Annotation:High Way to Edinburgh (2) (The)

Back to 

 HIGH WAY TO EDINBURGH [2], THE. AKA and see "Black Eagle (The)," "Bonnie Black Eagle (The)," "Bonny Kate of Edinburgh," "Women's work will never be done." Scottish, Slow Air (4/4 time) and Jig. G Minor (Oswald): E Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. A slow air in James Oswald's (1710-1769) Caledonian Pocket Companion (1757) to which is appended a jig ("gigga"). Oswald based his piece on an older air known as "Women's work will never be done" or "Bonny Kate of Edinburgh," and had even printed a version called "Black Eagle (The)" in his earlier publication, Collection of Curious Scots Tunes (1747) in which he attributes the air to David Rizzio (doomed secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots) [see John Glen, Early Scottish Melodies, 1900, No. 228). The jig has become detached from the air (even in the 18th century) and is also played alone with the same title (see "High Way to Edinburgh (1) (The)" for more on the development of the 6/8 melody).   Source for notated version:   Printed sources: Oswald (Caledonian Pocket Companion), vol. 1, 1757, p. 100. Wood (Songs of Scotland), 1848-49.  Recorded sources:

Back to