The music here is of unknown origin. Paul Burns has very wonderfully brought them back to life for us.
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Firstly we have Greysteil, said to be “for certain as old as 1627, and presumed to be traditional from at least 1497,” and it’s had me curious for a wee while. Had I been able to play it when I first came across it, this may very well have been the RSH theme tune. I am in no way proficient enough at the piano to have tackled it, however, but Paul has outdone himself with his rendition.
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For this next one, Paul says, “I have adapted a melody of two tunes. Part one is titled Major Graham of Inchbrakie (the tune preferred by Rabbie Burns for My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose) and part two is titled Down in the Broom albeit the better-known version.
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I was reading the post about about ‘Three Hundred Animals‘ (1812) and I thought of Battle of the Birds and it linked me to Battle of Harlaw.
There are many verses but I have shortened the (1411) tune for listening:
As I cam’ in by Dunideer and doon by Nether Ha’
There were fifty thoosand’ heilan’ men a-marchin’ tae Harlaw.
Chorus (after each verse):
Wi’ a diddy aye o’ an’ a fal an’ doe
And a diddy aye o’ aye ay.
As I gaed on an’ farther on and doon an’ by Balquhain
Oh it’s there I saw Sir James the Rose and wi’ him John the Graeme.
“It’s cam’ ye fae the Heilan’s man, cam’ ye a’ the wey?
Saw ye MacDonald and his men as they cam’ in fae Skye?”
“It’s I was near and near eneuch that I their numbers saw
There was fifty thoosan’ heilan’ men a-marchin’ tae Harlaw.”
“Gin that be true,” says James the Rose, “We’ll no cam’ muckle speed
We’ll cry upon wir merry men and turn wir horse’s heid.”
“Oh na, o’ na,” says John the Graeme, “This thing will nivver be
The gallant Graemes wis nivver beat, we’ll try fit we can dae.”
Well, as I gaed on an’ further on an’ doon an’ by Harlaw
There fell fu’ close on ilka side sic straiks ye nivver saw.
There fell fu’ close on ilka side sic straiks ye nivver saw
An’ ilka sword gaed clash for clash at the Battle of Harlaw.
The Heilan’ men wi’ their lang swords, they laid on us fu’ sair
And they drave back wir merry men three acres breadth and mair.
An’ Forbes tae his brither did say, “Noo brither, can’t ye see
They’ve beaten us back on ilka side and we’ll be forced tae flee.”
“Oh na, na, my brither bold, this thing will nivver be
Ye’ll tak yer guid sword in yer haun’, ye’ll gang in wi’ me.”
Well, it’s back tae back the brithers bold gaed in amangst the thrang
And they drave back the heilan’ men wi’ swords baith sharp and lang.
An’ the firstan stroke that Forbes struck, he gart MacDonald reel
An’ the neistan straik that Forbes struck, the brave MacDonald fell.
An siccan a ptlairchie o’ the likes ye nivver saw
As wis amangst the Heilan’ men fan they saw MacDonald fa’.
Some rade, some ran and some did gang, they were o’ sma’ record
For Forbes and his merry men, they slew them on the road.
O’ fifty thoosan’ Heilan’ men, but fifty-three gaed hame
And oot o’ a’ the Lawlan’ men, fifty marched wi’ Graeme.
Gin onybody spier at ye for them that marched awa’
Ye can tell them plain and very plain they’re sleepin’ at Harlaw.
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Staying with the Battle of Harlaw (1411), I have arranged a new fiddle version of the tune “Major Donald’s Mairch Tae Harlaw.”
“Dae ye hear the Battle Cry!
Intae battle we say aye!”
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Donuil Dhu’ was Donald Cameron, a kinsman of Donald, second Lord of the Isles.
In 1411 Donald set out to claim the Earldom of Ross. Donuil Dhu supported him.
Although successful in taking control of many areas he could not secure the Earldom of Ross. The Battle of Harlaw which was fought in Aberdeenshire against the King’s Army was brutal but proved inconclusive.
My tune today, Pibroch O Donuil Dhu, was published in 1822 however the music I play is a variation in Key of A major not B flat as in the printed music, as a personal choice.
Here is a copy of the original B flat tune;
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This is music from an Article by Ellen L Beard.
Nuair Nach Eil Leughadh Gu Leor (When Reading Is Not Enough)
The article relates to Rob Donn Mackay, who lived in Durness Parish Sutherland and was known as a non-literate poet/ bard
The song is in Gaelic and here is the translation from the article.
First man who travels to Sutherland, take word to Clever John of the verses.
Isn’t his body handsome and shapely, and deformed the soul within it.
The flatterer of the avaricious hollow eyes, completely filled by greed,
Praised the shrivel-arsed, splay-footed, lichen-covered old person, and was proved
to a hundred to be false.
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Scots Wha Hae, a poem written by Robert Burns 1793.
Based on the words used by Robert the Bruce before the battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
The music here is the familiar version in use today, however Burns had a different tune in mind.
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Following on from the above upload, Paul now presents the original tune that was the first choice of Rabbie Burns for his poem.
The tune is known as Hey Tutti Tatti, circa 1746.
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This is entitled O Gin I Were Whaur Gadie Rins, words of which are by Dr. John Park (1805-1865), a Presbyterian Minister at St. Andrews. He heard a “peasant girl” singing them in the Highlands around Aberdeen.
