Lord Moira’s Welcome To Scotland strathspey

By Duncan MacIntyre

There are 31 other names for this tune.

Also known as Bonnie Scotland, The Bonnie Woods Highland Fling, The Bonny Woods And Braes, The Boys From Knock, The Boys Of Knock, The Bundoran Highland Fling, Highland A’ Choille, The Highland Fling, Highland Schottische, Joe Bane’s Highland Fling, Joe Bann’s, Lord Moira, Lord Moira’s, Lord Moira’s Fling, Lord Moira’s Highland Fling, Louden’s Bonnie Braes, Louden’s Bonnie Woods, Louden’s Bonnie Woods And Braes, Louden’s Bonny Woods, Louden’s Braes Are Bonnie, Louden’s Braes Sae Bonnie, Louden’s Braes So Bonnie, Loudon’s Bonnie Braes, Loudon’s Bonnie Woods, Loudon’s Bonnie Woods And Braes, Loudon’s Braes Are Bonnie, Loudon’s Braes Sae Bonnie, Loudon’s Braes So Bonnie, The Marquis Of Hastings, Old Aunt Katie, Tom Ban’s.

There are 40 recordings of this tune.
This tune has been recorded together with

Lord Moira’s Welcome To Scotland appears in 3 other tune collections.

Lord Moira’s Welcome To Scotland has been added to 5 tune sets.

Lord Moira’s Welcome To Scotland has been added to 81 tunebooks.

