The Fairy Flag

[phinson]

Hi everybody,

Question about the tune "The Fairy Flag". It appears in two sources that I know of...volume 1 of Angus MacKay's manuscript and p. 245 of Thomason's Ceol Mor. Does anyone know if there are differences in the two scores? The reason I ask is that I have a recording of the ground and 1st variation tune by John MacFadyen (old LP called "Music of Dunvegan") as well as a copy of the Ceol Mor score. Just comparing the score with the recording, there are some differences. I've tried to put the two first lines in canntaireachd below. I've used capital letters to try and indicate the rhythms.

Ceol Mor, line 1 of ground, Fairy Flag
hinDo hinE hioDro Cherede Chea (3 times)
himTo himA hioDro Hiharara Hao
hinDo hinE hioDro Cherede Chea
himDo himDo hinTro Hiharin Dan

John MacFadyen, line 1 of ground, Fairy Flag
Hindo hinE hioDro Cherede Chea
Himto himA hinTro Hiharara Hao
Hindo hinE hioDro Cherede Chea
Himto himA hioTro Hiharara Hao
Hindo hinE hioDro Cherede Chea
Himdo himA hinTro Hiharin Dan

Paul Hinson

[Adam Sanderson]

Hi Paul,
I believe that you have already answered your own question.
The tune is also contained in David Glen's ms, and it can be accessed on Jim McGillivray's site here.

I've not heard this tune at all, you are fortunate having that John MacFadyen LP.

[phinson]

I guess I should have written out the score. The difference between what MacFadyen plays and what is written out is that MacFadyen holds the low As and low Gs at the start of their respective phrases instead of cutting up to the Cs or Bs. Then he alternates the two phrases through line one instead of playing the first phrase 3times as both written sources show.

Evidently the recording was made at the Silver Chanter event at Dunvegan Castle. The recording is only the ground and first variation.

Paul