The Mason's Apron

It is Scottish in origin. Alexander McGlashan printed early versions as "The Isla Reel" and "Braes of Glenorchy," and Robert Ross had it as "The Mason Laddie" in 1780. The Scottish fiddler Duncan McKerracher (1796 to 1873), called the "Dunkeld Paganini," used it as his usual encore and was said to play it wearing his Masonic apron.

Players love to write variations on it. Irish fiddler Sean Maguire added three extra parts that need playing up the neck, and his recording around 1961 is often called the definitive version. Matt Molloy's flute version in G is also much admired. The first recording was by New York accordion player John J. Kimmel in 1915.