DARK ISLAND, THE. Scottish, English; Pipe Air (6/4 time) or Waltz (3/4 time). A Dorian ('A' part) & G Major ('B' part) {Martin}: D Dorian ('A' part) & C Major ('B' part) {Merryweather}: E Dorian ('A' part) & D Major ('B' part) {Johnson}. Standard. One part (Martin): AB (Johnson): AA'B (Merryweather). Composed in 1963 by the late Iain MacLachlan, an accordion player from Creagorry. Various lyrics have been written to the tune, although the first version was by David Silver of Inverness, who was asked to write a song for a BBC TV thriller, "The Dark Island", filmed in Benbecula in 1963. The island was his inspiration for the pensive song. He set his lyrics to MacLachlan's air. Subsequently others wrote lyrics, including ones in Gaelic, "Eilean Dorcha." Johnson (The Kitchen Musician's Occasional: Waltz, Air and Misc.), No. 1, 1991; pg. 2. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), Vol. 1, 1991; pg. 10. Merryweather (Merryweather's Tunes for the English Bagpipe), 1989; pg. 54. Direction, Barde (1977). Rounder 0193, Rodney Miller - "Airplang" (1985). Sampler 8911, Thistledown - "Hills of Lorne" (1989). Topic, "The Clutha: Scots Ballads, Songs & Dance Tunes" (1974). Ryan's Crossing - "Dance Around This One."
X:1
T:Dark Island
M:3/4
L:1/8
K:E Dorian
B2|e3 fe2|d3 ed2|BG3 B2|A4 de|f3 ed2|fa3 A2|f4 a>f|e4 B2|
e3 fe2|d3 ed2|BG3 B2|A4 de|f4 a>f|e4 f>e|d3 e d>c|d2 f2 g2|
a3 AA2|f2 e2 d2|BG3 B2|A4 de|f3 e d2|fa3 A2|f4 a>f|e4 B2|
e3 fe2|d3 ed2|BG3 B2|A4 de|f4 a>f|e4 f>e|d3 e d>c|d4|]
X:2
T:Dark Island
C:Ian Maclachlan
Z:Nigel Gatherer
K:Dmix (one sharp)
M:3/4
L:1/8
S:Various records
E|A3 E A2|G3 A G2|E3 D C2|D4 GA|B3 A G2|B d3 D2|B3 d B2|A4 DE|
A3 E A2|G3 A G2|E3 D C2|D4 GA|B3 DdB|A3 DBA|G6|G4|]
Bc|d3 D D2|B3 A G2|E C3 E2|D4 GA|B3 A G2|B d3 D2|B3 d B2|A4 DE|
A3 E A2|G3 A G2|E3 D C2|D4 GA|B3 DdB|A3 DBA|G6|G4|]
HILLS OF LORNE, THE. Scottish, Slow Air (4/4 time). D Major. Standard. AB. James Hunter (1979) notes: "A well-loved air by the late Charlie Hunter of Oban, a radio operator on the MacBrayne steamers which ply the west-coast routes." Hunter (Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 17. A & M Records 79602 2000-2, Ashley MacIsaac - "Close to the Floor" (1992). Lochshore Records, Archie McAllister and Ross Kennedy - "The White Swan."
T:The Hills of Lorne
R:Slow air
N:from Richard Robinson's Tunebook
O:Scotland
M:4/4
K:D
FE|D2FG A2d2|f3e d2A2|B3d A2F2|E2GF E2FE|\
D2FG A2d2|f3e d2A2|B2gB A2c2|1 d6 FE :|2 d6 ag ||
f2ed B2cd|A3F A2ag|f2ed A2df|e6 fe|\
d2ef A2dc|B2d2 g2ag|f2ed A2c2|1 d6 ag :|2 d6 FE ||
NUPTIAL KNOT, THE (Snaim a' phosaidh). Scottish, Jig. E Minor ('A' part) & D Major ('B' part). Standard. AAB. This tune "is an attempt of the editor, in the style of the Irish; and he mentions this, not for any merit it possess, but because it might be claimed as Irish, unless traced to its source" (Fraser)./ See also Bayard's (1944) note for his untitled Pennsylvania "Quadrille," No. 46, which he identifies as a version of this tune. He further identifies a number of tunes in this family, including "Three Little Drummers," "Spirits of Whiskey," and "Humors of Listivain." Fraser (The Airs and Melodies Peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland and the Isles), 1874; No. 156, pg. 63. Neil (The Scots Fiddle), 1991; No. 139, pg. 179. Thistledown - "Hills of Lorne." Paddy O'Brien - "The Paddy O'Brien Collection."
T:Nuptial Knot, The
T:Snaim a'phòsaidh
L:1/8
M:6/8
S:Fraser Collection
K:G
d|:BGE EFE|AFD DFA|BGE EGE|FGF d3|BGE EGE|AFD DFA|
d^cB cBA|BAF d2:|
d2B BdB|^c2A AcA|d2B BdB|dBd e2f|d2B BdB|A2F FGF|BGE EGE|
FGF d3|d2B BdB|^c2A AcA|d2B BdB|dBd efg|agf gfe|fed ed^c|
D^cB cBA|BAF d3||