Arran Boat Song

This version of Arran Boat Song is played with two mountain dulcimers and a bowed psaltery. The dulcimers are tuned DAd and the song begins on the 1st fret of the dulcimer. A guitar is also playing accompaniment off camera. The Mountain Dulcimer tab file and sheet music can be downloaded from the Everything Dulcimer web site in the Tablature section (the url for Everything Dulcimer is below).

Somewhere along the way the song became related to an escape from Lochleven Castle. Listed are some sites that provide more information and related sheet music and lyrics.


Isle of Arran Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Arran

Historic Scotland information on Lochleven Castle
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyabout.htm?PropID=...

Lochleven Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Leven_Castle

Everything Dulcimer
http://www.everythingdulcimer.com/

Sheet Music and Lyrics for Queen Mary's Escape from Lochleven Castle (two different pages)
http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/levy-cgi/display.cgi?id=117.039.000;pages=3...

http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/levy-cgi/display.cgi?id=176.022.000;pages=2...

Related threads from The Mudcat Cafe
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=15229#134805

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=43271

d_holeton@yahoo.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• mountain
• dulcimer
• appalachian
• bowed
• psaltery
• psaltry
• arran
• boat
• song
• celtic
• scotland
• lochleven
• castle
• scottish
• guitar
• escape

[MrTraditionmusic]

A wonderful rendition of Arran Boat Song! I give you the highest of honors and the best of luck. -Floor van Staarlendam

[dholeton]

@MrTraditionmusic

Thanks Floor

This melody was wonderful for me to learn. I still play it often.

Dave

[LibertangoVieenrose]

... stunningly beautiful. I enjoyed a lot this superb sound and playing.

Thank you very much for uploading this to Y.T.

[dholeton]

@LibertangoVieenrose

Thank You Libertango

It is a great thing for us to be able to share our music with so many people on YT all from the privacy of our little rooms where we play most of our music.

Dave

[KrazyKuno]

Have to add that to the Favourites! It would be nice if more people showed interest in the good music that helped build humanity than the popular stuff that tears it down. Truly beautiful!

[dholeton]

@KrazyKuno

Thanks KK

Arran Boat Song in this version might be considered by many to be in the E Dorian mode. Several modes for music existed before the standard music notation of today. One saying has it that the Dorian mode was said to be a "bestower of wisdom and chastity". I still enjoy playing Arran Boat Song often today. This Dorian melody works for me.

Dave

[dholeton]

@IHatchetJack

Thanks Dusty. Arran Boat Song is one of those songs that has a melody that seems to reach out and grab us. I am ever so grateful that I was able to record a version worthy of such a high compliment.

Take Care

Dave

[IHatchetJack]

Gaaaa! This is beautiful! I can't stop watching!

[dholeton]

@johnhenry176

Thanks John

There are so many songs out here, I don't watch much TV anymore.

Take Care

Dave

[johnhenry176]

Only just found this Dave, relly enjoyed it, thank you !

JohnH