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.

This is as close to the original as I think it can be reproduced without actually adding the GHB embellishments. The ~ ornament indicates a rhythm like A<A, but actually tighter, more like A<<A or with repeated notes: A/4A/4A3/2.

There is a variant rhythm in the last two bars in the last part - this isn’t often played by pipers, who normally play as per the other parts, but it is how it was written.

On the pipes, as ever key is actually two sharps, but the Gs here are passing notes and it makes sense to play them sharp if you can.

Although this is far and away the best transcription here, I disagree entirely with the “G”s being sharp.