Bluebells of Scotland
Encyclopedia
Blue Bells of Scotland is a traditional Scottish folk song
(Roud
# 13849).
, the words are:
A broadside ballad version from slightly later in the 19th century makes references to George III and the Napoleonic wars
:
The bluebell is a flower; see Common bluebell
and Campanula rotundifolia.
for trombone
with potential orchestra accompaniment. Although the exact date is disputed due to some naming questions, Pryor probably composed the piece around 1899. The piece is technically challenging.
The piece allows the trombonist to show off a flowing legato while, in different places, requiring some difficult jumps and leaps. The sheer speed and volume of notes also poses a significant challenge. It is in theme and variation form, and opens a 24-bar intro. After the theme, it moves to the allegro section, in which the variations begin. Variation one involves triplets, while variation two involves syncopated sixteenth-eighth note rhythms. The cadenza that follows demonstrates the performer's range; jumping from a high C (an octave above the Middle C) to a low pedal G, for example. The vivace finale brings all these techniques into one, requiring the trombonist to exhibit advanced range, legato, double tonguing and flexibility. Thus, the piece is limited to the best trombonists, although there have been numerous recordings of the piece by such famed players as Joseph Alessi
and Christian Lindberg
.
Blue Bells of Scotland is often likened to be the trombone and euphonium
equivalent (in terms of required mastery of the instrument) to the Carnival of Venice
for trumpet
and cornet
by Jean-Baptiste Arban
.
American composer Leroy Anderson also wrote an orchestral arrangement giving a very clean and sprightly melody to the high strings and woodwinds, befitting the female speaker of the lyrics.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
(Roud
Roud Folk Song Index
The Roud Folk Song Index is a database of 300,000 references to over 21,600 songs that have been collected from oral tradition in the English language from all over the world...
# 13849).
Text
As with most folk songs, it exists in multiple versions. In the version printed in 1803 in the Scots Musical MuseumScots Musical Museum
The Scots Musical Museum was a major publication that had a pivotal role in the collecting and tradition of Music of Scotland. It was by no means the first collection of Scottish folk songs and music, but the six volumes, with 100 songs in each, collected more pieces, introduced new songs, and...
, the words are:
- O where and O where does your highland laddie dwell;
- O where and O where does your highland laddie dwell;
- He dwells in merry Scotland where the blue bells sweetly smell,
- And all in my heart I love my laddie well'
A broadside ballad version from slightly later in the 19th century makes references to George III and the Napoleonic wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
:
- Oh, where, and oh, where is my highland laddie gone,
- Oh, where, and oh, where is my highland laddie gone,
- He's gone to fight the French, for King George upon the throne,
- And it's oh in my heart I wish him safe at home
The bluebell is a flower; see Common bluebell
Common Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta, commonly known as the common bluebell, is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial plant. -Taxonomy:...
and Campanula rotundifolia.
Arrangements
The song has been arranged by Arthur PryorArthur Pryor
Arthur Willard Pryor was a trombone virtuoso, bandleader, and soloist with the Sousa Band. In later life, he was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served on the Monmouth County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders during the 1930s.Pryor was born on the second floor of...
for trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
with potential orchestra accompaniment. Although the exact date is disputed due to some naming questions, Pryor probably composed the piece around 1899. The piece is technically challenging.
The piece allows the trombonist to show off a flowing legato while, in different places, requiring some difficult jumps and leaps. The sheer speed and volume of notes also poses a significant challenge. It is in theme and variation form, and opens a 24-bar intro. After the theme, it moves to the allegro section, in which the variations begin. Variation one involves triplets, while variation two involves syncopated sixteenth-eighth note rhythms. The cadenza that follows demonstrates the performer's range; jumping from a high C (an octave above the Middle C) to a low pedal G, for example. The vivace finale brings all these techniques into one, requiring the trombonist to exhibit advanced range, legato, double tonguing and flexibility. Thus, the piece is limited to the best trombonists, although there have been numerous recordings of the piece by such famed players as Joseph Alessi
Joseph Alessi
Joseph Alessi is a world-renowned, primarily classical, trombonist; he is the current Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and an active soloist, teacher/clinician and recording artist. Alessi is considered the finest player in modern times....
and Christian Lindberg
Christian Lindberg
Christian Lindberg is a Swedish trombonist, conductor and composer.As a youth, Lindberg learned to play the trumpet, and subsequently began to learn the trombone at age 17. He originally borrowed a trombone to join his friends' Dixieland jazz group, inspired by records of Jack Teagarden...
.
Blue Bells of Scotland is often likened to be the trombone and euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
equivalent (in terms of required mastery of the instrument) to the Carnival of Venice
Carnival of Venice (song)
The Carnival of Venice, is a folk tune popularly associated with the words "My hat, it has three corners." A series of theme and variations have been written for solo trumpet, as "show off" pieces that contain virtuosic displays of double and triple tonguing, and fast tempos.Many variations on the...
for trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
by Jean-Baptiste Arban
Jean-Baptiste Arban
Joseph Jean-Baptiste Laurent Arban was a cornetist, conductor, composer, pedagogue and the first famed virtuoso of the cornet à piston or valved cornet...
.
American composer Leroy Anderson also wrote an orchestral arrangement giving a very clean and sprightly melody to the high strings and woodwinds, befitting the female speaker of the lyrics.