Download ABC

Seventeen settings

1
X: 1
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:G3B d3B|cABG AG (3FED|G3B d2Bd|1 (3efg fa gedB:|2 (3efg fa g2gf||
gabg ag (3fed|efge dB~B2|gabg ag (3fed|egfa g2d2|
gabg ag (3fed|efge dBBA|G3B d2Bd|(3efg fa gedB||
2
X: 2
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Fmaj
FGFG Acc2|AGAF GFDC|DFFG Acc2|dfeg fdcA|
FGFG Acc2|AGAF GFDC|DFFG Acc2|dfeg f3||
e|fgaf fdc2|defd cAA2|fgaf fdc2|dfeg f3 e|
fgaf fdc2|defd cAAG|FGFG Ac~c2|dfeg f3||
3
X: 3
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:B|G2 GA Bd d2|BABG AGED|EGGA Bd d2|1 egfa ged:|2 egfa g3||
f|gabg ge d2|efge dB B2|gabg ge d2|egfa g3 f|
gabg ge d2|efge dBBA|G2 GA Bd d2|egfa g3||
4
X: 4
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
DCDE FAAA|GEFD EDB,A,|DCDE FAAA|Bdce d4|
DCDE FAAA|GEFD EDB,A,|B,DDE FAAA|Bdce d4||
defd dBAA|BddB AFFF|defd dBAA|Bdce d4|
defd dBAA|BddB AFFF|DCDE FAAA|Bdce d4||
5
X: 5
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Fmaj
|:FGFG Ac c2|AGAF GFDC|DFFG Ac c2|1 dfeg fdcA:|2 dfeg f3||
e|fgaf fd c2|defd cA A2|fgaf fd c2|dfeg f3 e|
fgaf fd c2|defd cAAG|FGFG Ac ~c2|dfeg f3 A||
6
X: 6
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:B|G2 GA Bd d2|BABG AGED|EGGA Bd d2|1 egfa ged:|2 egfa g3||
f|gabg ge d2|efge dB B2|gabg ge d2|egfa g3 f|
gabg ge d2|efge dBBA|G2 GA Bd d2|egfa g3||
7
X: 7
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:DCDE FAAA|GEFD EDB,A,|1 DCDE FAAA|Bdce d4:|2 B,DDE FAAA|Bdce d4||
|:defd dBAA|BddB AFFF|1 defd dBAA|Bdce d4:|2 DCDE FAAA|Bdce d4||
8
X: 8
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:gfed efge|dcBA Bc d2|gfed efgw|fgaf g2:|
|:gabg af d2|efge dB G2|ABcA dBGB|cAFA G2:|
|:BcdB cd e2|ABcA Bc d2|G2 GB cBAG|FDEF G4:|
9
X: 9
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:gfed efge|dcBA Bc d2|gfed efge|fgaf g4:|
|:gabg af d2|efge dB G2|ABcA dBGB|cAFA G4:|
|:BcdB cd e2|ABcA Bc d2|G2 GB cBAG|FDEF G4:|
10
X: 10
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
B>A|:G2 G>A B<dd>B|c>AB>G A>G (3FED|G2 G>A B<d d2|1 (3efg f>a g>ed>B:|2 (3efg (3fga g2||
g>d|g>ab>g a>g d2|e>fg>d e>d B2|g>ab>g a>gf>d|(3efg f>a g2 g>d|
g>ab>g a>gf>d|e>fg>e d>cB>A|G2 G>A B<d d2|(3efg f>a g>ed>B||
11
X: 11
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
(3DEF|:G2 G>A B<d d2|c>AB>G A>G (3FED|G2 G>A B<dd>g|1 e>gf>a g>ed<B:|2 e>gf<a g2 (3def||
g>ab>g a>gf<d|e>fg>e d>cB>G|g>ab>g a>g (3fed|e>gf<a g3 d|
g>ab>g a>g f2|e>f (3gfe d>cB<A|G2 G>A B<d d2|e>gf<a g2||
12
X: 12
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
B>A|:G2 G>A B<dd>B|c>AB>G A>G (3FED|G2 G>A B<d d2|1 (3efg f>a g>ed>B:|2 (3efg (3fga g2||
g>d|g>ab>g a>g d2|e>fg>d e>d B2|g>ab>g a>gf>d|(3efg f>a g2 g>d|
g>ab>g a>gf>d|e>fg>e d>cB>A|G2 G>A B<d d2|(3efg f>a g>ed>B||
13
X: 13
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:(3DDD D>E F>A A>F|GE (3FED EDB,A,|(3DDD D>E F>A A>F|1 (3Bcd ce d>B A>F:|2 (3Bcd ce d2 d>A||
d>e f>d e>d c>A|B>c d>B A ~F2 E|d>e f>d e>d c>A|(3Bcd ce d2 d>A|
d>e f>d e>d c>A|B>c d>B A ~F2 E|(3DDD D>E F>A A>F|(3Bcd ce d>B A>F||
14
X: 14
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:G2BG BddB|cABG AGED|G2BG BddB|1 egfa gedB:|2 egfa g3d||
g2bg agfd|eage dBBd|g2bg agfd|egfa g3d|
g2bg agfd|ebge dBBA|GBBG BddB|egfa gedB||
15
X: 15
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
G<GG<G GB/d/ d2|cA c/B/A/G/ A>GFD|G<GG<G B<d d2|e>gf<a g4:|
b>g a>g f2 d2|eeg>e d>cBG|g<gb>g agf>d|eg f/g/a/f/ g2 ga/b/|
c'>ab>g a>geg|d>Bg>c c/B/A/G/ A>B|G<GG<G c<e e2|dg f/g/a/f/ g4||
16
X: 16
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
G2GB dedB|cABG AGEB|G2GBd4|egfa gedB|
G2GB dedB|cABG AGEF|G2GBd2d2|egfag4||
gabg aged|egge dBB2|gabg aged|egfag4|
gabg aged|efge dBBA|G2GBd2d2|egfa gedB||
17
X: 17
T: Lord Moira's Welcome To Scotland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:G2 GG Bd d2|cA BG A2 FD|G2 GG Bd d2|egfa g2gb:|
|:ggbg agfd|efge dcBG|ggbg agfd|egfa g2 gb:|
|:c'abg ageg|dBgB c/B/A/G/ AB|G2 GG Bd d2|egfa g2 gb:|
|:BGdG e/d/c/B/ dg|BGdG ABcd|BGdG e/d/c/B/ dg|egfa g2 gb:|
gbgb fa d2|efge dcBG|gbgb fa d2|egfa g2 gb|
ebdb cbBb|dBge c/B/A/G/ FD|(3GAB (3ABc (3Bcd (3cde|d2 ga b/a/g/f/ a/g/f/e/ d/c/B/A/||

Sixty-one comments

Lord Moira (Fling)

Galway flute player Sean Moloney recently recorded this tune as a fling called “Lord Moira.” According to the notes, he learned it from his father Eddie Moloney. It seems Flanagnan bothers also recorded it.

