Susan MacLeod strathspey

I first heard this tune on an LP when I was a young lad, and I instantly fell in love with the melody and metre of the tune. I believe it was written by Pipe Major Donald McLeod, I don’t think I have ver heard a better sounding Strathspey than this tune. I have written it in the key of G Major as this is more friendly for uilleann pipes and whistle players.

There’s nothing wrong with it in its’ original key - perfectly playable on whistle or flute.

In the meantime, here’s a take in A, but taken that I am not familiar with the composers original notes for this, except that it was given birth in the key of A, but I don’t see that as a ‘limitation’ ~

X: 2
T: Susan McLeod
C: Pipe Major Donald McLeod
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: strathspey
K: A Major
|: a>f |
e>fe>d d<cc>B | A>Bc<A c<e e2 |
[1 f>ga>e f<aa>f | e>f (3edc B2 :|
[2 a>ef<a e>ad<a | c>aB<a A2 ||
|: c>a |
(3eee e>f c<ee>c | A>B (3cBA c<e e2 |
[1 (3fff f>e d<ff>g | a>ef<a e<a :|
[2 a>ef<a e>ad<a | c>aB<a A2 ||
|: a>f |
e>A (3AAA A>Bc<A | c<A (3AAA c<e e2 |
[1 f>B (3BBB B>cd<c | (3BBB d>e f<a :|
[2 a>ef<a e>ad<a | c>aB<a A2 ||
|: c>a |
f<aa>c c<e (3eee | A>Bc<A c<e (3eee |
[1 f<aa>d d<ff>g | a>ef<a f2 :|
[2 a>ef<a e>ad<a | c>aB<a A2 |]

Here is another option for all the lead-in notes and closing 2nd endings ~

|: a | ~ |[2 a2 (3fga e<ad<a | c>aB<a A3 ||

X: 3
T: Susan McLeod
C: Pipe Major Donald McLeod
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: strathspey
K: G Major
|: g |
d>ed>c c<BB>A | G>AB<G B<d d2 |
[1 e>fe>d B<gg>e | d>ed<B e3 :|
[2 g>de<g d>gc<g | B>gA<g G3 ||
|: B |
d>ee>d B<dd>G | G>AB>G B<dB>G |
[1 e2 e>d c<ee>f | g>de<g d3 :|
[2 g>de<g d>gc<g | B>gA<g G3 ||
|: e |
d>G (3GGG (3GGG B<G | B>G (3GGG B<dG>g |
[1 e>A (3AAA (3AAA c<B | c>A (3AAA c>d e- :|
[2 g>de<g d>gc<g | B>gA<g G3 ||
|: d |
e<gg>B B<dd>G | G>AB<G B<d d2 |
[1 e<gg>c c<ee>f | g>de<g B<ge :|
[2 g>de<g d>gc<g | B>gA<g G3 ||

"The Fiddle Music of the Scottish Highlands: Ceol na Fidhle Volumes 3 & 4"
Compiled and arranged by Christine Martin
Taigh na Teud, Isle of Skye, 2002 (Volume 3, 1988, page 26)
ISBN: 1-871931-088

Page 81: "Susan MacLeod" ~ Strathspey

"McLeod" ~ I slipped in the typing…

Part-C ~ I would actually tend to lead in with a g instead of the e ~

|: g | d>G (3GGG G>AB<G | ~

X: 1
T: Susan McLeod
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: strathspey
K: Dmaj
|: A>BA>G G<FF>E | D>EF<D F<A A2 | B>cB>A B<dd>B | A>BA>F B2 d>B |
A>BA>G G<FF>E | D>EF<D F<A A2 | d>A(3Bcd A>dG<d |F>dE<d D2 D2 :|
|:F| A2 A>B F<AA>F | D>EF>D F<AF>D | B2 B>A G<BB>c | d>A(3Bcd A>dF>d |
(3BAF A>B F<AA>F | D>EF>D F<AF>D | d>A(3Bcd A>dG<d |F>dE<d D2 D2 :|
|:F| A>D D2 D2 F<D | F>D D2 F<AA<d | B>E E2 E2 G>F | E2 G>A B2 B<d |
A>D D2 D2 F<D | F>D D2 F<AA<B | d>A(3Bcd A>dG<d |F>dE<d D2 D2 :|
|:F| B<dd>F F<AA>F | D>EF<D F<AA>B | B<dd>G G<BB>c | d>A(3Bcd F<dB>A |
B<dd>F F<AA>F | D>EF<D F<AA>B | d>A(3Bcd A>dG<d |F>dE<d D2 D2 :|

Even easier on whistle and pipes in this key.