Annotation:Chailleach Oidhche
Tune properties and standard notation
CHAILLEACH OIDHCHE. AKA - "An Cailleach Oiche." AKA and see "Miss MacKenzie of Gairloch." Scottish, Strathspey. A Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Athole): AABB' (Kerr). MacDonald identifies his setting as a "Pipe set." Irish, Reel. Caoimhin Mac Aoidh (1994) explains the title directly translates as "The Night Hag" but literally means "The Owl." The usage is derived from the belief that witches (i.e. hag) had the ability to transform themselves into the form of an owl to help conduct their nocturnal business.
Printed sources: Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 33, p. 6. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; p. 6 (appears as "Caillach Oidhche"). Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 35.