Annotation:Fingal's Cave (2)

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FINGAL'S CAVE [2] (Gul Fhin). AKA and see "Cuilfhionn," "Fingal's Weeping." Scottish, Canadian; Air or March (2/4 time, slow). Canada, Cape Breton. A Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Kerr, Lerwick, Martin): AB'B' (Morison). A popular Highland pipe tune that has been set variously as a hornpipe, march, quickstep,and slow air, though perhaps most popular in its march setting. Fingal, or Fionn Mac Cumhaill [1], is a mythic Scottish and Irish hero, who, like King Arthur, is said not to be dead at all, rather, he sleeps in a cave, surrounded by his followers the Fianna. One day he will awake and defend Ireland in the hour of her greatest need. In 1762 writer James MacPherson published his 'translated' six volume poem of Fingal by his son Ossian, although he failed to substantiate his claim that he used original texts. Despite criticism, his work was hugely popular and helped to usher in the romantic era in Europe.

Neil Munro published a popular poem entitled "Fingal's Weeping" in 1917 in the periodical Blackwood's Magazine The first stanza begins:

Because they were so brave and young
Who now are sleeping,
His old heart wrung, his harp unstrung,
Fingal's a-weeping.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: William Gunn (The Caledonian Repository of Music Adapted for the Bagpipes), Glasgow, 1848; p. 94. Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 1), c. 1880; No. 17, p. 48. Lerwick (The Kilted Fiddler), 1985; p. 62. Martin (Traditional Scottish Fiddling), 2002; p. 74. Morison (Highland Airs and Quicksteps, vol. 1), c. 1882; No. 26, p. 13.

Recorded sources: BM-91, Buddy MacMaster - "Glencoe Hall." Shanachie SHAN-79017, John & Phil Cunningham - "Against the Storm" (1980).

See also listing at:
Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings Index [2]
See Paul Cranford's standard notation of Buddy MacMaster's version [3]

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