In commonwealth countries, we use this tune to mark Armistice Day and the end of WWI, but the melody first appeared c. 1620 in the John Skene of Halyards Manuscript as "Flowres of the Forrest" (composer unknown). Read more about the tune's history and the significance of bagpipes at the links below:
en.wikipedia.o...
pipingpress.co...
Download the sheet music for free (PDF or BWW) at / 90280431
Or listen to it on full piob mor at • Flowers of the Forest
Many sets of lyrics have been set to Flowers of the Forest, most famously Jean Elliot's poem c.1757 to commemorate the Scots who were lost at the Battle of Flodden (1513):
I’ve heard them lilting at our ewe-milking,
Lasses a-lilting before the dawn of day;
But now they are moaning on ilka green loaning-
The Flowers of the Forest are a’ wede away.
At bughts, in the morning, nae blythe lads are scorning,
The lasses are lonely, and dowie, and wae;
Nae daffin’, nae gabbin’, but sighing and sabbing,
Ilk ane lifts her leglin and hies her away.
In har’st, at the shearing, nae youths now are jeering,
Bandsters are lyart, and runkled, and gray;
At fair or at preaching, nae wooing nae fleeching-
The Flowers of the Forest are a’ wede away.
At e’en, in the gloaming, nae younkers are roaming
‘Bout stacks wi’ the lasses at bogle to play;
But ilk ane sits drearie, lamenting her dearie-
The Flowers of the Forest are weded away.
Dool and wae for the order sent our lads to the Border!
The English, for ance, by guile wan the day;
The Flowers of the Forest, that fought aye the foremost,
The prime of our land, are cauld in the clay.
We’ll hear nae mair lilting at our ewe-milking;
Women and bairns are heartless and wae;
Sighing and moaning on ilka green loaning-
The Flowers of the Forest are a’ wede away.
12 сен 2024
