Annotation:Feet Washing (2) (The)

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 FEET WASHING [2], THE (An oidhche ro' na phosadh). English, Scottish; Reel. England, North-West. B Minor (Knowles): C Minor (Athole, Fraser). Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Athole, Fraser): AABB' (Knowles). "The feet washing is certainly a momentous concern, associating ominous trepidation with merriment, exquisitely described, as sung in Gaelic, by Culduthel, and the editor's grandfather, the gentlemen alluded to in the Prospectus. The air is a local pipe reel, of which a number are introduced in this work, not exceeded by any now in circulation, and hitherto neglected, as chiefly performed by pipers, who frequently miss whole bars, or whole measures, rendering the airs scarcely attainable but form the words,--and ordinary performers on the violin are not ready to take them up, as they require a distinct bow to each note. The editor's father sallied forth with this one, and many others of them, to be noticed in their places, for the first time, when singing to his little grandchildren,--and they, dancing and enjoying his song beyond all the music in the world,--whilst his kindness, and their obedience, gave a mutual encouragement to persevere, till the editor wrote down the music, careless of the words, which he now regrets" (Fraser).  Source for notated version:  Printed sources: Fraser (The Airs and Melodies Peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland and the Isles), 1816/1874; No. 13, pg. 5. Knowles & McGrady (Northern Frisk), 1988; No. 97. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 266.  Recorded sources:

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