Tunes

The Trows of Truggles Water

The group, Fiddlers' Bid, explained that this is a tune inspired by Fiddlers' Bid's annual holiday, which took them to the wilds of the Westside of Shetland, to a place called Truggles Water. The band set up camp in the pouring rain and the … more »
The Sticky Jig

Musician Heather Yule agreed with a small girl, whom she was teaching to play the harp, that they would both make up a new tune.The little girl never did make up her new tune, but Heather created this simple tune about the girl’s stick insect.'The … more »
The Hen's March to the Midden

You can hear the fiddle imitating the sound of the hen cackling as it marches to the farm dung heap hoping to scratch there and find food - perhaps worms? Yuck!This tune is at least 200 years old. The piano accompaniment is in a typical Scottish style.'The … more »
The Laird of Drumblair

This is the best known of J Scott Skinner's many strathspey compositions.The tune was composed by Skinner in honour of William McHardy, Laird of Drumblair near Huntly, who had given Skinner a rent-free cottage to live in. Skinner wrote that … more »
The High Road to Linton

The tune is sometimes said to be about the old drove road (also called the Thieves’ Road) that ran from West Linton up across the Pentland Hills to the Catslackburn.At one time that was the main route through the Borders for cattle drovers. They … more »
The Bloody Fields of Flanders

This is a pipe march version of an old Perthshire song tune, sometimes called ‘Busk Busk Bonnie Lassie’, sometimes called ‘Bonny Glenshee’.The pipe march was made during World War I. In 1943, during World War II, songmaker and … more »
Sands of Kuwait (Set)

This track is from the 2007 album Enjoy The Ride, from the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music, Sgoil Chiùil ne Gàidhealtachd, in Plockton.The tunes are by three of Scotland’s best contemporary traditional-style composers … more »
Lochiel's Awa Tae France

The website The Fiddler’s Companion, created by Andrew Kuntz, explains what this song is about:'The title refers both to a father and son. The father, John, 18th chief of Clan Cameron, was a prime supporter of King James in the first Jacobite … more »
John MacAlpine

This tune is very versatile. It is popular as a strathspey, but when the rhythm is ‘ironed out’ it is also used as a march, a polka and as a song tune.The ballad 'The False Knight on the Road' is sung to this tune. A school boy meets … more »
Faroe Rum

Tom Anderson (1978) said this tune comes from the time when a thriving cod fishing industry was based on the Faroe Islands and tobacco and rum were smuggled to those islands for ‘home consumption'. One assumes that the smuggling was done … more »
Farewell to Whisky

Neil Gow (1727-1807) is said to have composed this tune in 1799, during a failure in the Scottish barley crop. Because of the poor harvest that year, Highlanders were prohibited from 'wasting' barley by making whisky. This song laments the shortage … more »
Earl Grey

This classic strathspey was composed by James Hill, who was born in Dundee, but who lived in Gateshead, near Newcastle in England. Hill is best remembered for his hornpipes, such as ‘The Bee’s Wing’ and ‘The High Level’.Charles … more »
Deil Among the Tailors

A very popular reel. In the USA it is usually called ‘The Devil’s Dream’.There are many traditional stories about how timid tailors were frightened by real or pretend evil figures, but now and then the tailor outwits the evil person.In … more »
Dear Dearie Dearest [and] No Fixed Abode

Listen to two songs: 'Dear Dearie Dearest' and 'No Fixed Abode', as performed by the Dillies of Plockton (Robin and Kirsty on fiddles, Neil on guitar, Shona on piano, Scot on double bass). 'Dear Dearie Dearest' and 'No … more »
Lament for John Morrison of Assynt House

This pibroch is played by Na Dudaichean of Plockton, with Struan on Highland reel pipes, Suzanne on whistles, Calum on fiddle, Roya on accordion and Rachel on clarsach and piano.The band noted on the CD that, 'The piobaireachd was taught to Struan … more »
Marion MacLean of Eoligarry (Set)

This track is from the 2007 album Enjoy The Ride, from the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music, Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd, Plockton.The tunes are 'Marion MacLean of Eoligarry' by Colin Melville, 'Snow on the … more »
Miss Spence

This reel is from Shetland.The Fiddler’s Companion website has information from Peter Cooke (1986) that the tune was composed by John Anderson of Voe in 1759. He played it to the Neven of Windhouse family at Reafirth at a Christmas party.The majority … more »
Rory Dall's Port

The blind Scottish harper Rory Dall (Roderick Morison) lived from about 1656 until about 1714 and was 'Gaelic Scotland’s last minstrel', versatile in poetry and music.He 'was born a gentleman' and lived much of his life at Dunvegan, … more »
Early Music from Orkney

