Sheet Music: The White Cockade

TitleThe White Cockade
Alternate titlesThe Highland Laddie
A Highland Lad My Love Was Born
My love was born in Aberdeen
ComposerTraditional Scottish
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyG major
RangeG4–B5
Time signature2/2
Tempo100 BPM
Performance time0:40
Difficulty levelintermediate
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (43 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (325 kB)
Date added2011-04-04
Last updated2011-04-04
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 0.3 (below average)
Categories
Celtic Music, Traditional/Folk

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Monday 4 April 2011

Tune of the Day: The White Cockade

Traditional Scottish tune

This traditional Scottish tune celebrates the attempt by Bonnie Prince Charlie to reclaim the throne of Britain for the House of Stuart. During the 1745 Jacobite uprising, he plucked a white rose and placed it on his bonnet as a symbol of rebellion. Jacobite troops had no formal uniform, and the white cockade on a blue bonnet became their emblem.

The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns recalled the scene with a line of lyrics he set to the tune in 1790: “He takes the field wi' his White Cockade”. “The White Cockade” was already well-known in the colonies at the time of the American Revolution, as a country dance tune and a fife and drum piece.