Annotation:Caledonian Laddie

Back to 

 CALEDONIAN/CALEDONEAN LADDIE. AKA- "Caledonian Hornpipe." Scottish; Air, Hornpipe, Quickstep. D Major (most versions): B-Flat Major (Howe). Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (O'Farrell): AABB (Cole, Ford, Gatherer, Huntington): AA'BB (Kerr's). A broadside ballad, with words that begin: Blythe Sandy is a bonny boy, And always is a wooing, O, He is e'er so bold and kind, Although he is a wooing, O! CHORUS. Last night he press'd me to his breast, And vow'd he'd ask my daddy, O! ''O dear ! he'd wed me, he confest,'' My Caledonian Laddie, O! My bonny, bonny, Highland boy, My bonny, bonny, Highland boy, My bonny, bonny, Highland boy, Is my Caledonian Laddie, O ! The melody appears in a variety of publications and musicians manuscripts dating to the end of the 18th century and the early 19th, found on both sides of the Atlantic. In the John Fife music manuscript (collected in Perth and perhaps at sea, c. 1780-1804) it is described as a quickstep.  Source for notated version: the 1800-1802 music manuscript of ship's fiddler William Litten [Huntington].  Printed sources: Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; p. 116. Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; p. 115 (appears as "Caledonian Hornpipe"). Gatherer (Gatherer's Musical Museum), 1987; p. 40. Howe, Musician's Omnibus, No. 2. Huntington (William Litten's), 1977; p. 20. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 298, p. 32. O'Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol. II), c. 1806; p. 152. Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883; p. 153. White's Unique Collection, 1899; p. 21.  Recorded sources:

Back to