Key signature: Adorian
Submitted on March 21st 2004 by errik.
This tune has been added to 86 tunebooks.
Also known as The Highland Watch's Farewell To Ireland, Highland's Farewell To Ireland, Highlander's Farewell To Erin, Highlanders Farewell To Ireland.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Highlander's Farewell To Ireland, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: strathspey
K: Ador
A,2 A,>B, A,/A,/A, E>F|G>ED<B, G,/G,/G, D<G|\
E>DE<G A>BA>G|E<GD<B, A,2 (3A,A,B,|
A,>A,A,>B, A,2 (3EEF|G>ED<B, G,/G,/G, D<G|\
E>DE<G A>BA>G|E<GD<B, A,2 A,||
|:E|A>BA>E A>BA>E|G>AG>E D/C/B,/A,/ G,>G|\
E>DE<G A>BA>G|E<GD<B, A,2 A,:|
B|A2 A>B A2 e>f|g>ed<B G2 e<g|\
e>de<g a>ba>g|e<gd<B A2 (3ABB|
A>AA>B A2 (3eef|g>ed<B G2 e<g|\
e>de<g a>ba>g|e<gd<B A2 A||
|:e|a>ba>e a>ba>e|g>ag>e d/c/B/A/ G>g|\
e>de<g a>ba>g|e<gd<B A2 A:|
|:D|E>A, A,/A,/A, E>DE<G|B,>G, G,/G,/G, B,>A,B,<D|\
E>A, A,/A,/A, E<DE<A|G<ED<B, A,2 z:|
z|e<aa>g a>ba>e|g<be<g d>gB<G|e<aa>g a>ba>e|d<eg>B A/A/A A>B|
e<aa>g a>ba>e|g<be<g d>gB<G|c<Ad>B e<Ag>e|a>eg<B A2 A|]
One of my favorite tunes... This is from cranfordpub.com:
"Natalie's multi part version (6 parts plus octave variations) of The Highlander's Farewell to Ireland appeared in the late 1770s in both Robert Ross and Alexander McGlashan's Collections. A similar setting was recorded on 78 disc by Cape Breton fiddler Bill Lamey. The basic two part setting is also popular and is found in the Skye Collection. The four part setting in the Athole Collection was the inspiration for the popular Irish reel Farewell To Ireland."
# Posted on March 21st 2004 by errik
A Virginia connection
A favorite of mine as well. Actually, I first came by it on an old field recording of an elderly fiddler from Galax, Virginia by the name of Emmett Lundy. Lundy refered to it simply as
"Highlander's Farewell" and it was actually sometime before I realized its relationship to "H.'s Farewell to Ireland" (I know--a big leap ain't it?). Regardless, Lundy's variant is really more closely related to the version presented in the Gow Collection. Still, his is very distinct. He actually plays it as a reel, is heavy on the double stops, and incorporates some fairly complicated syncopation on the A part. In fact, I believe he plays it in the key of F--which makes for some Very interesting harmonies! Today, however, most "old-time" musicians play it in A. (I'm suspicious, however, that, while this may be truer to the melody's Scottish origins, it may simply be a product of the fact that most "old-time" musicians are uncomfortable in keys other than A D G.) Also on the recording, Lundy tells a little story traditionally associated with the tune--at least in Virginia. He relates, "This piece was composed in the old country, where they had war in Scotland. And when the Highlanders took their departure from the Lowlands. A Highlander had a sweetheart in the Lowlands, and they just give him so long for to bid her farewell; and the low part of this represents the man and the high part, the lady."
# Posted on March 20th 2005 by gille ruadh
A favourite of mine too
While I don't know that many... this is my favourite strathspey. I came across it recently in a Green Linnet compilation double CD called "Ceilidh", tonnes of great stuff on there. The version here is by John Cunningham and his playing seems to give me a sense of the Highlander's sorrow(?) at leaving Ireland - Anyway, that's what I take from the tune, amonghst other emotions.
It's a bit of a race to keep up with JC on the blues harp
.
# Posted on April 5th 2005 by Brown Creeper