Unfortunately I’ve never heard Mike and Mary Rafferty’s playing, but a quick search shows they’re from Ballinakill! No wonder they share the similar repertoire of the Monoley family.

They’re based in the States and have appeared many times on the Internet TV programme “Comhaltaslive”

Aka Loudon’s Bonnie Woods (Fling)

Oh, yes. I’ve just remembered I once tried to post this tune and held back in the last minute because of its very Scottishness. What I transcribed was Athlone box player Paul Brock’s playing of the tune in D on the first album of “Moving Cloud.” He calls it “Loudon’s Braes are Bonnie.” Further research showed me it also appears in Kerr’s Collection as “Loudon’s Bonnie Woods.” You’ll find Nigel Gatherer’s transcription of the tune in G. It’s basically the same as Gian Marco’s transcription.

I meant to say Nigel’s transcription of “Loudon’s Bonnie Woods” will be found in JC’s ABC tune finder.

I k now this one as a strathspey

We typically played this one in scotland as a strathspey - interesting to hear it at a different tempo!

I learned this tune from Eamon O’Leary. Joe Bann wrote this tune in G, but I think he played on a C whistle so he played most of his tunes in C and F. There’s another barn dance by him that I learned to play before it, it’s also called Joe Bann’s and is played in F. They’re both great tunes.

Bann or Bane ~ ? ~ another “Joe Bane’s” ~ ?

I could swear this is already here, as a highland fling. It bears a lot in common with the following, which was likely a fling which has found rebirth as a single reel, something not uncommon:

“Denis Murphy’s”
Key signature: G Major
Submitted on June 25th 2001 by spoon.
https://thesession.org/tunes/156

Here’s this transcript in G for comparison (one change only ~ GAGA has become G2 GA, and a lead-in given:

K: G Major ( also played in A & D )
|: B |
G2 GA Bd d2 | BABG AGED | EGGA Bd d2 |1 egfa ged :|2 egfa g3 ||
f |
gabg ge d2 | efge dB B2 | gabg ge d2 | egfa g3 f |
gabg ge d2 | efge dBBA | G2 GA Bd d2 | egfa g3 ||

Joe Bann ~

‘cnfinley’ ~ Is there a recording of the two tunes? If it is ‘Bann’, do you have more info on ‘Joe Bann’?

This tune

This tune is here at the Session under the title of Bonnie Scotland… https://thesession.org/tunes/3262
AKA Marquis of Hastings, Lord Moira’s… in the US Known as Cluck Old Hen (not the one in A modal), and Old Aunt Katie… probably other names.

Interesting that this Joe Bann’s is more the way I play it than as posted under Bonnie Scotland.

‘C’ I too know it as Joe Bane’s.

Posted .

Hmm, I was told by quite a few people that it was written by Joe Bann (Bane?). Now I’m wondering about that. As for recordings, sorry, I don’t have any recordings of these tunes or of Joe Bann playing.

Yes Will & MC, it is more the way I know it, except in G & D…

“Bonnie Scotland” ~ as a highland in F Major ~ duplication

Yup!, a duplication ~ it is “Bonnie Scotland”, which is also played as a fling…how I learned it, but I don’t think by that name…

It’s called Bonnie Scotland on Andrew & Mary MacNamara’s “Open Hearth”, which is a collection of tunes learned from Joe Bane and Bill Malley (and from tapes of them made by Andrew & Mary’s father). Interestingly, they play it in D, which makes it go below the range of both the C and D whistle. Roughly half of the tunes on the CD are played a step lower than they would be outside of Clare.

