The Burns Violin

For a number of years, Wallace Galbraith has been the resident Fiddler at the Bachelors Club in Tarbolton where Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, attended, learning the arts of social intercourse including dancing. At that time, the dancing master was William Gregg who , as well as instructing his pupils in dance steps, would accompany on the fiddle. Burns, a capable fiddler himself, would have undoubtedly played on the Gregg Violin.
The instrument was handed down through the generations but, as no members of the immediate family were interested in playing, the violin fell into disrepair and obscurity. In 1995, Wallace became aware of the violin’s existence at the farm near Mauchline of the then Chairman of the Bachelors Club, Major John Weir. He gave the instrument to Dr David Martin of Ayr, a retired lecturer at the Scottish Agricultural College at Auchincruive and talented violin restorer, who lovingly brought the violin back to its former glory.
The Orchestra gave the violin to the National Trust for Scotland who now keep it in safe custody at Culzean Castle near Maybole. Wallace plays it at the Annual Burns Supper at the Bachelors Club every January and the National Trust has allowed the Orchestra to take it with them on some of their International Tours.