Sheet Music: Loch Lomond

TitleLoch Lomond
Alternate titlesThe Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond
The Braes o' Binnorie
Red is the Rose
ComposerTraditional Scottish
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyD major
RangeA4–B5
Time signature4/4
Tempo80 BPM
Performance time0:50
Difficulty leveleasy
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (45 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (401 kB)
Date added2009-10-03
Last updated2009-10-03
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 3.3 (popular)
Categories
Celtic Music, Pentatonic, Strathspeys, Traditional/Folk

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Saturday 3 October 2009

Tune of the Day: Loch Lomond

Traditional Scottish song
Loch Lomond

This tune, also known as “The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond”, is one of the most famous Scottish airs. It is often played as the final piece of music during an evening of revelry in Scotland, a phenomenon not seen in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Loch Lomond is a large Scottish lake located between the traditional counties of Dunbartonshire and Stirlingshire. The lyrics are supposed to refer to one of Bonnie Prince Charlie's ill-fated followers who was about to be executed for rebellion. His sweetheart had come to Carlisle, perhaps to seek his release, but he told her he would be taking the “low road” (probably referring to the passage to the underworld) back to Loch Lomond, where they had spent their happiest hours.

Scottish folk-rock band Runrig has made the song its unofficial anthem, closing all the concerts with a rendition for over 25 years.

The tune was even used in the series Smallville for a non-existent folk song called “The Birks of Saint Kilda”, played by a clock as a clue for finding a relic that activated a piece of alien technology.