Burns and McNab the Fiddler, pp.39-40.

[Anecdotes of Burns Contents]

PETER M^cNAB, a violinist well known in his day in various districts of Scotland, used to tell of an interesting meeting with Burns at Mauchline. McNab was then first violin in Cooke’s travelling circus; and one night, after the performance was over, he spent some time in social converse with Burns and one or two friends. The poet asked him to play two times, “The Braes of Invermay” and “Roslin Castle,” and listened throughout with that inspired rapture which invariably seemed to possess him when he gave ear to strains of national music.