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Captain Carswell march

By William Lawrie

Also known as Captain Carswell’s.

There are 24 recordings of this tune.

This tune has been recorded together with

Captain Carswell has been added to 6 tune sets.

Captain Carswell has been added to 89 tunebooks.

Download ABC

Seven settings

1
X: 1
T: Captain Carswell
R: march
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
|:A2 A>B A2 B>d|e>dB<d e>dB>A|G>AB>A B2 G>B|d>ed<B e2 d>B|
A2 A>B A2 B>d|e>dB<d e>dB>A|G2 A>B e2 d>B|1 e2 d>B A2 A>G:|2 e2 d>B A2 A>d||
e>fe<d e2 a2|g>ef<d e2 d>B|d>BG>B d2 B>d|e>dB>d d2 B>d|
e>fe<d e2 a2|g>ef<d e2 d>B|G2 A>B e2 d>B|1 e2 d>B A2 A>d:|2 e2 d>B A2 A>G||
2
X: 2
T: Captain Carswell
R: march
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
Bfe>d e2 a2|g>ef>d e4|d>BA>B d2 e>f|g>ef>d e2 d>B|
e>fe>d e2 a2|g>ef>d e2 d>B|G>ABBe>d|B2 A2 A4:|
e2|A2 A>B A2 A>B|e>dBB|G>ABB|d>ed>B e2 d>B|
[1 A2 A>B A2 A>B|e>dBB|G>ABBe>d|B2 A2 A4:|
[2 A2 A>B A2 A>B|e>deB|G>ABBe>d|B2 A2 A4||
e>A A2 a>gfef>d e2 d>B|G>ABBe>B|B2 A2 A2 BA A2 a>gfef>d e4|BA G2 BdeB|
A2 A>B B2 A>B|Be>e>d e2 d>B|G>ABBe>d|B2 A2 A4|
# Added by Kenny .
3
X: 3
T: Captain Carswell
R: march
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
Bfe>d e2 a2|g>ef>d e4|d>BA>B d2 e>f|g>ef>d e2 d>B|
e>fe>d e2 a2|g>ef>d e2 d>B|G>ABBe>d|B2 A2 A4:|
e2|A2 A>B A2 A>B|e>dBB|G>ABB|d>ed>B e2 d>B|
[1 A2 A>B A2 A>B|e>dBB|G>ABBe>d|B2 A2 A4:|
[2 A2 A>B A2 A>B|e>deB|G>ABBe>d|B2 A2 A4|
e>A A2 a>gfef>d e2 d>B|G>ABBe>B|B2 A2 A2 BA A2 a>gfef>d e4|BA G2 BdeB|
A2 A>B B2 A>B|Be>e>d e2 d>B|G>ABBe>d|B2 A2 A4|
# Added by Kenny .
4
X: 4
T: Captain Carswell
R: march
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
A2 A*G A2 B*d|e>dB*d e2 d>B|G2 B*A B2 G>B|d>ed*B e2 d>B|
A2 A*G A2 B*d|e>de*g e2 d>B|G>AB*e d>Be>d|B2 A2 A4:|
e>fe>d e2 a2|g>ef>d e4|d>BA>B d2 e>f|g>ef>d e2 d>B|
e>fe>d e2 a2|g>ef>d e2 d>B|G>AB*e d>Be>d|B2 A2 A4:|
A2 A>B A2 A>B|e>dB*d e2 d>B|G>AB*A B2 G>B|d>ed>B e2 d>B|
[1 A2 A>B A2 A>B|e>dB*d e2 d>B|G>AB*e d>Be>d|B2 A2 A4:|
[2 A2 A>B A2 A>B|e>de*g e2 d>B|G>AB*e d>Be>d|B2 A2 A4|
e>A A2 a>gf*a|g>ef>d e4|B*dB>A G2 B*d|e>dBd e2 d>B|
