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 " Th ...

reels A reel is a tool used to store elongated and flexible objects (e.g. yarns/ cords, ribbons, cables, hoses, etc.) by wrapping the material around a cylindrical core known as a '' spool''. Many reels also have flanges (known as the ''rims'') arou ...

, and

jig The jig (, ) is a form of lively folk dance in compound metre, as well as the accompanying dance tune. It first gained popularity in 16th-century England, Ireland, Scotland, and other parts of the British Isles, and was adopted on mainland Eu ...

s, as well as

minuet A minuet (; also spelled menuet) is a social dance of French origin for two people, usually written in time. The English word was adapted from the Italian ''minuetto'' and the French ''menuet''. The term also describes the musical form tha ...

s and

gavotte The gavotte (also gavot, gavote, or gavotta) is a French dance, taking its name from a folk dance of the Gavot, the people of the Gap, Hautes-Alpes, Pays de Gap region of Dauphiné in the southeast of France, where the dance originated, accordin ...

Biography

Mackintosh was born in Tullymet, near

Pitlochry Pitlochry (; or ) is a town in the Perth and Kinross council area of Scotland, lying on the River Tummel. It is historically in the county of Perthshire, and has a population of 2,776, according to the 2011 census.Scotland's 2011 census. (n.p. ...

Perthshire Perthshire (Scottish English, locally: ; ), officially the County of Perth, is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore, Angus and Perth & Kinross, Strathmore ...

, about 1745. Around 1773, he was living in Skinner's Close, just off

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

High Street High Street is a common street name for the primary business street of a city, town, or village, especially in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It implies that it is the focal point for business, especially shopping. It is also a metonym fo ...

, 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 Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...

, 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 London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

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