Flowers of Edinburgh

Flowers of Edinburgh is a traditional fiddle tune of Gaelic lineage, Irish and Scottish. It is also prominent in American fiddle, Canadian fiddle and wherever old time fiddle is cultivated.

History

According to a self-deprecating secondary report in "A Native’s Guide to Edinburgh" By Tom Mc Rae,^[1] "The stench from the loch permeated the old City and probably gave rise to the traditional tune “The Flowers of Edinburgh.” A more neutral perspective suggests that the tune "dates from near 1740, may have been written by Oswald though he didn't claim this." ^[2]

Technical

G Major (one sharp)

Recordings

A few of the many notable recordings of a tune by this name:

• 50 Fiddle Solos by Aly Bain
• Father's Of The Newfoundland Fiddle Volume 1 by Rufus Guinchard
• Fiddle by Cape Breton Symphony
• Irish Folk The Collection Vol.2 by Various Artists
• Jefferson And Liberty by The Itinerant Band
• Rig-a-jig-jig: Dance Music Of The South Of England by Various Artists
• Rogha Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy 2007 by Various Artists
• Shetland Fiddle Music by School Of Scottish Studies, University Of Edinburgh
• Shetland Springs Fae Da Bonnie Isle by Gibbie Hutchison
• Souvenir Of Scotland by Hamish MacGregor And The Blue Bonnets
• Strict Tempo: Scottish Country Dance Music From The 1950's, Volume 1 by Adam Rennie And His Scottish Country Dance Quartet
• The Cat That Ate The Candle by John Carty And Brian McGrath
• The Devils Of Dublin by Celtic Music Society (East Rochester HS)
• The Fiddlesticks Collection by Jerry Holland
• Traditional Irish Fiddle Music by The Kilfenora Fiddle Ceili Band
• Vivacious by Samantha Robichaud

Other names

Blata Duin-Eudain, Knuckle Down, My Love Was Once A Bonnie Lad, My Love's Bonny When She Smiles On Me, To The Battle Men Of Erin, The Weobley Hankie Dance, The Weobley Hanky Dance.^[3]

Bibliographys

• Captain Simon Fraser’s Airs and Melodies Peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland (1816 )

See also

• Scottish fiddle
• Music of Ireland
• Music of Scotland
• Old Time Fiddle

Videographic documentation

• Proper performance Ashley MacIsaac's February 20, 2010 concert in Victoria, with guests Qristina and Quinn Bachand. Also featuring Bryan Skinner on bodhran and Jason King on whistle.
• Sometimes played in D Major.Title: Flowers of Edinburgh & Spootiskerry - Ashley MacIsaac & The Bachands
• Dance tune. Lopez Island 2008

References