It is full of leaps across two strings; string crossing requiring the fingering to straddle (difficult if you have small hands); and third position and back down at speed.  Its a good tune.   They are both a challenge.

I have been practicing slowly.  I have also been working on the two Shetland tunes I am going to play.  I would like to play one slowly - possibly solo.  The tune is so irregular that I am trying to decide if its easier for the listener to understand that way.  Also planning to play it on my hardanger using scodatura.