e>A A2 a>gf*a|g>ef>d e2 d>B|G>AB*e d>Be>d|B2 A2 A4|
e>A A2 a>gf*a|g>ef>d e4|B*dB>A G2 B*d|e>de*g e2 d>B|
A2 A>B B2 A>B|Be>e>d e2 d>B|G>AB*e d>Be>d|B2 A2 A4|
# Added by Kenny .
5
X: 5
T: Captain Carswell
R: march
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
A2 A<G A2 B<d|e>d B<d e2 d<B|G>A B<A B2 G<B|d>e d<B e2 d<B|
A2 A<G A2 B<d|e>d B<d e2 d<B|G>A B<e d>B e>d|B2 A2 A4:|
e>f e<d e2 a2|g>e f>d e4|d>B A<B d2 e>f|g>e f<d e2 d<B|
e>f e<d e2 a2|g>e f<d e2 d<B|G>A B<e d>B e>d|B2 A2 A4:|
A2 A<B A2 A<B|e>d B<d e2 d<B|G>A B<A B2 G<B|d>e d<B e2 d<B|
1 A2 A<B A2 A<B|e>d B<d e2 d<B|G>A B<e d>B e>d|B2 A2 A4:|
e>A A2 a>g f<a|g>e f>d e4|B<d B>A G2 B>d|e>d B<d e2 d>B|
e>A A2 a>g f<a|g>e f>d e2 d>B|G>A B<e d>B e>d|B2 A2 A4|
e>A A2 a>g f<a|g>e f>d e4|B<d B>A G2 B>d|e>d B<d e2 d>B|
A2 A<G A2 B<d|e>d B<d e2 d<B|G>A B<e d>B e>d|B2 A2 A4|
6
X: 6
T: Captain Carswell
R: march
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
[M:2/2]
e2|A2A<G A2B<d|e>dB<d e2d>B|G>AB<A B2G>B|d>ed>B e2d>B|
A2A<G A2B<d|e>de<g e2d>B|G>AB<e d>Be>d|B2A2 A2:|
|:B<d|e>fe>d e2a2|g>ef>d e4|d>BA>B d2e>f|g>ef>d e2d>B|
e>fe>d e2a2|g>ef>d e2d>B|G>AB<e d>Be>d|B2A2 A2:|
|:e2|A>AA>B A>AA>B|e>dB<d e2d>B|G>AB<A B2G>B|d>ed>B e2d>B|
A>AA>B A>AA>B|e>de<g e2d>B|G>AB<e d>Be>d|B2A2 A2:|
B<d|e>A A/A/A a>gf<a|g>ef>d e4|B<dB>A G2B<d|e>dB<d e2d>B|
e>A A/A/A a>gf<a|g>ef>d e2d>B|G>AB<e d>Be>d|B2A2 A2B<d|
e>A A/A/A a>gf<a|g>ef>d e4|B<dB>A G2B<d|e>de<g e2d>B|
A>AA>B B>AA>B|B<ee>d e2d>B|G>AB<e d>Be>d|B2A2 A2||
7
X: 7
T: Captain Carswell
R: march
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
|:e2|A>AA<G A2B<d|e>dB<d e2d>B|G>AB<A B2G>B|d>ed<B e2d>B|
A>AA<G A2B<d|e>dB<d e2 d>B|G>AB<e d<Be>d|B2A2 A2:|
|:B<d|e>fe<d e2a2|g>ef<d e4|d>BA<B d2e>f|g>gf<d e2d<B|
e>fe<d e2a2|g>ef<d e2d>B|G>AB<e d<Be>d|B2A2 A2:|
|:e2|A>AA>B B>AA>B|B<ee>d e2d>B|G>AB<A B2G>B|d>ed<B e2d>B|
A>AA>B B>AA>B|B<ee>g e2d>B|G>AB<e d<Be>d|B2A2 A2:|
B>d|e>A A/A/A a>gf<a|g>ef<d e>Ae>d|B<dB>A G2e>f|g>gf<d e2d<B|
e>A A/A/A a>gf<a|g>ef<d e2d>B|G>AB<e d<Be>d|B2A2 A2B>d|
e>A A/A/A a2>>a2|g>ef<d e>Ae>d|B<dB>A G2e>f|g>gf<d e2d>B|
A>AA>B B>AA>B|B<ee>g e2d>B|G>AB<e d<Be>d|B2A2 A2||

