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Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway

25 Nov 98 - 07:30 PM (#46813)
Subject: MUS ADD: Gallowa' Hills
From: John in Brisbane

Tune missing from the DT:

Regards
John


Click to Play


ABC format:

X:1
T:Gallowa' Hills
M:2/4
Q:1/4=117
K:F
G6E2|C6D2|E4E2F2|G4c3c|G6E2|F4D2B,2|B,4D2E2|
F4B2A2|G8|-G4GE3|C6D2|E6F2|G4c4|G4G2C2|F3EF2A2|
G6E2|D6C2|C8|-C4E3F|G3Gc4|G6G2|GG3c4|G6E2|
F4D4|B,4D4|F4B2A2|G8|-G4GE3|C6D2|E4F4|G4c4|
G4DC3|F3EF2A2|G6E2|D4C4|C8|-C3||


14 May 09 - 10:14 AM (#2631642)
Subject: ADD: The Braes of Galloway
From: Jack Campin

This was new to me. Seems to be the original of "The Gallowa Hills".

From Charles Rogers, "The Scottish Minstrel", 1870.

The Braes of Galloway
(William Nicholson, 1782-1849)
[Tune: "White Cockade"]

O lassie, wilt thou gang wi' me,
And leave thy frien's i' th' south countrie-
Thy former frien's and sweethearts a',
And gang wi' me to Gallowa'?

   O Gallowa' braes they wave wi' broom,
   And heather-bells in bonnie bloom;
   There's lordly seats, and livin's braw,
   Amang the braes o' Gallowa'!

There's stately woods on mony a brae,
Where burns and birds in concert play;
The waukrife echo answers a',
Amang the braes o' Gallowa'.

The simmer shiel I'll build for thee
Alang the bonnie banks o' Dee,
Half circlin' roun' my father's ha',
Amang the braes o' Gallowa'.

When autumn waves her flowin' horn,
And fields o' gowden grain are shorn,
I'll busk thee fine, in pearlins braw,
To join the dance in Gallowa'.

At e'en, whan darkness shrouds the sight,
And lanely, langsome is the night,
Wi' tentie care my pipes I'll thraw,
Play "A' the way to Gallowa'."

Should fickle fortune on us frown,
Nae lack o' gear our love should drown;
Content should shield our haddin' sma',
Amang the braes o' Gallowa'.

   Come while the blossom's on the broom,
   And heather bells sae bonnie bloom;
   Come let us be the happiest twa
   On a' the braes o' Gallowa'!

The modern tune, though, is a variant of the pipe march "Campbell's Farewell to Redcastle". I wonder how that happened?


14 May 09 - 06:36 PM (#2632050)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: Joe Offer

The tune for "Gallowa Hills" that's in the Digital Tradition and in John's post above, is certainly not either version of "The White Cockade" that we have. Does anybody know the name of this tune? I like it a lot. Ray Fisher and Jean Redpath did wonderful recordings of "Gallowa Hills," using this tune (click).

Click here for the Robert Burns "White Cockade."
Click here for "White Cockade (They Advanced Me)."

-Joe-


14 May 09 - 07:08 PM (#2632063)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: Jack Campin

The tune John posted is close to the one usually sung these days for "The Hills o Gallowa", i..e. it's a version of "Campbell's Farewell". The MIDI and the ABC aren't quite the same.

I'd assumed that the tune was first used for that song and that Campbell's Farewell was the adaptation, but maybe it was the other way round.


14 May 09 - 08:05 PM (#2632098)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: Joe Offer

Hmmm. I haven't compared the ABC and MIDI. They came from the same source, so they should have been the same.
"The Braes of Galloway" can be found in The Harp of Caledonia (1821). Also in Tales in Verse (1828) by William Nicholson himself.
-Joe-


14 May 09 - 08:17 PM (#2632105)
Subject: ADD Version: The Gallowa' Hills^^^
From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie

THE GALLOWA' HILLS^^^

For I'll tak' my plaidie, contentit tae be,
A wee bit kiltit abuin my knee,
An' I'll gie my pipes anither blaw
An' I'll gang oot o'er the hills tae Gallowa'.

Oh the Gallowa' Hills are covered wi' broom,
Wi' heather bells an' bonny doon;
Wi' heather bells an' riveries a',
An' I'll gang oot o'er the hills tae Gallowa'.

For say bonnie lassie, it's will ye come wi' me
Tae share your lot in a strange country,
Tae share your lot when doon fa's a',
An' I'll gang oot o'er the hills tae Gallowa'.

