Very nice Tavy. The new mando is nice indeed. The only time I ever even think I might like to have a mandola is when you play tours. Now this. Beautiful. Gary
Ok, not much time to enjoy that rank, then. To think - reading that kind of news about yourself in the papers - it's almost facebook.
I didn't get around to doing this tune when it was current, but I've just come across a nice harmony at a Japanese Celtic flute site: http://celtnofue.com/PDF/Hector_the_hero.pdf I've recorded the tune on my Mid-Mo octave mandolin, with harmonies on the Ajr and tenor guitar kicking in after an unaccompanied introduction. Martin
Wonderful harmonies Martin.
Very true to form Martin. Those harmonies are about what you typically hear from a SRS.
Nice job. Odd though, that guy at the top of page 2 looks an awful lot like you!
So I'm more of a silent watcher here now. But I wanted to give shout out to old sausage. Today I did a version of hector the hero (inspired by yours) at the topanga banjo fiddle contest. In the beginning mandolin category. It was my first comp and first time playing in front of a crowd in years. It was a blast and I got 3rd place. I didn't quite nail it and it didn't come close to your version. I did want to thank this group for introducing me to this song and sausage for inspiring me to work on playing it. Now to practice more and get over the nerves better and see if I can't do better next year or at least try my hand at the non beginner.
Well done, Pezdork, and congratulations on getting placed, that's very inspiring too. Thanks for the shout out, and good luck with your next competition!
It sure takes guts to get up in a competition like that one. Big congratulations!
It was very nerve racking. My fingers on my left hand went numb before I went on. But I stuck with it. I think it also helped that no one I talked too knew the song and I forgot to announce what I was playing. I faked my way through a couple mistakes. In the end when I was done and the crowd clapped I wished I could have played 10 more songs.
I'm embarrassed to post this, but maybe it can inspire othere to say "well hell if that guy got third place..."
Nice job Robert.
Robert, I have to say, you've done us proud! It's so fun to see one of the bunch here in action. I bet after playing there a regular gig will feel downright relaxing. Great job, and thanks for sharing the performance.
As seen from the perspective of a beginner I envy both your guts and playfulness.
Played on my 1920 A model and 1891 Geo. Bent pump organ.
Sounds good, Dustyamps! The pump organ gives this lament the right tearful feeling. One of the nice things about the SAW-group is, that in participating, you learn things you wouldn't learn otherwise. The Tombigbee river for example, or Hector MacDonald...
Interesting version, Christian. You employ a steady waltz rhythm rather than the rubato slow air, and it works well in this tune. I love the bottle label in your last picture - the Glen Mist liqueur made in London, England! The distilled spirits were all whiskies (from Scotland?)
I came across this beautuful tune last Thursday and have been work'n my poor digits, and brain, to the bone trying to figure it out. And driving my poor wife crazy... I hope this passes as an Air, it's harder than it sounds. Thanks 4 listen'n.
I thoroughly enjoyed your rendition of this tune, Frank. It has great tone and some nice ornamentation and your interpretation makes it a favourite of mine.
Frank, that was a beautiful tune and beautifully played! I love the arrangement with its subtle embellishments. Where can I find it?
Very tasteful in tone and timing, Frank. Beautiful pictures with a lot of nature and one bike.
Those slides really bring the tune to life, great job Frank.
I decided since the thread has been revived here by Frank that I would do a new recording of the tune. This time no accordion (played on the original by my late friend and fellow band member Derek MacDonald) nor instruments other than mandolin, octave and guitar. The pictures are ones I took on my last visit to Hector MacDonald's monument in Dingwall in Ross-shire. Frank posted his version on another thread started by Will Fly, but has now moved it to here, and a great version his is!
Great Doing it all by myself-video, John.The fine music and the nice pictures make for enjoyable 143 seconds.
Such a fine rendition, John! I had to listen to it a few times. I also listened to all the other submissions. The instruments and playing technics are so different but all are very interesting.
