Annotation:Flugga (1)

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FLUGGA [1]. Shetland, Country Dance Tune (4/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. "One of the tunes for the dance 'Da Flugga', which used to be danced in the little village of Collafirth, in the Delting area" (Anderson), but was not danced in Mossbank. The Flugga dance actually used tunes that crisply changed from jig time to reel time; see also "Doon the Burn Davie" and "Saw Ye Nae My Peggie." It was danced at the end of reel sets, and involved dancers putting their hands on their partners' shoulders while trying to keep step with the tune, which got faster and faster until it broke up and everyone lost time.

The name 'flugga' derives from Norse flugey, or 'island', and Muckle Flugga was the name for the island of North Uist. From Wikipedia: "According to local folklore, Muckle Flugga and nearby Out Stack were formed when two giants, Herma and Saxa, fell in love with the same mermaid. They fought over her by throwing large rocks at each other, one of which became Muckle Flugga. To get rid of them, the mermaid offered to marry whichever one would follow her to the North Pole. They both followed her and drowned, as neither could swim." [1].

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Anderson (Ringing Strings), 1983; p. 68.

Recorded sources:




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