Robert Mackintosh (c 1745–1807), known as 'Red Rob' on account of the colour of his hair, was a Scottish composer and violinist, active in Edinburgh at the end of the 18th century. He was known for his compositions of

strathspeys A strathspey () is a type of dance tune in time, featuring dotted rhythms (both long-short and short-long "Scotch snaps"), which in traditional playing are generally somewhat exaggerated rhythmically. Examples of strathspeys are the songs "The ...

, reels, and jigs, as well as minuets and gavottes.

Biography

Mackintosh was born in Tullymet, near Pitlochry,

Perthshire Perthshire (locally: ; gd, Siorrachd Pheairt), officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, ...

, about 1745. Around 1773, he was living in Skinner's Close, just off Edinburgh's High Street, employed as a music teacher and playing in the orchestra of the Edinburgh Musical Society. His first collection of music was published in 1783, including 54 pieces, including 17 reels. During 1785-88 he was working in Aberdeen, leading the 'Gentleman's Concerts'. His second collection was published in Edinburgh in 1793, including 73 pieces, including more reels and strathspeys. A third collection, including 117 pieces, followed in 1796. He later went to London where in 1804 he produced his fourth collection of a further 113 pieces. He died in London in 1807.

Works

*The Diamond Reel (Miss Steel of Norwich) (1st collection) *Honourable Mrs. Campbell of Lochnell (2nd collection) *Miss Elizabeth (Betty) Robertson (2nd collection) *Miss Ann Munro's Quickstep (2nd collection) *Miss Margaret Campbell (3rd collection) *Miss Campbell of Saddell, a pastoral (3rd collection) *Miss Robertson (3rd collection) *Miss Mariane Oliphant (3rd collection) *Honourable Mrs. E. Macleod (4th collection) *Lady Charlotte Campbell's Strathspey and Reel (4th collection) *Lady Charlotte Cadogan (4th collection) *Miss Campbell's Reel (4th collection)

Recordings

*Concerto Caledonia - Robert Mackintosh Airs, Minuets, Gavotts and Reels (2013). Pieces from MacKintosh's first collection (CD, Delphian DCD34128)Review of the Delphian CD, accessed 23 May 2013
/ref> *Mackintosh at Murthly: The Music of Robert Mackintosh. Pete Clark (2004) (CD INVER225)

References

Notes Sources

accessed 23 May 2013. *Glen, John (1895): ''The Glen collection of Scottish dance music''. Book II : strathspeys, reels, and jigs : selected from the earliest printed sources, or from the composer's works / arranged, with new accompaniments for the pianoforte, Edinburgh, republished by the Highland Music Trust, 2001 (). *''The Mackintosh Collections'', introduction by Charles Gore, Highland Music Trust (2002)

External links

Interpretations

* performed by Concerto Caledonia directed by David McGuinness {{DEFAULTSORT:Mackintosh, Robert 1740s births 1807 deaths People from Perthshire Scottish composers Scottish fiddlers British male violinists Scottish folk musicians