hey guys, I’m trying to find the sheet music for a few tunes. I have already checked JC’s Tune Finder and The Session and can’t find them there. The tunes I am searching for are:
Pirrie Wirrie
Humours of Andytown
Glory Reel
Big John’s
Island Angel
Oh, if it helps these tunes are from Altan’s CD Island Angel. Any help would be great.
Thanks!
Caryn
I did one Google search for “Glory Road” (using quotation marks) and on the first page I found this link, with printable sheet music and ABC notation.
http://www.irishtunes.net/reels/gloryreel.html
Go Google! See also the new spin-off “Froogle” site for price comparison on just about anything available via the Internet.
M
(edited for clarity)
Marguerite
Gettysburg
[ This Message was edited by: mvhplank on 2003-01-01 19:30 ]
Macpherson who, in1700,played a tune of his own composing [still known as Macpherson’s rant] at the foot of the gallows on which he was hanged and smashed his fiddle because no one would accept it.
Anybody heard of this tune?
Stacey
On 2003-01-01 21:07, wizzy wrote:
Macpherson who, in1700,played a tune of his own composing [still known as Macpherson’s rant] at the foot of the gallows on which he was hanged and smashed his fiddle because no one would accept it.
Anybody heard of this tune?
Stacey
I dimly remember hearing that story on the Thistle & Shamrock radio show. If you go to the web site you might find something in the archives (or find someone to ask!)
http://www.npr.org/programs/thistle/
M
Thanks,Marguerite
couldn’t find nowt, but mabe try again when I’ve more time.
:roll:
Stacey
There seems to be lyrics here:
http://www.thetownpants.com/ml.htm
and more here: http://mysongbook.de/msb/songs/m/macphers.html
If you do a search via http://www.Google.com and look for “macpherson fiddle hanged” (without the quotes) you’ll get about 250 hits.
Need anything else? 
M
Great song even better story.
What a star you are.
All I need is the music now and I’ve cracked it.
Stacey
[ This Message was edited by: wizzy on 2003-01-01 22:08 ]
Old Blind Dogs recorded it on Close to the Bone. Great song.
Here’s another page for McPhereson’s Rant (or Lament) with a MIDI. Hanging seems to be a popular topic for traditional tunes. There’s Reel de Pendu, aka Hangman’s. There are a couple others in the American tradition too but I can’t think of them now.
http://uk.geocities.com/GeoffW27/Music/Lyrics/MacphersonsRant.html
Steve
On 2003-01-01 18:06, LKtz wrote:
[snip]
Pirrie Wirrie
Humours of Andytown
Glory Reel
Big John’s
Island Angel
Caryn,
Did you find the rest of your tunes?
M
My understanding was the soon to be late Mr. Macpherson smashed his fiddle because he didn’t WANT anyone else to have it.
I’ve also heard the title as “MacPherson’s Farewell.”
There are different versions of the story:
“When brought to the place of execution, on the Gallows Hill of Banff (16th November), the bold outlaw played on his violin the stirring tune he had so recently composed in the condemned cell, and then asked if any friend was present who would accept the instrument as a gift at his hand. No one coming forward, he indignantly broke the violin on his knee, and threw away the fragments, after which he submitted to his fate.” versus “Sir Walter Scott says that he offered the violin to any of his clan who would undertake to play the tune over his body at his lykewake, and none answering, he dashed it to pieces on the executioner’s head, and flung himself from the ladder.”
Bits of it are supposed to be in the Macpherson clan collection, I will have to pop in and take a deek.