For I will sell my rock, I'll sell my reel,
I'll sell my Grannie's spinnin' wheel,
I will sell them a' when doon fa's a',
An' I'll gang oot o'er the hills tae Gallowa'.

As sung by Jeannie Robertson on Collector EP JES 1, "The Gallowa' Hills".

The notes to Jeannie's Lismore LP LIFL 7001 "Up the Dee an doon the Don" (which I assume were writtem by Hamish Henderson) state "Now world famous, because Jeannie's singing carried it far and wide, this song is a variant of one composed by Willie Nicholson, a gangrel musician who roamed the Galloway braes in the early years of the 19th century, blowing the Lowland (or "caul' wind") pipes. Willie's composition has in it the elements of an older Jacobite song."


14 May 09 - 08:23 PM (#2632110)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: Joe Offer

Hi, Dave-
I'm going to mark your post with the redundant, triple-winged harvesting birdie because it's so close to the Ray Fisher version already in the Digital Tradition, but I think it's good that you posted the Jeannie Robertson version.
-Joe Offer-


15 May 09 - 08:13 AM (#2632434)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: GUEST,leeneia

"Does anybody know the name of this tune?"

Hi, Joe. The tune you asked about is a member of the Campbell's Farewell Supergroup.

I've seen this tune in a harp book as 'Campbell's Farewell - Scottish.' I've seen it in the Fiddler's Fakebook as 'Campbell's Farewell to Red Gap - Old Time.' Above, Jack Campin refers to it as a pipe tune, 'Campbell's Farewell to Red Castle.'

I play it on the piano. It's an interesting tune because it's in the key of D yet has no D chord in the accompaniment. No Bm, either. I would say that most of it is in the Mixolydian mode.

Now I'm going to submit John in Brisbane's ABC to the Tune-o-tron, master his version, and see how it sounds on the dulcimer.


15 May 09 - 08:19 PM (#2632961)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie

As far as I know, Ray Fisher and practically everybody else of her and my generation learnned it off Jeannie.


17 May 09 - 03:07 PM (#2634049)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: GUEST,leeneia

Does anybody else here play any form of Campbell's Farewell? I'd be interested in knowing what other versions there are.


17 May 09 - 05:17 PM (#2634155)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: Jack Campin

I play the pipe march version of "Campbell's Farewell to Redcastle", pretty much as the Scots Guards book has it - it's a very common session tune in Scotland. The Cabar Feidh pipe collection (Queen's Own Highlanders) has The Galloway Hills as a slow march, almost the same as the usual version of the song. No composer is named for either.

The castle at Redcastle (near Beauly in north-east Scotland) has been derelict for about 200 years, but I think they used to hold a piping competition there in the late 19th century, and I vaguely remember the tune relates to a celebrated piper of the time who competed there. There is also a 6/8 march "Redcastle" which is completely unrelated to "Campbell's Farewell".


19 May 09 - 12:49 AM (#2635403)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: GUEST,leeneia

Thanks for the info, Jack.

I've visited Beauly, but I didn't see the red castle. As this page shows, little remains of it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/whereilive/coast/stages.shtml?walk=perthandtayside&stage=7

It would be interesting to watch the birds there, but I'd advise against standing near that left edge. It looks ready to come down any day.


22 Jan 12 - 02:45 PM (#3294606)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: GUEST

I live in Galloway now, but learnt the song ( similar to Ray Fisher's version) from John Stewart, brother of 'old' Davie Stewart, much recorded and wonderful Scots street singer & busker. John lived in Cotton Street in Aberdeen when I met him (1968/9?) but he had some great songs


22 Jan 12 - 08:14 PM (#3294736)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: Ross Campbell

The Red Castle that Leeneia linked to is in Angus, on the east coast.

Redcastle near Beauly, Ross-shire (scroll down for pics, as it was in 1950, and in ruins in 1995 [and presumably now])


07 Feb 20 - 10:55 PM (#4032891)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: GUEST,Will Gillies

I'm ni much knowledgeable on folk music but I first heard this song in a recording of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band from Detroit, 30th of November 1975. Alex would sing it, and some of the lyrics had changed, but in essence, they were the same. He would sing it with a PIPER next to him. This was at a rock and roll concert and it was slightly a slower, more melancholy tempo than the other versions, perhaps to show the sadness in the meaning of the song of a man leaving his homeland to start a new life in a far off land. America, maybe Canada. Anyway, thought I'd share the anecdote, thanks for your time, folks, have a grand day.