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins,
Whaur Gadie rins, whaur Gadie rins,
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins
At the back o’ Bennachie.
Aince mair to hear the wild birds’ sang,
To wander birks an’ braes amang
Wi’ friends and fav’rites left sae lang
At the back o’ Bennachie.
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins,
Whaur Gadie rins, whaur Gadie rins,
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins
At the Back o’ Bennachie.
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How mony a day in blithe Springtime,
How mony a day in Summer’s prime
I’ve saunterin’ whiled awa the time
On the heights o’ Bennachie.
But fortune’s flowers wi’ thorns grow rife,
An’ wealth is won wi’ toil an’ strife;
Gie me ae day o’ youthfu’ life
At the back o’ Bennachie.
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins,
Whaur Gadie rins, whaur Gadie rins,
O gin I were whaur Gadie rins
At the Back o’ Bennachie.
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Paul’s next tune is another set to the words ‘The Diel’s Awa Wi’ Th’ Exciseman.’ Poem by Robert Burns (1792).
Musical arrangement by Burns (Paul Burns!!)
The deil cam fiddlin’ thro’ the town,
And danc’d awa wi’ th’ Exciseman,
And ilka wife cries, “Auld Mahoun,
I wish you luck o’ the prize, man.”
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Chorus-The deil’s awa, the deil’s awa,
The deil’s awa wi’ the Exciseman,
He’s danc’d awa, he’s danc’d awa,
He’s danc’d awa wi’ the Exciseman.
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We’ll mak our maut, and we’ll brew our drink,
We’ll laugh, sing, and rejoice, man,
And mony braw thanks to the meikle black deil,
That danc’d awa wi’ th’ Exciseman.
The deil’s awa, &c.
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There’s threesome reels, there’s foursome reels,
There’s hornpipes and strathspeys, man,
But the ae best dance ere came to the land
Was-the deil’s awa wi’ the Exciseman.
The deil’s awa, &c.
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Paul has arranged three tunes for us here here that all sound very similar yet have unique recognition across the world.
They are not as old as some of the tunes he’s so far featured, but they share the historical musical influence of the ‘Auld Scots’ playing style.
Skye Boat Song 1800’s
The Dark Island 1900’s
Massacre O Glencoe 1900’s
Each of the songs tells a unique story and he plays the tunes in the way that has been passed down through generations and also using harmonious tones.
Enjoy x
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Paul says, “After watching Netflix film Outlaw King I thought about the theme tune.”
The tune is ‘Marche Des Soldats De Robert Bruce’ (Scots Wha Hae [Ver]).
So here is his impromptu recording of that tune:
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This tune is ‘Good Night and Joy Be With Ye’ which first appears in recorded history as early as 1625.
Many song writers and poets have penned words to go with the tune.
My version comes again from Jen’s ‘Scots Minstrel Collection’ The words here are apt for this time of the year as it centres on the year coming to an end.
Good Night, An’ Joy Be Wi Ye A’ (by James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd)
The year is wearin’ to the wane,
An’ day is fadin’ west awa;
Loud raves the torrent an’ the rain,
An’ dark the cloud comes doun the shaw.
But let the tempest tout an’ blaw,
Upon his loudest winter horn,
Good night, an’ joy be wi’ ye a’-
We’ll maybe meet again the morn.
O we hae wandered far an’ wide,
O’er Scotia’s land o firth an’ fell,
An’ mony a simple flo’er we’ve culled,
An’ twined them wi’ the heather-bell:
We’ve ranged the dingle and the dell,
The hamlet an’ the baron’s ha’;
Now let us tak a kind farewell-
Good night, an’ joy be wi’ ye a’!
Ye hae been kind as I was keen,
An’ followed where I led the way,
Till ilka poet’s lore we’ve seen
O this an’ many a former day.
If e’er I led your steps astray,
Forgi’e your minstrel ance for a’;
A tear fa’s wi’ his partin’ lay-
Good night, an’ joy be wi’ ye a’!
Meaning of unusual words:
shaw = thicket
tout = trumpet
ilka = every
ance for a’ = once for all
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For tonight – Burns’ Night – Paul has supplied RSH with his, in his own words, “very raw rendition” of ‘A Man’s a Man for a’ That.’
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Paul’s made a recording of a set of tunes from his orchestra folio. Off the back of the Culloden round-up video posted by RSH recently and has entitled this medley after it.
The tunes are:
Bonnie Prince Charlie
Wha Widna Fecht For Charlie
Come O’erThe Stream Charlie
Charlie Is My Darling
Wae’s Ne For Prince Charlie
Skye Boat Song
Will Ye No Come Back Again
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The earliest year Paul could find for this tune, Jenny’s Bawbee, was 1776.
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This offering is a tune that is featured in Keith Norman MacDonald’s Skye Collection of 1887. The tune is known as The Chorus Jig, Caillach nan Giùran.
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Happy New Year!
I have recorded a different Auld Lang Syne. This poem is by Allan Ramsay (1724) and penned before the Robert Burns poem (1788) Burns took inspiration from Ramsay. This version resonates more with Jacobite and Anti-union sentiment.
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Please Thank Paul for his Contribution to the preservation of Scottish History by
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