Old Photograph James Scott Skinner Scotland

Old photograph of James Scott Skinner who was born in Arbeadie village near Banchory, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. James, born 5 August 1843, died 17 March 1927, was a Scottish dancing master, violinist, fiddler, and composer. Skinner was born the youngest of six children. His father William Skinner was a dancing master on Deeside. His mother Mary Skinner, née Agnew, was originally from Strathdon. James was only eighteen months old when his father died. When he was seven, his elder brother, Alexander Forbes Skinner, gave him lessons in violin and cello. Soon the pair of them were playing at local dances. In 1852 his mother remarried and he moved to Aberdeen where he lived with his sister Annie, attending Connell's School in Princes Street, Aberdeen. Three years later he left to joined Dr Mark's Little Men, a travelling orchestra. This involved spending six years intensive training at their headquarters in Manchester, Englsnd. It also involved touring round the UK. In 1862 he won a sword dance competition in Ireland. The following year he won a strathspey and reel competition in Inverness. Gradually he broadened his district of clients until Queen Victoria learned of his reputation. She requested him to teach callisthenics and dancing to the royal household at Balmoral Castle. By 1870 he had married and was soon living in Elgin. For twelve years he continued as a dancing master and violinist. He gave virtuoso concerts, with his adopted daughter joining him as a pianist. In 1881 his wife became seriously ill and died a couple of years later. For the next ten years he spent little time in any one place. In 1899 he made his first cylinder recordings. In 1903, he wrote Hector the Hero, a lament for a friend who had committed suicide. In the period from 1906 to 1909 he lived a settled life in Monikie, Angus, but had so little money that he could not afford to publish his work. In 1925 he was still top of the bill on five tours of the UK. Skinner entered a reel and jig competition in the United States in 1926. He immediately had musical differences with the pianist and strode off stage without completing his test pieces. He died on 17 March 1927 without giving another public performance.



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