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Lament for John Garve MacLeod of Raasay

Title

Alternative Title

Cumha Iain Garve Mhic Gille Chaluim

Artist

RU Brown (Ground), Malcolm R MacPherson, James Campbell on goose

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Information

According to Binneas the subject of this lament (probably composed by Patrick Og MacCrimmon since Patrick Mor died a year before John Garve) was a young man of immense strength and good character. He was drowned in 1671 when his ship foundered not far from his home port in Raasay having sailed from Lewis against the advice of his crew who feared the stormy weather would overcome their vessel as it indeed did. The Wardlaw manuscript says drink was the cause.

Malcolm MacPherson was a grandson of Calum Piobaire MacPherson, and son of Angus MacPherson. He was a renowned contemporary of John MacDonald of Inverness. The recordings were made in his later life when circumstances were not ideal. They reflect the style of playing indicated in the collection Binneas is Boreraig, which was compiled from Malcolm MacPherson's playing by Dr Roddy Ross.

Judges Note 2009

The attractions of the Donald MacDonald version of the tune were compared to Angus Mackay’s setting. While it is accepted that, in Mackay’s setting, the first line need be played only once, it was recognised that repetition of the line probably represented the correct form of the tune.

Judges Note 2011 (MacDonald Setting)

It is expected that that some players will play the embellishments as written, although it is likely that the throws to high G will be presented in modern form.

It should be noted that in the doubling of variation 1 and later variations some note combinations are played to low G, rather than to low A as in modern versions of the tune.

Although a crunluath a-mach variation is optional in this tune, if one is played, judges can expect to hear it played as indicated in the 'General Abbreviations' for Donald MacDonald tunes on the PS website.

In accordance with the published notice of the set tunes, the urlar should be played in full at the end of the tune, but not between variations.

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Available in:

PS Book 5, Kilberry, Binneas

Donald MacDonald V2 John Garve MacLeod of Rasay's lament
Donald MacDonald Junior Cumh Eoin Ghairbh Mhic Ghille Challum Rarsey
Angus MacKay Book John Garve Macleod of Raasay's Lament
Peter Reid's Manuscript MacLeod of Raasay's Lament
David Glen's Book Lament, JohnGarve Macleod of Raasay’s
John Smith MS John Garve MacLeod of Raasay's Lament