Blow The Wind Southerly

waltz

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on September 15th 2011 by Mix O'Lydian.

This tune has been added to 9 tunebooks.

Also known as Blaw The Wind Sutherly, Blow The Wind, George Kinloch, Kinloch Of Kinloch, Kinlock Of KInlock.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• A North Country Barn Dance by The Morpeth Ranters
• King Of The Melodeon Men by Jimmy Shand
• Ranting And Reeling: Dance Music Of The North Of England by Various Artists
• The Bluebell Polka by Jimmy Shand
• The Legendary Jimmy Shand by Jimmy Shand
• The Wild Hills O'Wannie: The Small Pipes Of Northumbria by Various Artists

X: 1
T: Blow The Wind Southerly
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: waltz
K: Dmaj
|:A2|f3 ed2|A2F2A2|B2G2B2|A2F2A2|
f3 ed2|A2F2A2|B2e2c2|d4:|
e2|f2a2a2|e2a2a2|d3 ed2|c2B2A2|
f2a2a2|e2a2a2|^g2f2^g2|a4a2|
b2=g2g2|a2f2f2|g3 ag2|f2e2d2|
f3 ed2|B2g2f2|e2d2c2|d4||

Strictly speaking, it's merely the melody of a song of the same name, but nonetheless a good 32-bar waltz tune to play at a ceilidh/ceili.

It's from the north-east of England.

# Posted on September 15th 2011 by Mix O'Lydian

Most of the older manuscripts set the tune in 6/8 - especially when it appears under the title 'Kinloch of Kinloch'. According to Jack Campin, the tune 'Kinloch of Kinloch' first appeared in McFadyen's 'Beauties of Melody' in the 18th century.

Kathleen Ferrier made a well known recording of the song, being an arrangement by William Gillies Whittaker.

# Posted on September 16th 2011 by Weejie

Might I add that Whittaker also set the melody in 6/8.

# Posted on September 16th 2011 by Weejie

That's interesting, Weejie. I've a vague recollection of hearing the Ferrier song on the radio, w--a--y back in the 1950s (although they called the radio the "wireless" back then!).

And here it is on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjvHg9cBriw

Listening to it again, it is possible to pick up the 6/8 metre, albeit that Ferrier's "a capella" approach to it departs quite a lot from a fixed time signature.

BTW - how did you know that Whittaker set it in 6/8 - do you possess a copy of the score?

# Posted on September 16th 2011 by Mix O'Lydian

Voila:

http://www.boosey.com/shop/prod/Whittaker-William-Gillies-Blow-The-Wind-Southerly-SATB/2015084

# Posted on September 16th 2011 by Weejie

You'll find some versions on the FARNE website, also on page 183 here:

http://www.archive.org/details/ACollectionOfTheBalladsMelodiesAndSmall-pipeTunesOfNorthumbria

# Posted on September 16th 2011 by Weejie

Merci, Monsieur Weejie!

But I notice that the first link points to a setting of it by Maurice Jacobson - scored in G Maj.

The Ferrier rendition (assuming the accuracy of the YouTube recording) is something approximating to Eb Maj.

# Posted on September 16th 2011 by Mix O'Lydian

Perhaps Kathleen Ferrier was more comfortable with it in Eb. It's the singer's prerogative. Jacobson scored Whittaker's arrangement for SATB - he wouldn't have changed the time signature and still credited Whittaker. Moreover, Ferrier is clearly singing in 6/8 in the verses (the record says "Trad arr Whittaker").

# Posted on September 16th 2011 by Weejie

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/castaway/3de332c9

# Posted on September 16th 2011 by Weejie

Interesting stuff here on pages 177 and 178 (Allan MacDonald):

http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/musicfiles/manuscripts/allanmacdonald/case2.pdf

# Posted on September 16th 2011 by Weejie