Belted Plaid and Health to Wear It (The)
BELTED PLAID AND HEALTH TO WEAR IT, THE (Am breacan ur gum meal thu e). Scottish, Reel. E Major/Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Athole): AABB (Fraser). "The following medley so properly belongs to this work that after completing his Index, the Editor cannot resist adjecting it, having been composed on the following occasion._ Lord Lovat spent the last sic Months previous to his being apprehended chiefly in the House of Thomas Fraser, Esq., of Gorthleck, the editor's maternal Grandfather, where he had his only interview with Prince Charles after his defeat, and not at Castleduny as mentioned in the Culloden Papers._ His residence there or elsewhere rendered the Place for the time the Focus of the Rebellion, and brought a concourse of Visitors, of all descriptions friendly to the cause, but chiefly, men of the best talents and address, not likely to commit themselves if intercepted._ These, who were of course entertained according to the manner of the times, naturally joined in narrative and Song, and this considerably added to the many opportunities which the original Compiler of the Melodies had, of hearing and acquiring them, being a daily Visitor, not a Mile distant._ And independent of Recitation from men of this stamp, he had the advantage of hearing many of the Airs, for Lord Lovats attendant Minstrel and Bard, who was the Composer of the following, complimentary of Old Gorthlecks appearence, on some of these occasions, in a new belted Plaid, whereupon the Minstrel claimed the old one as his reward, which was instantly granted, and the Music commemorative of it immediately performed and Sung" (Fraser) {See also "Gorthleck's Highland Plaid"}. John Purser reframes the above to clarify that the tune was composed by Lord Lovat's bard, who had cunningly persuaded the old plaid from Fraser's grandfather, by pandering to his looks in the new one. The tune is found in the appendix to Fraser's collection.
Printed source: Fraser (The Airs and Melodies Peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland and the Isles), 1874; No. 232, p. 94. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 275.
Recorded source:
Redwing Music RWMCD 5410, Abby Newton - "Castles, Kirks and Caves" (2001).
X:1 T:Belted Plaid and Health to Wear It, The M:C| L:1/8 R:Reel B:Stewart-Robertson - The Athole Collection (1884) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:E A|G/A/B BA BABA|G/A/B Bc =dDDA|G/A/B BA GABg|afdB e2e:| a|gfea gebe|f=daf fdda|gfea gebg|afdB e2 ea| gfeb gebe|f=dad fdda|gebg afdB|cAfd e2e||