09 Feb 20 - 05:36 AM (#4033132)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: Tattie Bogle

Re Leeneia's comment if over 10 years ago about the key for "Campbell's Farewell to Redcastle" it is usually written in A mixolydian: this only has 2 sharps in the scale, as the Gs are all naturals.
So this then becomes a bone of contention as to how you write the key signature, and has oft been argued about!
1. Pipers do not usually use any accidentals in their scores.
2. Classically trained musicians would probably use an A major key sig of 3 sharps, and then write natural signs in front of all the Gs in the tune.
3. Trad musicians often use a 2 sharp key sig, which might lead your classical musician to think the tune is in D maj or B min (maybe what you saw Leeneia?) Trad musicians may prefer this as it helps them to decde which whistle or moothie works best for that scale/tune.
4. Compromise situation: key sig shows F and C sharps and G natural!
Btw Redcastle is all one word.


01 Nov 23 - 06:31 AM (#4184981)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: GUEST,Rory

The Braes of Galloway, by William Nicholson, published in the first edition of his 'Tales, in verse, and miscellaneous poems: descriptive of rural life and manners', 1814, pp.220-222.

Tales in verse (1814)


01 Nov 23 - 06:31 AM (#4191425)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: GUEST,Rory

The Braes of Galloway, by William Nicholson, published in the first edition of his 'Tales, in verse, and miscellaneous poems: descriptive of rural life and manners', 1814, pp.220-222.

Tales in verse (1814)


01 Nov 23 - 06:43 AM (#4191426)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: GUEST,Rory

Recording

Song: The Braes of Galloway
Artist: Jo Miller & Robyn Stapleton
Album: A' the way to Galloway (2023)

The Braes of Galloway


Oh lassie wilt thou gang wi me
And leave thy friens i the sooth countrie
Thy former friens and sweethearts a’
An gang wi me tae Gallowa?
Oh Gallowa braes they wave wi broom
An heather bells in bonnie bloom
There’s lordly seats an livins braw
Amang the braes o Gallowa

There’s stately wuids on mony a brae
Where burns and birds in concert play
An the waukrife echo answers a’
Amang the braes o Gallowa

The simmer shiel I’ll build for thee
Alang the bonnie banks o Dee
Half circlin roun my faither’s ha
Amang the braes o Gallowa

When Autumn waves her flowin horn
And fields o gowden grain are shorn
I’ll busk thee in fine pearlins braw
Tae join the dance in Gallowa

At e’en when darkness shrouds the sight
And lanely, langsome is the night
Wi tentie care my pipes I’ll thraw
Play “A’ the way to Gallowa

Should fickle fortune on us frown
Nae lack o gear our love should drown
Content should shield oor haudin sma
Amang the braes o Gallowa
Come, while the blossom’s on the broom
And heather bells sae bonnie bloom
Come, let us be the happiest twa
On a’ the braes o Gallowa


01 Nov 23 - 06:43 AM (#4184983)
Subject: RE: Origins: The Gallowa Hills/The Braes of Galloway
From: GUEST,Rory

Recording

Song: The Braes of Galloway
Artist: Jo Miller & Robyn Stapleton
Album: A' the way to Galloway (2023)

The Braes of Galloway


Oh lassie wilt thou gang wi me
And leave thy friens i the sooth countrie
Thy former friens and sweethearts a’
An gang wi me tae Gallowa?
Oh Gallowa braes they wave wi broom
An heather bells in bonnie bloom
There’s lordly seats an livins braw
Amang the braes o Gallowa

There’s stately wuids on mony a brae
Where burns and birds in concert play
An the waukrife echo answers a’
Amang the braes o Gallowa

The simmer shiel I’ll build for thee
Alang the bonnie banks o Dee
Half circlin roun my faither’s ha
Amang the braes o Gallowa

When Autumn waves her flowin horn
And fields o gowden grain are shorn
I’ll busk thee in fine pearlins braw
Tae join the dance in Gallowa

At e’en when darkness shrouds the sight
And lanely, langsome is the night
Wi tentie care my pipes I’ll thraw
Play “A’ the way to Gallowa

Should fickle fortune on us frown
Nae lack o gear our love should drown
Content should shield oor haudin sma
Amang the braes o Gallowa
Come, while the blossom’s on the broom
And heather bells sae bonnie bloom
Come, let us be the happiest twa
On a’ the braes o Gallowa