"Lord Lovat's Lament" is an 18th-century tune for bagpipes associated with an executed Scottish revolutionary nobleman of Clan Fraser.[1] The Lord Lovat of the title is Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat. Reportedly composed by Ewen MacGregor of Clann an Sgeulaiche, or his pupil David Fraser,[2] the work is said to be "a pibroch composed by his own piper to mourn his passing, played at the slow pace of Lord Lovat's final march of 300 paces from the Tower of London to Tower Hill."[3]
History
editOne history of the usage of bagpipe music by the armies of the Commonwealth during World War I reported that the troops were played the "crooning, hoping, sobbing of 'Lord Lovat's Lament,' and so went on from hour to hour through the emptiness of Southern Germany."[4]
In popular culture
editThe tune was mentioned in passing in the series finale of The Crown, in a fictionalized conversation between Elizabeth II and "Pipes," her character's nickname for the Piper to the Sovereign.[5] The scene was meant to illustrate the decision process that led to the real-life performance of the traditional Scottish lament "Sleep, Dearie, Sleep" at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.[6]
References
edit- ^ Fionn (1904). The Martial Music of the Clans: With Historic, Biographic, & Legendary Notes Regarding the Origin of the Music, Also Portraits of Highland Chiefs & Distinguished Clansmen, with Their Seats, Arms, Etc. Etc. J. Mackay. p. 119.
- ^ Collinson, Francis (2021-10-12). The Bagpipe: The History of a Musical Instrument. Routledge. pp. [no page numbers]. ISBN 978-1-000-43583-2.
- ^ Nevin, Michael (2020-11-12). Reminiscences of a Jacobite: The Untold Story of the Rising of 1745. Birlinn Ltd. pp. [no page numbers]. ISBN 978-1-78885-371-2.
- ^ "The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Pipes of War, by Brevet-Col. Sir Bruce Seton, Bart., Of Abercorn, C.B. and Pipe-Major John Grant". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ "The Crown S6:E10 "Sleep, Dearie Sleep"" (PDF). 8flix.com.
- ^ Burack, Emily (2023-12-24). "Queen Elizabeth's Funeral Ended with a Rendition of "Sleep, Dearie, Sleep"". Town & Country. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
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