Tune Title Enquiry. Scairlaveg

Subject: Tune Title Enquiry. Scairlaveg
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 07:40 AM

On Topic's Ranting and Reeling CD; Vol 19 of Voice of the People, there is a set of marches played by the Shepherds; Willy Taylor,Joe Hutton and Will Atkinson. It includes a tune called The Scairlaveg.

Does anybody know what a scairleg is ?

Thanks. And please, no daft answers.

Subject: RE: Tune Title Enquiry. Scairlaveg
From: PMB
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 07:52 AM

Veg is a mutation of beg, i.e. little. No idea about the other bit, but it sounds like a placename to me, or perhaps a dialect variation of scallywag.

Subject: RE: Tune Title Enquiry. Scairlaveg
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 10:13 AM

Interesting pair, but since the Shepherds were from Northumbria, I doubt beg would figure. Scallywag sounds a lot more enticing though, but the word has a distinctly Scandanavian ring to my ears.

And of course where I wrote Scairleg it should have been Scairlaveg.

Thanks,

Fred.

Subject: RE: Tune Title Enquiry. Scairlaveg
From: PMB
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 11:10 AM

A lot of Scottish tunes were (are) played by Northumbrian musicians. Sgair is a sea- rock, or skerry, perhaps this is the first bit of the placename.