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The Braes Of Elchies jig

By Charles Grant

Also known as Braes O’ Elchies, The Braes O’ Elchies, Braes Of Elachie, The Braes Of Elachie, Braes Of Elchie’s, The Braes Of Elchie’s.

There are 5 recordings of this tune.

The Braes Of Elchies has been added to 1 tune set.

The Braes Of Elchies has been added to 19 tunebooks.

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Three settings

1
X: 1
T: The Braes Of Elchies
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:B|AFA d2 e|f2 e g3|AFA d2 e|faf ecB|
AF/G/A d2 e|f2 e g2 A|BG/A/B AdF|E2 F G2:|
|:f|afa a2 f|bgb b2 g|af/g/a afd|f^ef =e2 A|
[1 afa afa|bgb bgb|afd e2 A|B2 c d2:|
[2 B2 G B/c/dB|AfA A2 d|BgB AdF|E2 F D2||
2
X: 2
T: The Braes Of Elchies
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:B|AFA d2 e|fdf gfe|A2 A d2 e|f/g/af e2 B|
A2 F d2 e|fd/e/f g2 A|B^AB AdF|E3 D2:|
|:f|afa d2 f|bgb d2 g|a^ga afd|f^ef =e3|
[1 af/g/a d2 f|bge B2 g|afd ecA|B2 c d2:|
[2 B2 G Bcd|A2 f A2 d|BgB AdF|E^DE =D2||
3
X: 3
T: The Braes Of Elchies
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Cmaj
|:A|GEG c3|e2 d f3|GEG c2 d|ege dBA|
GEG c3|e2 d c2 G|AFA GcE|D2 E F2:|
|:e|geg geg|afa afa|geg gec|e^de =d2 G|
[1 geg g2 e|afa a2 f|gec d2 G|A2 B c2:|
[2 AFA AF/G/A|GEG G2 E|AfA Gce|d2 G C2||

Fifteen comments

“The Braes Of Elchies / Elachie” ~ in C Major

Another transcription for this can be found here:

"Brenda Stubbert’s Collection of Fiddle Tunes:
A compliation of Traditional and Original Melodies"
edited by Paul Stewart Cranford
Cranford Publications, 1994
ISBN: 0-9691181--4-7

Page 35: “The Braes of Elachie” ~ listed as ‘traditional’

However, elsewhere I found it listed as C: Charles Grant ~ ???

This one has been included on at least half a dozen Cape Breton recordings… This transcription is my own take on it, with some other options given…

B-part, bars 1, 2, 5 & 6, a third option ~

~ | afa d2 f | bgb d2 g | ~

The Braes Of Elchie’s

Used, by RSCDS, for the dance “A Trip to Aberdeen” (Rutherford 1756), this seems indeed to be a composition of Charles Grant of Aberlour (1810-92), and is published in his 19th century collection.

Thanks Nigel, I was going to ask… 😉

“The Braes of Elchies / Elachie”

A few differences for comparison from the Brenda Stubbert C transcription…

The A-part first, bars 1 & 2, 5 & 6

K: Cmaj
|: GEG c3 | e2 d f3 | ~ | GEG c3 | e2 d c2 G | ~

K: Dmaj
|: AFA d3 | f2 e g3 | ~ | AFA d3 | f2 e d2 A | ~

The B-part first, bars 1 & 2, 5 & 6, 9 & 10, 13 & 14

K: Cmaj
|: geg geg | afa afa | ~ | geg geg | afa afa | ~
[1 geg geg | afa afa | ~ [2 AFA AFA | GEG GEG | ~

K: Dmaj
|: afa afa | bgb bgb | ~ | afa afa | bgb bgb | ~
[1 afa afa | bgb bgb | ~ [2 BGB BGB | AFA AFA | ~

The Braes Of Elchies

What’s an Elchie?

& what does an Elchie’s bray sound like, eh?

Rather like a Selkie’s or a Kelpie’s, perhaps.

Ha Ha Ha!
A brae, amongst other things, is a (usually steep) hillside.
I should imagine Elchies is a placename.

I was trying to stir up Nigel, but you’ll do for now dear Donald… 😉

Thanks, dear C. But where is Elchies?

Ah! Thought the name sounded familiar. There’s a William Marshall reel called “Easter Elchies” which Jerry Holland played on his Master Cape Breton Fiddler CD.

Elchies is on Speyside. Easter Elchies House was built in 1700.
Apparently the estate owns a good fishing beat so perhaps brae here has its original meaning, namely, the (steep) bank of a river.

Oh to be there fishing in the snow…