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[Stig Bubblecard]

Can one of you piping folks name this tune for me? Apologies for any bad musical grammar but I read better than I write & I don't 'do' ABC at all.

Thanks.

Dave

[Steve_freereeder]

The tune is the first part of 'The Rowan Tree'.
It's a slow air (originally Scottish, I think) which I first learned from the playing of Northumbrian piper Richard Butler on a tape cassette 'The Perfect Triangle'. (Saydisc CSDL345).

It's also in the Northumbrian Pipers' Duet Book, with seconds arranged by Forster Charlton.

There are various versions on The Session website here, with discussions.

[Steve_freereeder]

Further to my previous post, here is Richard Butler playing 'The Rowan Tree'. It's the third tune of the set, starting here:
https://youtu.be/cgdysFdnRtY?t=145

[John MacKenzie (Cugiok)]

A song I learned in school, and a lovely song it is.


SJ

[Peadar]

A song I learned in school, and a lovely song it is.


SJ

Can you remember the lyics?

[John MacKenzie (Cugiok)]

Indeed it was one of the songs of Lady Nairne, aka Carolina Oliphant, which book we had when I was a wee laddie.

The Rowan Tree

Oh! Rowan Tree Oh! Rowan Tree!
Thou'lt aye be dear to me,
Entwined thou art wi mony ties,
O' hame and infancy.
Thy leaves were aye the first o' spring,
Thy flow'rs the simmer's pride;
There was nae sic a bonny tree
In a' the countrieside
Oh! Rowan tree!

How fair wert thou in simmer time,
Wi' a' thy clusters white
How rich and gay thy autumn dress,
Wi' berries red and bright.
On thy fair stem were many names,
Which now nae mair I see,
But they're engraven on my heart.
Forgot they ne'er can be!
Oh! Rowan tree!

We sat aneath thy spreading shade,
The bairnies round thee ran,
They pu'd thy bonny berries red,
And necklaces they strang.
My Mother! Oh, I see her still,
She smil'd oor sports to see,
Wi' little Jeanie on her lap,
And Jamie at her knee!
Oh! Rowan tree!

Oh! there arose my Father's pray'r,
In holy evening's calm,
How sweet was then my Mither's voice,
In the Martyr's psalm;
Now a' are gane! we meet nae mair
Aneath the Rowan Tree;
But hallowed thoughts around thee twine
O' hame and infancy.
Oh! Rowan tree!

[Winston Smith]

Did they really have actual printed books all that time ago, when you were a wee'un?

[Peadar]

Thank you Sir John.

[Stig Bubblecard]

Thank you very much Steve for the naming of the tune and the Richard Butler link.

Thanks also to John for the lyrics although I doubt I'll be singing!

Stay safe everyone.

Dave

[Tone Dumb Greg]

Here's a pdf of the whole thing, in a range of keys

[Stig Bubblecard]

Thank you Greg - it would appear that I now have no excuse not to learn it!

I'll be using the 3rd (G) version for the NSP's - sounding in F or thereabouts of course!!

All the best.

Dave

[Roger Howard]

Thank you Greg - it would appear that I now have no excuse not to learn it!

I'll be using the 3rd (G) version for the NSP's - sounding in F or thereabouts of course!!

All the best.

Dave

It’s a classic tune for learning control and loosening the grip of death on NSP. Pauline Cato taught it to me (many years ago) for just that purpose: you play it very slowly, and then slow it down even more. 

[Tone Dumb Greg]

Thank you Greg.

You're welcome. Anything for Mr Dali.

[Peadar]

NSP?

[Theo]

Northumbrian Small Pipes