Digital Tradition Mirror

This notation is pretty simple; dark circles mean covered holes; empty circles mean uncovered holes; a '+' below means to blow harder to get the upper octave; a '#' below means this note is too low for the whistle chosen and you'll have to fake it :) The author of this program always plays accidentals by closing holes, so you'll never see half-covered holes.

When I was starting, I found notation like this to be very helpful, and I know plenty of people who have trouble reading music who find this notation easier. Good luck!

Donald MacGillavry

(D whistle)

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
(Choose a whistle key: A B C D E F G Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb A# B# C# D# E# F# G#)
Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Donald MacGillavry

Donald's gane up the hill hard and hungry,
Donald comes down the hill wild and angry;
Donald will clear the gouk's nest cleverly,
Here's to the king and Donald Macgillavry.
     Come like a weighbauk, Donald Macgillavry,
     Come like a weighbauk, Donald Macgillavry,
     Balance them fair, and balance them cleverly:
     Off wi'the counterfeit, Donald Macgillavry.

Donald's run o'er the hill but his tether, man,
As he were wud, or stang'd wi' an ether, man;
When he comes back, there's some will look merrily:
Here's to King James and Dnnald Macgillavry.
     Come like a weaver, Donald Macgillavry,
     Come like a weaver, Dnnald Macgillavry,
     Pack on your back, and elwand sae cleverly;
     Gie them full measure, my Donald Macgillavry.

Donald has foughten wi' rief and roguery;
Donald has dinner'd wi banes and beggary,
Better it were for Whigs and Whiggery
Meeting the devil than Donald Macgillavry.
     Come like a tailor, Donald Macgillavry,
     Come like a tailor, Donald Macgillavry,
     Push about, in and out, thimble them cleverly,
     Here's to King James and Donald Macgillavry.

Donald's the callan that brooks nae tangleness;
Whigging and prigging and a'newfangleness,
They maun be gane: he winna be baukit, man:
He maun hae justice, or faith he'll tak it, man.
     Come like a cobler, Donald Macgillavry,
     Come like a cobler, Donald Macgillavry;
     Beat them, and bore them, and lingel them cleverly,
     Up wi' King James and Donald Macgillavry.

Donald was mumpit wi mirds and mockery;
Donald was blinded wi' blads o' property;
Arles ran high, but makings were naething, man,
Lord, how Donald is flyting and fretting, man.
     Come like the devil, Donald Macgillavry,
     Come like the devil, Donald Macgillavry;
     Skelp them and scaud them that proved sae unbritherly,
     Up wi King James and Donald Macgillavry!

From MacColl, Folk Somgs and Ballads of Scotland
RG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!