"Brian Boru's March" in "Last of the Mohicans

Irish Flute
1

All,

Just curious if I’m the only one that thinks that song is in the movie ‘Last of the Mohicans’. I got Walton’s slow airs the other day and was listening to the tracks when that one came on, track 12, and I immediately thought of the movie. The wife did too. :slight_smile:

Just wondering…

Tony

2

The tune you’re thinking of is a contemporary tune called “The Gael” composed by Scottish fiddler, Dougie MacLean. It’s performed by fellow Scottish fiddler, Alasdair Fraser.

Cheers,
Aaron

3

The tune is here http://www.mohicanpress.com/mo03000.html
and I now what you mean.

John S

4

So that’s what it’s called… I could never find a transcription for it. We play that at our session, followed by the Tam Lin. The tension the Gael creates is almost unbearable - we repeat it twice, and if you look at the fiddlers during the last time around, you can see them literally shivering in anticipation - like the feeling when you’re out riding on the beach and you’re turning round to go back; the horses can smell home, but you’re still holding them in as their muscles tense up and then you give the faintest hint of permission aaaaand WHOOOSH! It’s the Glasgow/Tamlin first outta the gate! EEeeeeeeeoooowww. Whole herd of frigging wild horses thundering along the Camargue.

Sort of thing.

Phew. Just thinking about that set gets me all thirsty.

5

According to Walton’s 110 Ireland’s Best Slow Airs: Song 12 Brian Boru’s March - “After the Battle of Clontarf (Good Friday 1014) in which the army of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland defeated the Vikings, Brian’s corpse was brought to Armagh for burial. This plaintive tune commemorates that sad journey.” So it seems to have the same energy as ‘The Gael’.

Anyway, thanks everyone. I thought they sounded familiar.

Cheers,
Tony

6

“The Gael” is published in a great book of contemporary Scottish tunes called “The Nineties Collection.” Because they’re modern and Scottish a fair number of the tunes sit better on box and fiddle but over all it’s a great book. There are two CDs of tunes from the book being performed by stalwarts of Scottish traditional music (Ian Hardie, Freeland Barbour and others).

Cheers,
Aaron