Annotation:Massacre of Glencoe (2) (The)

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MASSACRE OF GLENCOE [2], THE. AKA and see "Colonel Robertson (1)," "House of MacDonald (The)." Canadian, Waltz. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. The tune is played as a pipe march (called "Colonel Robertson") and, on Prince Edward Island, as a waltz (see "House of MacDonald (The)"). Jim McLean writes to clarify that the waltz is an adaptation of his song:

I wrote a song called the "Massacre of Glencoe" in 1963 and rewrote the air "Colonel Robertson" to suit the words. I wrote it as a slow air and you'll note that the recurring phrase 'the House o' MacDoanld' would never fit into "Colonel Robertson." The song "Massacre of Glencoe" or "Ballad of Glencoe" or just plain "Glencoe" is registered with the PRS and MCPS as an original work, words and music by myself and published by Duart Music London. Previous to my writing the song, "Colonel Robertson" was played as Colonel Roberson, a six-eight march, and there could not have been a mention of Glencoe relating to it before 1963. Likewise "The House of MacDonald," whose title was taken from the recurring refrain in my song.

Source for notated version: Johnny Joe & Foncey Chaisson (b. 1918 & 1929, Souris, North-East Kings County, Prince Edward Island) [Perlman].

Printed sources: Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996; p. 171.

Recorded sources:

See also listing at:
Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings Index [1]

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