Today my husband and I went to Dartmoor, looking (as usual if you go with him) for plane crash sites from the Second World War. We have looked several times for this one, so were not very hopeful, but after a couple of hours we found it, on the edge of a bog. It was a B17 which crashed on Christmas Day 1943, killing 5 airmen and leaving three survivors. All who died were American. There was a small plaque, right up there in the middle of nowhere, a big hole and lots of small twisted bits of metal. It was incredibly moving.
As I had my Water Weasel in my back pack, I played two slow airs for those who died, and to express my feelings in that lonely place. The airs were “The Lady’s Well” and “Farewell”.
You picked a nice day too, one of the few this awful summer! I always have a harmonica in my pocket and play tunes everywhere I go if I come to a nice view. Usually a bit of Carolan. Eleanor Plunkett is my favourite slow tune, or I play Lord Inchiquin slowly. I always try to play Amazing Grace inside any church I visit.
I suppose I ought to ask you what a water weasel is…
I have visited WWII crash sites in Snowdonia while camping and climbing there and I agree the experience is very moving. Dartmoor I know quite well but did not know about this crash site. Which tor is it on?
Adrian, this crash site is in Tiger’s Marsh, near Sourton, grid ref SX551884.
We have been to several others on Dartmoor, some in the Lake District and in Lancashire and many in Scotland. They are all very moving, in different ways.
Steve - I always have a whistle of some sort with me; on Dartmoor or similar terrain I try to have a fairly indestructible one, in case I fall onto, off or into something! Hence the Water Weasel, although this morning I noticed it has a small crack in it! So many beautiful and awe-inspiring places require a tune or two, I’ve noticed!
It’s worth remembering that if you search for tunes on TheSession there is no slow air category. The tunes will still be there, but under something inane such as waltzes or even reels!
My versions of these came from The Northumbrian Pipers’ Third Tune Book, where they are both written in 6/4 time. I’ve just checked on The Session, and the tunes are the same, but, as Steve so rightly says, here they are in waltz time (3/4). If you “double up” the bars so you are playing in 6/4 it will sound about right. I’m sorry I don’t have either of them on CD, having learnt them from the book. They are nice tunes!
Adrian, if you need further details nearer the time, send me a PM or email. There is another crash site on the other side of the same hill, which you could see while you are there, if it doesn’t take too long to find them!
Lesley
I can only find Waltzes by those names.