The Athole Collection BOOK

The Athole Collection of Scottish Dance Music is recognised as one of the principal sources in this field. Its compiler,
James Stewart Robertson of Edradynate, Perthshire, was a founding member of The Edinburgh Highland Reel and Strathspey Society
and its president from 1881. He published his collection of 870 strathspeys, reels, jigs, hornpipes and country dances in
1884.

The collection was reprinted in 1961, but for many years was out of print, and although scholars and players were aware
of the book, it was difficult to obtain direct access to it. Meanwhile, interest in Scottish Music in general and the older
tunes in particular was being fostered by players, teachers and dance bands in Scotland, Cape Breton and elsewhere and taken
up by an enthusiastic public.

The music is grouped by keys, and the juxtaposition of strathspeys and reels encourages the playing of the tunes in sets.

The book contains a foreword by the late Duke of Atholl and an introduction by the great Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser.
There are 240 pages, and it is spiral bound for ease of playing.