Seventeen comments

a march i learned from boys of the lough’s “sweet rural shade”. was requested a while ago…

4 parts

The 3 people who have downloaded this tune to their tune books should be made aware that it is a 4-part tune, and a 2/4 march[ which isn’t included as a tune category]. You sure the “Boys” only play 2 parts, errik ? - I’d be surprised, as I’ve heard Aly Bain play the full version with Phil Cunningham.

Posted by .

they play the tune 4 times through, AABB. at least that’s how it sounds to me. the final two times though, they do somewhat of a variation on the B part. i’m not sure, it just sounded like a 2-part tune to me.

4 + Parts

Thanks Kenny - I tried reformatting it to 2/4 and it just swings. I think I’ve heard a version played by Dr. Tom Anderson on some obscure LP. It seems the last 12 bars are done as an 8 - 8 - 4 - end. When I slowed the playing down to about 90 - 92 bpm, everything just fell into place - lovely, hypnotic and as a march, ground eating. Terrific tune Errik.

Captain Carswell - original version

I found a cassette of the “Boys Of The Lough”’s “Sweet Rural Shade” in a small music shop yesterday, so I bought it, because this has been bugging me for a while.
I think “errik” has faithfully transcribed what the BotL play, the trouble is, it’s very far removed from the original, which I am posting below.

CAPTAIN CARSWELL - 2/4 March, composed by Pipe Major Willie Lawrie, of the Argyll And Sutherland highlanders.

e2 | A2 Aed>B e2 d>B |
A2 AABBe>d | B2 A2 A4 :|
Bfe>d e2 a2 | g>ef>d e4 | d>BA>B d2 e>f | g>ef>d e2 d>B |
e>fe>d e2 a2 | g>ef>d e2 d>B | G>ABBe>d | B2 A2 A4 :|
e2 | A2 A>B A2 A>B | e>dBB | G>ABB | d>ed>B e2 d>B |
1 A2 A>B A2 A>B | e>dBB | G>ABBe>d | B2 A2 A4 :|
2 A2 A>B A2 A>B | e>deB | | G>ABBe>d | B2 A2 A4 |
e>A A2 a>gfef>d e4 | BA G2 BdBd e2 d>B |
e>A A2 a>gfef>d e2 d>B | G>ABBe>B | B2 A2 A2 BA A2 a>gfef>d e4 | BA G2 BdeB |
A2 A>B B2 A>B | Be>e>d e2 d>B | G>ABBe>d | B2 A2 A4 |

“Boys Of The Lough” give no credit on the sleeve notes to Willie Lawrie for his composition.
It’s up to individuals which version they prefer, but I would always advise learning a pipe-tune from a piper. Willie Lawrie’s composition has been recorded by “The Tannahill Weavers” [whom I learned it from ], and also Gordon Duncan.

Posted by .

Sorry………

Sorry - some of the above abcs has dissappeared. I’ll try again….

e2 | A2 Aed>B e2 d>B |
A2 AABBe>d | B2 A2 A4 :|
Bfe>d e2 a2 | g>ef>d e4 | d>BA>B d2 e>f | g>ef>d e2 d>B |
e>fe>d e2 a2 | g>ef>d e2 d>B | G>ABBe>d | B2 A2 A4 :|
e2 | A2 A>B A2 A>B | e>dBB | G>ABB | d>ed>B e2 d>B |
1 A2 A>B A2 A>B | e>dBB | G>ABBe>d | B2 A2 A4 :|
2 A2 A>B A2 A>B | e>deB | | G>ABBe>d | B2 A2 A4 |
e>A A2 a>gfef>d e4 | BA G2 BdBd e2 d>B |
e>A A2 a>gfef>d e2 d>B | G>ABBe>B | B2 A2 A2 BA A2 a>gfef>d e4 | BA G2 BdeB |
A2 A>B B2 A>B | Be>e>d e2 d>B | G>ABBe>d | B2 A2 A4 |

Posted by .

Arghhhh….not my fault

It’s done the same again. Something not working with “cut & paste”. I’ll come back later and try it the long way. Once again, my apologies.

Posted by .

Kenny - You can’t use ‘<’ in the usual yellow field, only in the title…

This is an old curiosity. I’ve had the same thing trying to notate a ‘snap’ in the usual yellow field, it is taken as HTML code and everything that follows the ‘less-than’ sign disappears. You can enter it in the title field, or as I’ve done, use an ‘*’ asterisk as a marker, or some such thing. Good luck…

If at first you don’t succeed……………..

Thanks to “ceolachan” for that advice. I’ve replaced the “less-than” accent signs with asterisks, so any note to the right of an asterisk should be “dotted”. Hope that’s right - here goes.