These two pieces are from a CD called 'Out of the Stones: Music Inspired by the Archaeology and History of Orkney'.They are played by a 'Stone Age band’ that includes a clay pot drum, a deer bone flute, scallop shells, a frame drum, … more »
Hector the Hero

This tune was composed by J Scott Skinner in praise of Sir Hector MacDonald of Ross-shire, a brave soldier who met a tragic end.MacDonald was born in the Black Isle in 1857, enlisted in the 92nd Gordon Highlanders in 1870 and rose through the ranks to … more »
The Barrowburn Reel

Here are two different recordings of the Barrowburn Reel. The first selection is a recording by the Gordon Gunn Band, and the second is a performance by Mhairi MacKinnon (fiddle), and Marianne Fraser (guitar) of Plockton. Several recordings have been … more »
I Got a Kiss of the King's Hand

This pibroch tune is said to have been composed in 1651 by Patrick Mor MacCrimmon, a member of the most famous piping family, the MacCrimmons of Skye, personal pipers of the Chief of the MacLeods.When King Charles II held a review of the Scottish army … more »
The Midnight Club [Set]

The tunes are ‘The Midnight Club’, ‘Kirstin, Bruce and Twinkie’ and ‘Long Way for a Shortcut’, played by The Dillies of Plockton.‘The Midnight Club’ was composed by Neil Ewart, ‘Kirstin, Bruce and … more »
Mrs MacLeod of Raasay

This is one of the best known Scottish reel tunes. It has different names in different countries. We call it ‘Mrs MacLeod of Raasay’; in the USA it is ‘Hop High Ladies’.We do not know anything about Mrs MacLeod, but it was the … more »
Largo Fairy Dance

This tune is probably the most famous of all the Scottish fiddle tunes connected with the fairies and was written by the composer Nathaniel Gow (1763-1831) from Perthshire.The tune is usually known as 'The Fairy Dance', but it is properly called … more »
Merrily Danced the Quaker's Wife

A Quaker is a member of a peaceful Christian organisation called the Society of Friends.'Merrily Danced the Quaker's Wife', played by Mary Kennedy on the accordion From Traditional Scottish Songs and Music, Gallus Recordings. more »
Soldier's Joy

This is one of the most popular fiddle tunes in Europe and the Americas.It has been played in Scotland for over 200 years and Robert Burns used it for the first song of his cantata 'The Jolly Beggars'.'Soldier's Joy', played by Colin … more »
Wha Saw the 42nd?

The first two verses of this song are about soldiers of the 42nd Highland Regiment, the Black Watch, marching along the Broomielaw, which runs alongside the River Clyde in Glasgow. They are going to board a ship to travel abroad, maybe to fight in a … more »
Orange and Blue

This sparky strathspey or schottische tune has been popular throughout Scotland for over 200 years. Its Gaelic title, Brochan Lom, means thin porridge. It was played for the East Lothian country dance called Orange and Blue.Various small verses are sung … more »
The Barren Rocks of Aden

This march tune is associated with the Gordon Highlanders Regiment, because it is played for the dance called The Gay Gordons.The tune is said to have been composed by piper James Mauchline, who was delighted that his regiment was leaving the hot, dry … more »
Da Slockit Light

Song by Shetland Fiddler Tom Anderson about the gradual trend of migration away from the Shetland Islands. 'Da Slockit Light' was inspired by the depopulation of the area of Eshaness where he was born. The song reflects his impression that each … more »
The Cradle Song

‘The Cradle Song’ is a slow air written by J Scott Skinner after seeing a sick child being cared for by his mother in a hotel in Forres.He went into the wrong room by mistake and saw the mother bending over the cradle. He imagined her to … more »
Canongate [Set]

Three short songs set in Edinburgh's Old Town, which runs down the sloping hill from the Castle to Holyrood Palace.The first song is sometimes located not in Edinburgh's Canongate, but in Newcastle's Sandbank. When the song says 'Weel … more »
The Warlock

This Scottish strathspey was composed in the 19th century by Robert Lowe. It has become popular in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where many Scottish tunes are played.'Warlock' is a Scottish word for a sorcerer or wizard. 'The Warlock', … more »
Merry Boys of Greenland

This tune comes from Shetland, the home of many fine fiddle tunes and fine fiddlers, including Aly Bain and Tom Anderson. The Shetlanders were and are brave seafarers. Perhaps the tune relates to the whaling boats that went up to catch whales between … more »