Irish "Scotland the Brave"

[Sue]

I've been told that the Irish have a different title, and of course words, to the music of Scotland the Brave . Is this true; and if so, please give me the name of the tune that the Irish might use to the same music. Thanks. Sue

[Seán Donnelly]

Originally Posted by Sue

I've been told that the Irish have a different title, and of course words, to the music of Scotland the Brave . Is this true; and if so, please give me the name of the tune that the Irish might use to the same music. Thanks. Sue

'The Irishman's Toast', Feis Ceoil Collection of Irish Airs vol. I (Dublin, 1914)
http://www.pipers.ie/IMCO/

[Piperalpha]

You may want to stay away from traditional Irish tunes. They often have Catholic or Protestant associations. I've seen pint glasses hurled at a piper's head on more than one occasion for playing an Irish tune. You'd be best to stick with Irish sounding modern tunes as not to ruffle feathers. I played with a band that practiced and often performed in the Irish club. The policy was the politics stay in Ireland. Anyone wanting to do anything traditional had to get approval from the executive board prior to playing it in the club. It saved a lot of headaches.

I don't discourage you from learning them for your own interest but i'd be weary about playing them in public.

[Jimmy the Piper]

Wow. I've never had any problem playing traditional Irish tunes in Twelve years of playing in an Irish pipe band. And an Irish folk band. I think this is the worst advice I've ever read on this forum. She's asking about STB, one of the most requested and well known tunes. If it's got a political lean in Ireland, the general public has no idea. Why would you ever dissuade anyone from any kind of music? BTW, modern 'rebel tunes', if that's what you're alluding to, will cause much more of a rise then tunes like Kelly or Wearing of the Green.

[bob864]

Originally Posted by Seán Donnelly

'The Irishman's Toast', Feis Ceoil Collection of Irish Airs vol. I (Dublin, 1914)
http://www.pipers.ie/IMCO/

That's a really cool website! Thanks. I'm looking forward to looking through some of the older collections, especially the pastoral pipe collection, and some of the collections billed as having Scottish airs.

The fact that they're all transcribed into Scorch is super cool. Just click the play button and listen, or print them out in modern notation.

[Dave Gallagher]

Originally Posted by Piperalpha

You may want to stay away from traditional Irish tunes. They often have Catholic or Protestant associations. I've seen pint glasses hurled at a piper's head on more than one occasion for playing an Irish tune. You'd be best to stick with Irish sounding modern tunes as not to ruffle feathers. I played with a band that practiced and often performed in the Irish club. The policy was the politics stay in Ireland. Anyone wanting to do anything traditional had to get approval from the executive board prior to playing it in the club. It saved a lot of headaches.

I don't discourage you from learning them for your own interest but i'd be weary about playing them in public.

..........I am not so sure about this. There are some tunes I just don't play but that's my choice ans well as the choice of some pipers I know. I myself have never had a problem that I recall in any tune I played in any location, and I play a lot. I play all Irish tunes and no one cares.

[bog-standard]

I just played "Foggy Dew" at a protestant ex-pat club function. Did it on a dare. Worked it into a larger set of non - sectarian tunes. Nobody even blinked at it. Mind you, I'm related to half the people in the room......

I do think there is some caution necessary when playing some material for some audiences. And that isn't just an issue with Irish tunes.

One might give some thought beforehand, as to whom might like to hear the "Massacre of Glencoe" just for an example.

[Dave Gallagher]

Originally Posted by bog-standard

I just played "Foggy Dew" at a protestant ex-pat club function. Did it on a dare. Worked it into a larger set of non - sectarian tunes. Nobody even blinked at it. Mind you, I'm related to half the people in the room......

I do think there is some caution necessary when playing some material for some audiences. And that isn't just an issue with Irish tunes.

One might give some thought beforehand, as to whom might like to hear the "Massacre of Glencoe" just for an example.

... There is a youtube video of the Band of the Irish Guards heading out of Windsor Barracks for the Changing of the Guard. As they march they are playing The Foggy Dew, then go into a Loyalist tune. The Micks have always been like this and nobody cares. It's just Irish music that is inclusive, just like the regiment.

[Sue]

This all makes for an interesting read, but back to my original question. Do the Irish have another name for the same tune we call Scotland the Brave? I just wanted to know, for we're doing an event for the local Irish society and thought it would be interesting to mention the fact that the tune associated obviously with Scotland also has another name in Ireland This wouldn't be the first such tune that has different titles in different places. Sue

[Richard Strayer]

The only time I've been assaulted for playing Irish tunes is when I was wearing Scottish dress.

Yes, the Irish have their own version of "Scotland the Brave" with a completely different name and lyrics. It's called, "Amhrán na bhFiann"