James Barr


1781 - 1860

Composer. Born in Tarbolton (South Ayrshire), Barr worked for a publisher in Glasgow. He went on to teach music in the city. He was a friend of Robert Tannahill (1774 - 1810) and set various of his poems to music. Tannahill wrote of Barr:


There's blithe James Barr,
From St. Barchan's town,
When wit gains a kingdom,
He's sure o' the crown.

Barr emigrated for Canada in 1832, where he worked as a farmer until 1855. He died in Kilbarchan (Renfrewshire).


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