Fine Scottish playing, John, yes there are a lot of very different versions of this tune. Here’s what wiki has to say: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hector_MacDonald
Fine versions Frank (boldly letting the mandolin breathe to the last of its sustain) and John (the soft sound of the octave makes it extra-sad)
Thanks, all four of you. It is a tune worth revisiting. We play it regularly at home here and the fiddlers enjoy playing in both A and D.
Beautiful version John! Played like a " True" Scottsman! I'm only 1/4 Scott, and it shows, but I'm working at getting more betterer. Sherry; I listened to half a dozen different recordings, many many times, all on fiddle, memorized the tune, and worked from there. The arrangement in "A" seems pretty standard.
Beautifully played and interpreted John. Did our talk about cemeteries give you this idea. I always like your pauses or 'breaths' when you interpret a tune like this.
Thanks, Ginny. The pauses are something I think I picked up from playing with flddlers a lot over time. Interesting coincidence about our recent chat about cemetery locations for picture opportunities, but those photos were the only ones I had to hand to go with the tune. The memorial is a spectacular construction and occupies a vantage spot above the town of Dingwall, itself a lovely place to visit.
Beautiful versions, you two! Thanks for resurrecting this one, Frank, it's a good 'un. I agree that to get the right feel for these airs is no mean feat. Here's my version from two Augusts ago, posted to the Newbies group, paired with a not-great take of Midnight on the Water. The pic is the Dordogne River, taken at sunrise during a vacation (a what??):
Bruce, you put together the two tunes rather well here. I have never thought of pairing Hector with any other tune, but you manage to create an interesting set here with Midnight on the Water. You mention getting a feel for the air and its phrasing. There are lyrics to Hector The Hero which were written by Thomas McWilliam and I tend to have them in my head when I play this tune and try to play to the lyrics. Below is an extract from them: 'O, wail for the mighty in battle,/ Loud lift ye the Coronach strain;/ For Hector, the Hero, of deathless fame,/ Will never come back again' James Scott Skinner wrote the lament in 1903; he was a friend of Hector which adds some poignancy to the story. Aberdeen University has an excellent archive of Skinner and his works, including original manuscripts and there is the manuscript of McWilliam's lyrics in his own handwriting in this archive.
That's great advice, John, I wasn't aware there were lyrics until after I had done the recording.
My take on Skinner's tune. This is one of those tunes which somehow made its way into the Irish repertoire. My first encounter with it was via The Bothy Band and subsequently I've heard many versions, recorded and in sessions. I intended to record this at a slightly slower tempo but I settled into a somewhat less funereal speed than I had aimed for. I gather that Skinner wrote the tune in A but in Irish circles, it tends to be played in D - hence the version which I've got is in D.
Nice tenor guitar treatment, Aidan!
Thanks for the kind words, Christian...
Lovely sound and arrangement, Aidan, thanks for posting this. I thought I was seeing six strings in the picture initially, while thinking, "That SURE sounds like a tenor"! Time for new glasses.
Kind words and much appreciated. Thank you. Aidan
This one has been lingering under my fingertips for some time now…this Easter holiday has given me some free time to get a bit of playing/recording done. Ivor Pickard Octave Mandolin Faith parlour guitar (Naked Mercury)
You're on a roll, John. You're also a brave man to add to this very distinguished thread, but yours is every bit as good as earlier postings. Once again, you combine the two instruments subtly and effectively.
Thanks, Richard. A distinguished thread indeed…inspirational and informative…
Play this one each Thursday evening at our local session. Usually two sets of small pipes among the fiddles, mandolin, accordion(s) guitars and whistles. I really like your version here.
Great version, John W. Love the sound of your octave every time. Oh, yes, there are so many great versions in this thread!
Thank you John K and Frithjof. It is a tune that stirs the emotions whether it’s played by a solo piper, a large collection of musicians (like at the Edinburgh Tattoo), or any combination in between.