Flowers of the Forest, A lament for the army of James IV

 

Flowers of the Forest, A lament (비가,悲歌) for the army of James IV

 

Flowers of the Forest

(Dark Isle Bagpiper)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNxCs7g8_vs 

 

 

History:

 

This tune was written as a lament for Scots that were killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

 

Although the original words are unknown, the melody was recorded in c. 1615-25 in the John Skene of Hay yards Manuscript as "Flowres of the Forrest." Song of the Isles.

 

Dark Isle Piper Remarks:

This moment playing the Bagpipes in Glencoe was extraordinary. The Sun rays were dancing and giving the sense of joy and peace where there was once great tragedy. The way the pipes mournfully echoed in this Glen had a sense of remembrance.

 

In memory of the terrible tragedy that occurred in this Glen back in 1692 on February 13th in the early morning hours between the MacDonald and Campbell Clans.

 

I felt it was the perfect tune for the moment.

Remembering the Fallen MacDonald Chief, 33 Men, 2 Women and 2 children.

 

Bagpipes by Tress Maksimuk

Recorded at Weathertop Studio

Filmed by Nick Maksimuk (iPhone video)

Filmed on location in Glencoe Scotland

Edit by Tress Maksimuk

 

💥FLOWER OF THE FOREST💥SCOTS GUARDS💥

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfsasAlICo8BAGPIPES 

 

A view of the Scottish countryside taken from across Scotland.

Accompanied by the music of The Scots Guards ( Flowers of the Forest ).

Dedicated to all the men and women who have fallen in conflicts past and present.

 

God bless and may they Rest In Peace

 

The Flowers of the Forest A lament for the army of James IV, the flower of Scottish manhood, slain with their king on the field of Flodden, September 1513.

 

The composition of this song began with a fragment of a very old ballad.

Mrs Patrick Cockburn of Ormiston drew on this fragment to write a full song.

Then in the mid 18th century Miss Jane Elliot, daughter of Sir Gilbert Elliot of Minto, Lord Chief Justice Clerk of Scotland, drew on Mrs Cockburn's work to make this lyric a much finer piece of work.

 

'The pipe tune is well known to anyone who has attended a Remembrance Day service in Scotland, but the song is all too seldom heard nowadays.'

 

The Scots had in 1513 invaded England to support their allies, the French.

On 9 September 1513 the Scots army, under King James IV, faced the English forces of King Henry VIII under the command of Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey.

 

The battle was ferocious and bloody - men were felled by artillery, arrows, pikes, bills and swords.

Around 14,000 men died, including James IV, the last British king to die in battle.

 

 

Flowers of the Forest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUNpFzdFsqk 

 

 

Flowers of the Forest, record at St Anns Cathedral, Belfast, by Arkmedia.

One of the best known Laments played at military Funerals or memorial services.

 

 

Traditional Scottish Songs
- The Flowers of the Forest

 

This was written by Jean Elliot on the 18th century and is a reworking of an older song about the non-return of the large number of Scottish soldiers after the Battle of Flodden, when 10,000 are said to have perished along with their king and large numbers of the nobility.

 

 

The Flowers of the Forest

I've heard the lilting, at the yowe-milking,
Lasses a-lilting before dawn o' day;
But now they are moaning on ilka green loaning;
"The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away".

As buchts, in the morning, nae blythe lads are scorning;
The lasses are lonely and dowie and wae.
Nae daffin', nae gabbin', but sighing and sobbing,
Ilk ane lifts her leglen, and hies her away.

In hairst, at the shearing, nae youths now are jeering,
The Bandsters are lyart, and runkled and grey.
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 swankies 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 a' wede away.

Dule 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 foucht aye the foremost,
The prime o' our land are cauld in the clay.

We'll hae nae mair lilting, at the yowe-milking,
Women and bairns are dowie and wae.
Sighing and moaning, on ilka green loaning,
The Flowers of the forest are all wede away.

Meaning of unusual words:
yowe=ewe
ilka=every
wede=withered
buchts=cattle pens
dowie-sad
wae=woeful
daffin'=dallying
gabbin'=talking
leglen=stool
hairst=harvest
bandsters=binders
lyart=grizzled
runkled=crumpled
fleeching=coaxing
gloaming=twilight
swankies=young lads
bogle=peek-a-boo
dule=mourning clothes