The Edinburgh Highland Reel and Strathspey Society
The Edinburgh Highland Reel and Strathspey Society was founded in 1881 ' for the practice and promotion of Scottish national music, more especially the reel and strathspey played on the violin in the old Highland fashion '. It is largely through its efforts that there has been handed down the tradition on which such famous old musicians and composers as Neil Gow and Willie Blair set their stamp.
Although the society has encouraged the composition of new strathspeys and reels, the programme tonight will consist entirely of traditional pieces such as the celebrated reel ' Rachel Rae '. The orchestra contains only stringed instruments and in recent years has consisted of over a hundred players. Among the founders was the late J. Stewart Robertson whose Athole collection of strathspeys and reels is still a classic of its kind.