Isle of Skye

SKU: MB.30963

ISBN 9781513468204. 8.75x11.75 inches.

This exceptional collection of 41 truly beautiful airs and ballads from the British Isles offers both well-known tunes by the prolific blind Irish harpist, Turlough O�??Carolan and rarely heard melodies by anonymous composers; all have stood the test of time. Arranged for soprano or tenor recorder, these include O�??Carolan�??s classically influenced �??Lord Inchiquin�?� and �??Eleanor Plunkett�?� as well as �??O Gentle Dove�?� and �??Cuckoo Dear�?��?? both examples of the strong tradition of song in Wales. Among other tunes, the haunting modal melodies of �??The Dark Slender Boy�?� and �??Enchanted Valley�?� express the melancholic heart and soul of the British Isles.

A few of these songs have taken on a life of their own in modern times. �??Bonny at Morn�?�, a popular traditional tune of northern England and Scotland, was arranged for soprano voice and harp by the 20th century British composer, Benjamin Britten. �??The Skye Boat Song�?� originally recounted Bonnie Prince Charles Edward Stuart�??s journey to the Isle of Skye after his defeat at the historic Battle of Culloden. Later, the song evolved into a lilting lullaby and was more recently used as the theme song for the popular Outlander television series.

Departing slightly from recorder notation practice, author Marcia Diehl has judiciously arranged these melodies complete with spare slur markings to aid the amateur player in authentically and musically rendering these tunes.

SKU: XC.HSO2003FS

UPC: 812598034264. 9 x 12 inches.

History says Bonnie Prince Charlie escaped by boat to Scotland’s Skye island after the defeat of the Jacobite uprising at the infamous battle of Culloden. Composer Michael J. Miller’s Isle of Skye, a setting of The Skye Boat Song, recalls the strength and honor of Scottish highland culture. Lush scoring, warm harmonies, and tuneful melodies abound, making this a perfect lyrical selection for your next concert!

SKU: CF.FAS39

ISBN 9780825863301. UPC: 798408063306. 8.5 X 11 inches. Key: D major.

Virginia Croft's experience as a string player and educator is evident in the care with which she has scored this beautiful folk tune idiomatically for young string players. Relatively easy to play, Skye Boat Song is a great opportunity to develop lyrical playing habits with a developing string group.
Here is a very playable setting of a beautiful Scottish folk song. It commemorates one of the most exciting moments in Scottish history in the middle of the eighteenth century during the Jacobite Rebellion. At this time, a small group of men escaped by night in a tiny boat across the rough sea to the Isle of Skye to save the life of the young lad whom they believed to be the rightful heir to the throne of Scotland.As you play this music, can't you feel the boat rocking and the oarsmen straining at their posts against the sea? The long diminuendo from m. 51 to the end passes the final melodic fragment down through the voices until the small boat has vanished into the distance, leaving only the water.The words of the original folk song are:Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wind;Hark, how the seagulls cray!Carry the lad that was born to be kindOver the sea to Skye!.