Here’s Geoff Wright’s transcription from “Open Hearth” (which I may or may not have edited slightly - I can’t recall):

T:Bonnie Scotland
R:schottische
M:4/4
L:1/8
D:“Open Hearth” Andrew & Mary MacNamara
N:Cut 8.1 on cd
Z:Geoff Wright
K:D
DCDE FAAA|GEFD EDB,A,|DCDE FAAA|Bdce d4|
DCDE FAAA|GEFD EDB,A,|B,DDE FAAA| Bdce d4||
defd dBAA|BddB AFFF|defd dBAA |Bdce d4|
defd dBAA|BddB AFFF|DCDE FAAA| Bdce d4|]

“Lord Moira’s Highland Fling” ~ a duplication brought back from the future

“Joe Bane’s”
Key signature: F Major
Submitted on January 17th 2007 by cnfinley.
https://thesession.org/tunes/6654

K: F Major
|: FGFG Ac c2 | AGAF GFDC | DFFG Ac c2 | dfeg fdcA :|2 dfeg f3 ||
e |
fgaf fd c2 | defd cA A2 | fgaf fd c2 | dfeg f3 e |
fgaf fd c2 | defd cAAG | FGFG Ac ~c2 | dfeg f3 A ||

“I learned this tune from Eamon O’Leary. Joe Bann (Bane) wrote this tune in G, but I think he played on a C whistle so he played most of his tunes in C and F. There’s another barn dance by him that I learned to play before it, it’s also called Joe Bann’s (Bane’s) and is played in F. They’re both great tunes.”

# Posted on January 17th 2007 by cnfinley

Here’s the above transcription by cnfinley but transpsed to G for comparison (two changes only ~ GAGA has become G2 GA, and I’ve given a lead-in note for both parts:

K: G Major ( also played in A & D )
|: B |
G2 GA Bd d2 | BABG AGED | EGGA Bd d2 |1 egfa ged :|2 egfa g3 ||
f |
gabg ge d2 | efge dB B2 | gabg ge d2 | egfa g3 f |
gabg ge d2 | efge dBBA | G2 GA Bd d2 | egfa g3 ||

Gary, as I suspect this may go “POOF!”, I’ve copied the transcript and notes, yours included, and put them in the ‘Comments’ for “Bonnie Scotland”… I’d hate to see them not be here…valued! 🙂

“Bonnie Scotland” ~ highland fling

“It’s called Bonnie Scotland on Andrew & Mary MacNamara’s ”Open Hearth“, which is a collection of tunes learned from Joe Bane and Bill Malley (and from tapes of them made by Andrew & Mary’s father). Interestingly, they play it in D, which makes it go below the range of both the C and D whistle. Roughly half of the tunes on the CD are played a step lower than they would be outside of Clare.”

“Here’s Geoff Wright’s transcription from ”Open Hearth“ (which I may or may not have edited slightly - I can’t recall)” ( ~ which I did edit slightly ~ ‘c’ 😉 ):

T:Bonnie Scotland
R:schottische (highland fling)
M:4/4
L:1/8
D:“Open Hearth” Andrew & Mary MacNamara
N:Cut 8.1 on cd
Z:Geoff Wright
K:D
DCDE FAAA | GEFD EDB,A, |1 DCDE FAAA | Bdce d4 :|2 B,DDE FAAA | Bdce d4 ||
defd dBAA | BddB AFFF |1 defd dBAA | Bdce d4 :|2 DCDE FAAA | Bdce d4 ||

# Posted on January 18th 2007 by GaryAMartin

Also as a highland in Donegal -- Highland a’ Choille.

Polly put the kettle on

It also seems to be a variation on the English version of “Polly put the kettle on” a la John Kirkpatrick

K:G
M:4/4
|:gfed efge|dcBA Bc d2|gfed efgw|fgaf g2:|
|:gabg af d2|efge dB G2|ABcA dBGB|cAFA G2:|
|:BcdB cd e2|ABcA Bc d2|G2 GB cBAG|FDEF G4:|

I think that’s one of the names I’d heard it called, thanks LongNote…

More notes brought back from the duplication ~ “Denis Murphy’s”

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on June 25th 2001 by spoon.
https://thesession.org/tunes/156

This also bears things in common with the the transcriptions given here. It also was likely to have been played as a fling at some point in its travels, and which has been, as happens to flings, recycled as a single reel…

Its an old tune…

Goes back to the 1800’s at least.

