Straloch manuscript

present whereabouts unknown

The original manuscript of this Scottish book of lute tablature, written in 1627-9 by or for Robert Gordon of Straloch, is lost; fortunately a handwritten copy of about half of it which was made by George Farquhar Graham in 1847 survives (National Library of Scotland ms adv.5.2.18). Graham's copy contains five ports.

For an online facsimile of p.5-6 of Graham's copy showing Port Preist, and analysis of the music, see Alasdair Codona's article Gaelic Harmony

Published books

Wayne Cripps
The Straloch Manuscript
Lyre Publications, n.d.
Transcription of the whole of Graham's copy of the Straloch lute book, in tablature by Wayne Cripps.
 
 

Robert Phillips
Music for the Lute In Scotland
Kinmor Music, Scotland, c.1995
This collection by the leading performer of the Scottish lute repertory includes a selection of tunes, given both in the original tablature and transcriptions to stave notation.
 

Cynthia J. Crawford
Castle and Court Music from Scotland
Dragon Tales, Norwich, USA, 1995
This book contains 38 transcriptions from the Rowallan and Straloch Lute books.
 
 

Ronn MacFarlane
The Scottish Lute
Mel Bay Publications, Pacific, USA, 1998
56 tunes from Skene, Straloch, Rowallen, and Pickering. There are five ports from Straloch. The music is given in staff notation and tablature, and CDs are available of Ronn playing. You can also hear Ronn on Ann Heymann's new CD Cruit go nÓr.

Simon Chadwick