One of Scotland’s finest fiddle players has been commissioned to compose two pieces of music to celebrate champion golfers, Old Tom Morris and Young Tommy Morris.

The first official playing of the Old Tom Morris tune will be on BBC Radio 3 when it broadcasts live from St Salvator’s chapel in St Andrews - the very street where the globally renowned golfer played as a boy.

Fiddler Pete Clark was commissioned to write the piece by the team behind the Tom Morris statue which was unveiled close to the 18th green of the Old Course last year. It has the support of the Morris family and St Andrews Links Trust, and came about after the chairman had been thinking about a musical tribute.,

In August at a musical evening in Forgan House, he heard the fiddle tune titled Robert Fergusson and that provided the necessary impetus. David Annand, who created the Tom Morris sculptor, nominated Pete ‘The Fiddler’ Clark - and the idea gained momentum.

The music was commissioned to celebrate legendary golfer, Old Tom Morris (Pic: Submitted)

placeholder image — The music was commissioned to celebrate legendary golfer, Old Tom Morris (Pic: Submitted)

“He was duly commissioned to compose a tune, to be titled ‘Old Tom Morris.’ In the course of a further chat, Pete confirmed that he would also like to compose a tune in memory of young Tommy Morris, the star golfer of his day, who died so tragically young aged just 24 in 1875. It is apt that someone of Pete’s pedigree is the composer of these wonderful pieces of music.”

Pete, who taught on the Scottish Music degree course at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said, ‘When David told me he had been commissioned to create a sculpture of Old Tom Morris, I knew he would come up with a fabulous likeness to this legend of golf. Having seen the film Tommy's Honour, I had been aware of the great man, truly a national treasure.

“After Ronald contacted me regarding a possible tribute in music, I delved a bit further into the story and learned more about Old Tom and the tragically short life of Young Tommy. I was moved to compose a slow air for the latter and a bold strathspey for his father. I consider it a great honour to be asked to immortalise someone in music, and hope that my efforts have captured something of these two great characters.’

On the two pieces of music Pete is accompanied by Muriel Johnstone, who is regarded as one of the most highly acclaimed musicians in the world of Scottish country dancing. Originally from Ardrossan in Ayrshire, the celebrated pianist and prolific composer, now also lives in highland Perthshire. To date she has recorded over 30 albums and has produced many books of her original compositions.

> The first official playing of the Old Tom Morris tune form part of BBC Radio 3’s live Christmas show at St Salvator’s chapel, North Street, St Andrews, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm on Sunday, November 30. Commodore Ronald Sandford, chair of the committee, said: “It is simply the perfect place to play this fine tune, which honours the life of one of Scotland’s greatest golfers.”