The Lochaber Badger reel

A simple and infectious tidbit from "Tunes" by Michael McGoldrick, Sharon Shannon, Frankie Gavin and Jim Murray. This tune is credited to Fred Morrison. I have no idea as to the particulars of said badger.

The actual transcription sounds spot on, but I’ve heard some live versions and the performance of this on the BBC transatlantic sessions, and I’m almost sure he’s playing an F whistle (making the tune G minor).

I’d like to say how brilliant I think this tune is as an example of modern folk -it retains the traditional atmosphere perfectly but you can dance around to it like its led zepplin. :P
It also seems to always get played as the second part of a set beginning with a waltz that apparently has no name.

He plays a Kerry Low D on this not the F

Enigma,

Do you mean Michael McGoldrick or Fred when you say he plays it on a Kerry Low D? I think everyone might be talking about different people in this thread.

Either way, the tune, as written by Fred was in B minor rather than E minor (although I have certainly heard it played in both keys often). Fred did play Chieftain and Kerry whistles (and may still do so in some keys) but he now plays MK whistles as his first choice so if he was playing this tune on a low D it would be on an MK. Mike may very well use Kerry whistles though - he certainly appears on the Kerry website enough!

As written here the tune would be in G minor if played on an F whistle, but as it was originally in B minor playing it on an F whistle would make it D minor.

Ye sorry I meant Fred

By the way here’s another take on it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NXy3s_I87M&feature=PlayList&p=6D4629A3FEC0BC1D&index=2

play video

there’s an amazing version here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVztCC37wlc

play video

The watlz before the Lochaber Badger is called "Farewell to Uist"… a great tune too 🙂

the waltz that precedes Lochaber Badger is Farewell to Uist I think. At least thats the one used in the Transatlantic sessions with Fred Morrison, Donal Lunny and Michael McGoldrick. The waltz gives the perfect lead in and they complement each other beautifully. Have just learned Farewell to Uist and was having a bit of trouble deciphering the runs on the Badger but this site came to my rescue. Many thanks.

Source: Brian Finnegan (Rome Irish Fleadh 2007)

Hi Gian Marco,

This tune is called Lochaber Badger. It’s not really a full blown reel but is usually played at a slow to medium tempo. Really nice tune.

Ah, sorry, it’s already here…

https://thesession.org/tunes/5758

X: 1
T: Lochaber Badger
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Bmin
|:f2 ed ed B2|B2 AB dABd|f2 ed ed B2|BAdA B3 z|
f2 ed ed B2|B2 AB dABd|f2 ed ed B2|BAdA B3 z||
|:B2 AB dB e2|e2 ed fa f2|f2 ed ed B2|BAdA B3 z|
B2 AB dB e2|e2 ed fa f2|f2 ed ed B2|BAdA B3 z||

X: 1
T: Lochaber Badger
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Ador
|:e2 dc dc A2|A2 GA cGAc|e2 dc dc A2|AGcG A2 A2|
e2 dc dc A2|A2 GA cGAc|e2 dc dc A2|AGcG A4||
|:A2 GA cA d2|d2 cd eg e2|e2 dc dc A2|AGcG A2 A2|
A2 GA cA d2|d2 cd eg e2|e2 dc dc A2|AGcG A4||

On the transatlantic video, Mike is playing a Kerry Pro low d, but Fred plays an MK whistle, low d as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_KOx4D9yFk

play video

The man himself. Second tune from about 2.25

The Lochaber badger is a guy in Lochaber with a white stripe in his black hair. It was written by Fred Morrison.

With Variation in the B Part

All who are interested: I’ve watched the "Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle live at Celtic Colours" at link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUM8mn0_Hk.

play video

I and my brother-in-law, too, have been curious about the tuning of both Leaving Uist and Lochaber Badger. To that end, I spent some time trannscribing the work of both whistles (MuseScore). If anybody would like a copy, I’d be happy to share.

Cheers, Bruce