A2 A*G A2 B*d | e>dB*d e2 d>B | G2 B*A B2 G>B | d>ed*B e2 d>B |
A2 A*G A2 B*d | e>de*g e2 d>B | G>AB*e d>Be>d | B2 A2 A4 :|

e>fe>d e2 a2 | g>ef>d e4 | d>BA>B d2 e>f | g>ef>d e2 d>B |
e>fe>d e2 a2 | g>ef>d e2 d>B | G>AB*e d>Be>d | B2 A2 A4 :|

A2 A>B A2 A>B | e>dB*d e2 d>B | G>AB*A B2 G>B | d>ed>B e2 d>B |
1 A2 A>B A2 A>B | e>dB*d e2 d>B | G>AB*e d>Be>d | B2 A2 A4 :|
2 A2 A>B A2 A>B | e>de*g e2 d>B | | G>AB*e d>Be>d | B2 A2 A4 |

e>A A2 a>gf*a | g>ef>d e4 | B*dB>A G2 B*d | e>dBd e2 d>B |
e>A A2 a>gf*a | g>ef>d e2 d>B | G>AB*e d>Be>d | B2 A2 A4 |
e>A A2 a>gf*a | g>ef>d e4 | B*dB>A G2 B*d | e>de*g e2 d>B |
A2 A>B B2 A>B | Be>e>d e2 d>B | G>AB*e d>Be>d | B2 A2 A4 |

Posted by .

Recording

You can hear this tune on Spring The Summer Long by Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham. They pair it with another Lawrie tune Mrs McDonald of Dunach which is a splendid tune which I haven’t found yet. (I saw phil & aly on Friday night and they played this set)

Mrs McDonald of Dunach

I’ll put this one up for you tomorrow, if you like. It’s Scottish and “done to death” but still a good tune. I’m sure a lot of people here would enjoy it.

……….5 years later, it’s time Mrs Macdonald of Dunach made an appearance - I’ll see to it !

also use ‘>’ more than

i went to a session in scotland where they played this tune with a slightly swingier rhythm, (not always long short (>) , but also incorporating short long as well (<)) ,

T: Captain Carswell
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
A2 A<G A2 B<d | e>d B<d e2 d<B | G>A B<A B2 G<B | d>e d<B e2 d<B |
A2 A<G A2 B<d | e>d B<d e2 d<B | G>A B<e d>B e>d | B2 A2 A4 :|
e>f e<d e2 a2 | g>e f>d e4 | d>B A<B d2 e>f | g>e f<d e2 d<B |
e>f e<d e2 a2 | g>e f<d e2 d<B | G>A B<e d>B e>d | B2 A2 A4 :|
A2 A<B A2 A<B | e>d B<d e2 d<B | G>A B<A B2 G<B | d>e d<B e2 d<B |
1 A2 A<B A2 A<B | e>d B<d e2 d<B | G>A B<e d>B e>d | B2 A2 A4 :|
e>A A2 a>g f<a | g>e f>d e4 | B<d B>A G2 B>d | e>d B<d e2 d>B |
e>A A2 a>g f<a | g>e f>d e2 d>B | G>A B<e d>B e>d | B2 A2 A4 |
e>A A2 a>g f<a | g>e f>d e4 | B<d B>A G2 B>d | e>d B<d e2 d>B |
A2 A<G A2 B<d | e>d B<d e2 d<B | G>A B<e d>B e>d | B2 A2 A4 |

Captain Carswell, X:6

As played by the Shotts & Dykehead at the World Championships in 1999.
Transcribed in 2/2, rather than the usual 2/4 to make it easier for non-pipey people to read.

Captain Carswell, X:7

This is the setting played by Eryn Rae at the final of BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2022 on Sunday 6th February.

The setting has a few differences from the standard pipe setting (cf. X:6) .
In the first part Eryn doesn’t play the sixth bar variation of the second bar.
In the second part she adds a lot of snaps that aren’t in the standard setting.
In the third part she takes the fourth part second time ending as the main phrase, replacing |A>AA>B A>AA>B|e>dB<d e2. She also plays a fiddler’s E/E/E pickup (not shown here) on the repeat.
In the fourth part she uses the second part half ending and holds the high A in the first bar of the repeat.

I like it this setting a lot. I always found the third part main phrase a bit weak on instruments other than the pipes - using the “sting-in-the-tail” from the last part instead is, to me, a good get around.