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1. SALLY HUNTER: Jigs 3.17
OFF SHE GOES
LADS OF DUNSE
A good starter . . . a set of three cheery jigs.
2. MISS SINE FLEMINGTON: Slow air 4.30
THE ALE IS DEAR: Strathspey & Reel
A beautiful slow air composed by Alan Bruford, followed by an old traditional tune played first as a strathspey and then as a reel.
3. IN DISPRAISE OF WHISKY: Slip jigs 3.20
THE FAVOURITE DRAM
An unusual arrangement of two slip jigs from the Simon Fraser collection featuring four fiddles and two concertinas.
4. ALASDAIR MacCOLLA Waulking song (Mary) 2.21
A Gaelic womenÕs work-song sung while shrinking the cloth, in praise of Alasdair MacColla who was in charge of the Highlanders fighting with Montrose in the 1640s.
1: Alasdair a Mhic, ? h?,
Cholla ghasda, ? h?,
?s do l?imh-Õs gun, ? h?,
earbainn tapaichd trom ?ile.
[Oh Alasdair son of excellent Colla,
From your hand I would expect bravery.]
S?isd/ Chorus:
Chall ?il ? h?, chall a hor?,
Chall ?il ? h?, chall a hor?,
Chall oro hao ri ri, chall a hor?,
Hao i oho trom ?ile.
2: Mharbhadh Tighearn, ? h?,
Ach nam Breac leat, ? h?,
th?odhlaic thu e, ? h?,
Õn ?ir a lochain, ? h?,
Õs gedÕs beag mi fhin, ? h?,
Chuir mi ploc air.
[You killed the Laird of Auchinbreck,
You buried him at the edge of the lochan,
And although I was small I threw a sod on him.]
3: Chuala miÕn d?, ? h?,
Sgeul nach bÕait leam, ? h?,
Glasch? bheag, ? h?,
Dol na lasair, ? h?,
Õs Obair-Dheathain, ? h?,
deis a ghlacadh.
[Yesterday I heard news that didnÕt please me,
Little Glasgow was burned and Aberdeen was taken.]
5. OÕCAROLANÕS DRAUGHT Slow air 3.19
An elegant and powerful arrangement of a tune by the Irish harper OÕCarolan reflecting the classical and traditional influences of his time.
6. GYPSYÕS WARNING: Pipe retreat 4.07
FLORA MacDONALD: Slow reel
SWEET MOLLY: Reel
An atmospheric and slightly menacing set which builds to a frenetic finish.
7. MISS SHEPHERD: Reels 3.07
JENNY NETTLES
MRS MacLEOD OF RAASAY
Three reels for three women whose names have been carried throughout the world by the titles of these popular tunes.
8. BRAES OF STRATHBLANE: Song air 4.34
SGIAN DUBH: Pipe jigs
HILLS OF GLENORCHY
A harp duet on the slow air leads into two syncopated jigs.
9. LOVELY MOLLY: Song (Patsy) 4.10
A strange song about a young man who tricks an old shepherd into parting with his daughter instead of a sheep . . . . . from Robert FordÕs ÔVagabond Songs and Ballads of ScotlandÕ.
1: As Molly was milking her yowes on a day,
Oh by came young Jamie who to her did say,
ÒYour fingers go nimbly, your yowes they milk free,
CaÕ the yowes tae the knowes, lovely Molly!
2: ÒOh where is your father?Ó the young man he said,
ÒOh where is your father my tender young maid?Ó
ÒHeÕs up in yon greenwood a-waiting for me?Ó
CaÕ the yowes tae the knowes, lovely Molly!
3: ÒMy fatherÕs a shepherd has sheep on yon hill,
If you get his sanction IÕll be at your will,
And if he does grant it right glad will I be.Ó
CaÕ the yowes tae the knowes, lovely Molly!
4: ÒGood morning old man, you are herding your flock,
I want a yowe lamb to rear a new stock;
I want a yowe lamb and the best she maun be.Ó
CaÕ the yowes tae the knowes, lovely Molly!
5: ÒGo down to yon meadow, choose out your own lamb,
And be sure youÕre as welcome an any young man;
You are heartily welcome - the best she maun be.Ó
CaÕ the yowes tae the knowes, lovely Molly!
6: HeÕs down to yon meadow, taen Moll by the hand,
And soon before the old man the couple did stand;
Says, ÒThis is the yowe lamb I purchased from thee.Ó
CaÕ the yowes tae the knowes, lovely Molly!
7: ÒOh was eÕer an auld man so beguiled as I am,
To sell my ae daughter instead of a lamb;
Yet, since I have said it, eÕen sae let it be.Ó
CaÕ the yowes tae the knowes, lovely Molly!
10. BRAIGH LOCH IALL: Slow air 4.30
MISS LYALL: Strathspey
LOCH LEVEN CASTLE: Reel
The set starts with a popular old
Gaelic song tune played as a harp and flute duet, joined by the band for a traditional strathspey and reel.
11. CIAMAR A NI MI AN DANNSA DIREACH: Port a beul 4.31
PADDYÕS LEATHER BREECHES:
Pipe Marches
ATHOLL HIGHLANDERS
ÔHow will I do the dance properly?Õ go the words of the Gaelic Ôport a beulÕ (mouth music for dancing) . . . ÔHow will I do the reel neatly when the pin is gone from the bottom of my coat and left me all awry?Õ The set ends in ranting style with two favourite pipe marches.
Credits: The recording is dedicated to the 33 cars at the Fishnish Ferry without whose help we would never have made it from Mull to Ullapool in time for the gig. Thanks to Alan Bruford for his beautiful slow air Miss S?ne Flemington and to him and the School of Scottish Studies for their help and advice. And thanks to Roy for the heuch!
Recorded at Hart Street Studios, Edinburgh
Engineered by Roy Ashby
Produced by Peter Shepheard and Sprangeen
Design: George Neill ¥ Colin Browne Design Associates
Copyrights: All tracks are trad. arr. Sprangeen/ Springthyme Music except Miss S?ne Flemington Alan Bruford/ Springthyme Music.