Issue 3568: Composer of "The Banks of Sicily"
- Object
- Vocal Selection: Warren Beesley (Recording)
- Submitter
- Finlay Forbes
- Assigned to
- Murrough Landon
- Priority
- Normal
- Disposition
- Fixed
- Description
-
The tune for this song is “Farewell to the Creeks” composed by Pipe Major J.B. “Robbie” Robertson who hailed from Portsoy (although the song uses only three of Robertson’s four measures). Hamish Henderson wrote the words, which were originally in Doric but have been heavily (and not always tastefully) Anglicised by assorted folk singers from aroung the world.
The tune appears in “The Cowal Collection” of bagpipe music with Robetson as the Composer.
The Creeks in question are the Creeks of Portknockie in what is now Moray although in Robertson’s day they were in the old county of Banffshire.
Previous Actions
- Date June 13, 2024, 6:22 p.m.
- User Unknown
New issue submitted
- Date June 16, 2024, 8:32 p.m.
- User Murrough Landon (murrough)
Assigned changed to “murrough” (previously “None”)
Disposition changed to “Needs help” (previously “New”)
Thanks for all the information. I will update the composer and extra info…
But when I looked to see if SCDDB already had an entry for J.B. “Robbie” Robertson of course I found a very large number of Robertsons.
I guess most likely one is James Blair Robertson (https://my.strathspey.org/dd/person/1795/) who is described as a pipe major. Is he the one? (Please reply via the link at the bottom of the email to update this issue, thanks).
NB there is also an entry just called “Robertson” (https://my.strathspey.org/dd/person/1927/) with three tunes. Any expert help in identifying which Robertson(s) they might better be assigned to would be welcome.
- Date June 17, 2024, 10:57 a.m.
- User Murrough Landon (murrough)
Disposition changed to “Fixed” (previously “Needs help”)
NB continued in issue 3569 (https://my.strathspey.org/dd/issue/3569/).