# Posted on January 18th 2007 by Maryland Highlander

“Polly Put the Kettle On” a la John Kirkpatrick

It also seems to be a variation on the English version:

K: G Major
M:4/4
|: gfed efge | dcBA Bc d2 | gfed efge | fgaf g2 :|
|: gabg af d2 | efge dB G2 | ABcA dBGB | cAFA G2 :|
|: BcdB cd e2 | ABcA Bc d2 | G2 GB cBAG | FDEF G4 :|

# Posted on January 18th 2007 by geoffwright

“Shandon Bells” ~ played by Joe Bane

Joe Bane was a flute/whistleplayer from the Feakle area. You can (find another transcription of “Shandon Bells” and) hear him (play it) here:

http://www.rogermillington.com/tunetoc/shandonbells.html

# Posted on January 18th 2007 by kilfarboy

A brief commentary by Peter Laban, 11 August 2002:

“Introduction ~ Joe Bane (pronounced Bahn) was a flute and whistle player from the Feakle area. In a stylistic sense he is in the same bracket as fiddleplayer P. Joe Hayes and concertinaplayer John Naughton, both from very much the same area. The style is characterised by a sparse though efficient use of ornamentation and relies heavily on its rhythm and the precise phrasing of the music. This gives the style great ”lift“. Martin Hayes has named Bane as one of his prime influences.”

Damn, apologies, but what does the repeat hurt, eh, however ~ wrong tune… My backspace must have kicked in… 😏

Cut-and-paste from kilfarboy’s given link, just a short taster and part explanation for the spelling bee confusions:

A brief commentary by Peter Laban, 11 August 2002:

“Introduction ~ Joe Bane (pronounced Bahn) was a flute and whistle player from the Feakle area. In a stylistic sense he is in the same bracket as fiddleplayer P. Joe Hayes and concertinaplayer John Naughton, both from very much the same area. The style is characterised by a sparse though efficient use of ornamentation and relies heavily on its rhythm and the precise phrasing of the music. This gives the style great ”lift“. Martin Hayes has named Bane as one of his prime influences.”

“The Bundoran Highland” ~ Danny O’Donnell, Donegal fiddler

X: 6
T: The Bundoran Highland
S: Danny O’Donnell, Donegal fiddler
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: highland schottische/fling
K: G Major
B>A |:\
G2 G>A B<dd>B | c>AB>G A>G (3FED |
G2 G>A B<d d2 |[1 (3efg f>a g>ed>B :|[2 (3efg (3fga g2 ||
g>d |\
g>ab>g a>g d2 | e>fg>d e>d B2 |
g>ab>g a>gf>d | (3efg f>a g2 g>d |
g>ab>g a>gf>d | e>fg>e d>cB>A |
G2 G>A B<d d2 | (3efg f>a g>ed>B |]

~ to finish ~ | (3efg f>a g>ed>B || G4 |]

Danny O’Donnell’s set of 3 highlands:

“Milestone At The Garden: Irish Fiddle Masters From The 78 RPM Era”
https://thesession.org/recordings/8

track 11.) The Thistle And Shamrock

a.) “Polly Put the Kettle On”
Key signature: D Major
Submitted on February 16th 2008 by ceolachan.
https://thesession.org/tunes/8267
https://thesession.org/tunes/8267/comments

b.) “The Bundoran Highland ”~ the transcript just before this comment…

c.) “Neil Gow’s Wife”
Key signature: a minor
Submitted on July 17th 2003 by mandozouk.
https://thesession.org/tunes/1828
https://thesession.org/tunes/1828/comments

“Gan Ainm” ~ I don’t think so 😏 ~ highland schottische/fling

~ and I’m damned sure this is here already, maybe even by my hand. I’m sure there’s a name but it isn’t coming. I only tried two keys, G & A, but a lot of variations on several measures, no luck… I will be happy if someone finds it, or at least gives it a name. I have come across this one in numerous old tomes but learned it ages back. I was reminded of it and went looking for variations and discovered, it seems, that it might not be here… Let me know if you know…

I think I’ll send emails to a knowledgeable few… 😉

Thanks LongNote, much appreciated… I’ll let dear Jeremy know it’s a duplication… I knew it was an old standard but my brain cells are doing a lot of misfiring lately, having lost some sleep… 😏

Hmmm… As a reel, so, not really a duplication… I’ll add the link from there to here… A lot of these highland schottisches/flings ended up doing later duty as single reels… At least now I can chase up other possible connections. I’m sure it is in the major collections, like the Athole / Skye….

