Sheet Music: MacPherson's Lament

TitleMacPherson's Lament
Alternate titlesMacPherson's Rant
MacPherson's Farewell
ComposerTraditional Scottish
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyF major
RangeC5–D6
Time signature4/4
Tempo100 BPM
Performance time0:40
Difficulty levelintermediate
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (46 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (325 kB)
Date added2011-07-25
Last updated2013-02-14
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 0.2 (not so popular)
Categories
Ballads, Celtic Music, Traditional/Folk

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Monday 25 July 2011

Tune of the Day: MacPherson's Lament

Traditional Scottish tune

Though there is no proof, this melody is popularly thought to have been composed by one of Scotland's first so called fiddle composers, the legendary James Macpherson, on the eve of his execution in November 1700. Sir Walter Scott says that MacPherson played the tune under the gallows, and, after playing it, he then offered his fiddle to anyone in his clan who would play it at his wake. When no one came forward to take the fiddle, he broke it — either across his knee or over the executioner's head — and then threw it into the crowd with the remark, “No one else shall play Jamie MacPherson's fiddle”.