Flowers of the Forest online?

Subject: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 12:29 PM

Watching the rape of Lebanon on every news, I feel a sudden need to hear The Flowers of the Forest, the lament for the fallen Scots wiped out by an imperial power in greed for their land.

Is it recorded anywhere that I can hear it online and buy the CD?

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: Stewart
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 12:50 PM

Words and a midi at The Contemplator

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 01:00 PM

Thank you, Stewart.

Unfortunately, a midi's no good to me. With my tin ear, midis don't actually sound like tunes to me. I have to hear the rhythm to hear the tune.

What I'm after is an actual recording of it. Anyone?

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: Stewart
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 02:06 PM

On True Hearted Girl by the Watersons.

S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 02:07 PM

Oh, well done, Stewart! Thank you!

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: Bonecruncher
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 08:25 PM

Flowers of the Foresst is also on "The Book of England" by Strawhead.

Colyn.

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 03:19 PM

Fairport dun a canny version of it too

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 09:36 PM

I thought it was a love song... how many versions are there?

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 03:43 PM

Flowers of the Forest has only 2 'major' versions...one is 'trad', from the early 17th century, but only a couple of verses survived. It was 'finished' by a Miss Alison Rutherford in the mid 1700s, then a less stark and more flowery version was written (or 'adapted) about 1755, by Miss Jane Elliot, and was for awhile was thought 'old',but Burns noted that it didn't ring true.

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 06:42 PM

Not a love song *at all*. In Scotland it's only played at funerals and memorial services.

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: Ferrara
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 07:29 PM

It's a lament for young men killed in war. They are the "flowers of the forest" that have withered away.

Yes, JTT, that is a song for these times.

Joe Hickerson sang it on one of the Golden Ring or New Golden Ring recordings, Folk Legacy has it.

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 08:15 PM

Another recording that should still be available is Ray Fisher's on 'Traditional Songs of Scotland' (1991).

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 08:30 PM

The easiest way to locate an actual recording of anything is to call or E-mail CAMSCO Music.
[e-mail]             or 800/548-FOLK (3655)

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 08:34 PM

The great Scottish singer Kenneth MacKellar sang it. I think the recording is still available. I have it on an lp of his. Jane Elliot version. Lyrics to it and the Cockburn version are given by IanC in thread 54069, 26 Nov. 02:
alphabet quiz

The version in the DT is the one by Elliot.

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: Barry T
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 01:53 AM

JTT...

Here's a better midi, this one having been produced with bagpipe notation software for the tune collection on the Canadian Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums site.

http://www.cscotrpipesanddrums.com/tunes/flowers_of_the_forest.mid

As for many slow airs on the pipes, the interpretation of the notation is largely up to the piper. 'Written as' and 'played as' are two different things. There are even variants of time signature in the pipe notation.

The song version is quite different again. For that I suggest tracking down the version sung by Isla St. Clair on her CD titled 'When the Pipers Play'. It's excellent!

- - - - -

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 08:04 AM

Don't buy the Waterson's "Flower of the forest" (not in general, I love them, but): their flowers of the forest is only marginally related to the one you are looking for. Look for Susanne's recommendation.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: KathWestra
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 01:32 PM

Joe Hickerson's recording is indeed on the Folk Legacy label, but it's on his "Drive Dull Care Away, Volume II" CD. It's a wonderful version of a powerful song! Go to Joe Hickerson CD to order it (and hear a bit of the recording before you do).
Best,
Kathy

Subject: RE: Flowers of the Forest online?
From: andymac
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 04:21 PM

Not only is it not a love song it is also not a song which is a "lament for the fallen Scots wiped out by an imperial power in greed for their land."
I'm afraid the truth is that the Scots in this instance were the aggressors and also somewhat foolishly the pawns in a European power struggle.

James IV (I think, I should check that but the story is the same regardless of which James..) was persuaded to invade England by the French Queen invoking the "Auld Alliance" at a time when the Scots and English were at relative peace; Border reiving in the Debatable Lands nothwithstanding.

The rationale from the French was that England would be too weak to fight a battle on two fronts simultaneously and that the Scots could therefore take the northern (still in parts, semi-Celtic) lands of Northumberland and Cumbria etc

The Scots marched off to battle and were wiped out at Flodden in Northumberland. The French decided not to get involved despite earlier promises of assistance if the "war" became a long one.
Most of the Scots nobility and the king (I'm sure now it was James IV) were killed in battle; and the majority of the Scots footsoldiers were similarly slaughtered, not mercilessly but in fighting.
Poor tactics against a superior force destroyed the Scots.

I am Scots and am proud to be so but on this occasion we were the aggressors not the victims.

andymac (apologies for the long comments but I like to try to get the facts right if possible.)