Alternate titles ~ 😛

That told me more, I’d added most of those… I said it was ‘old’ and familiar… I suppose this transcription might be different enough to allow to remain? Time will tell.

“The Bundoran Highland” ~ a transcription I’d done earlier

X: 2
T: The Bundoran Highland
S: Danny O’Donnell, Donegal fiddler
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: highland schottische/fling
K: G Major
B>A |:\
G2 G>A B<dd>B | c>AB>G A>G (3FED |
G2 G>A B<d d2 |[1 (3efg f>a g>ed>B :|[2 (3efg (3fga g2 ||
g>d |\
g>ab>g a>g d2 | e>fg>d e>d B2 |
g>ab>g a>gf>d | (3efg f>a g2 g>d |
g>ab>g a>gf>d | e>fg>e d>cB>A |
G2 G>A B<d d2 | (3efg f>a g>ed>B |]

# Posted on February 16th 2008 by ceolachan
~ from the ‘comments’ for “Bonnie Scotland” ~ reel…

“The Bundoran Highland” ~ Danny O’Donnell, Donegal fiddler

Danny O’Donnell’s set of 3 highland flings:

“Milestone At The Garden: Irish Fiddle Masters From The 78 RPM Era”
https://thesession.org/recordings/8

track 11.) The Thistle And Shamrock =

a.) “Polly Put the Kettle On”
Key signature: D Major
Submitted on February 16th 2008 by ceolachan.
https://thesession.org/tunes/8267
https://thesession.org/tunes/8267/comments

b.) “The Bundoran Highland ”~ the transcript just before this comment…

c.) “Neil Gow’s Wife”
Key signature: a minor
Submitted on July 17th 2003 by mandozouk.
https://thesession.org/tunes/1828
https://thesession.org/tunes/1828/comments

# Posted on February 16th 2008 by ceolachan
~ from the ‘comments’ for “Bonnie Scotland” ~ reel…

Swing & Snap ~ 😉

I did try searching for it swung and straight as well ~ but never a hit… It is good to have it here now with the swing and the snap in it…

Bonnie Scotland

Johnny O’Leary of Sliabh Luachra played this tune, and it can be found in his collection from 1994 under the title “Little Ark”.

Lord Moira’s Welcome To Scotland

Johnny O’Leary of Sliabh Luachra played this tune, and it can be found in his collection from 1994 under the title “Little Ark”.

Lord Moira’s Welcome To Scotland

108 Bonny Woods and Braes
“Known only as ”The Highland Fling“ this cheerful tune has served for that purpose as long as the editor can remember. For its name as above printed, we are indebted to Officer William Walsh whose memory in such matters is phenomenal.” [O’Neill, Waifs and Strays, 1922]

Lord Moira’s Welcome to Scotland

I did some research on this tune after I found it on the CD “The Whitchurch Hornpipe” by Neil Brookes and Tony Weatherall as “Richard Hughes’s Reel”. According to The Fiddler’s Companion it was composed as “Lord Moira’s Welcome to Scotland” by Duncan MacIntyre, a late 18th century Scots dancing master living in London. Lord Moira was a British MP and an Irish peer with a Scottish sea, and this is a good tune by a Scotsman living in London, so it is hardly surprising that every constituent part of Ireland and the United Kingdom lays claim to it, often in different versions and under different titles. Three cheers for it!

Lord Moira’s Welcome To Scotland, X:17

This is the first tune notated in the Power manuscript from Kilmore in County Wexford. It’s from the earliest part of the manuscript, based on the handwriting. The middle part of the manuscript is dated 1872, so the older part is obviously mid 19th century. The ending of the variations, to return the player to the first part, seems incomplete. It’s not clear whether it was entered as a strathspey or march or perhaps as a single reel. The tune is simply titled ‘The Earl of Moira’s Welcome’.