Origins: Campbell's Farewell to Redgap / Redcastle

Subject: Campbell's farewell to Redgap: info?
From: Margo
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 09:01 PM

I'm learning a fiddle tune (on the banjo) called Campbell's farewell to Redgap. I wonder if there is a story behind the title - anyone know? Thanks, Margo

P.S. I already tried a forum search....

Subject: RE: Campbell's farewell to Redgap: info?
From: Margo
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 09:11 PM

I just located the tune on this page: http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/gatherer/scottish/mandopp/tunes.html

but it has "Redcastle" in the title instead of Redgap. It's the same melody. The plot thickens! Margo

Subject: RE: Campbell's farewell to Redgap: info?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 12:28 PM

The following is quoted from Andrew Kuntz's invaluable  The Fiddler's Companion:

CAMPBELL'S FAREWELL TO REDCASTLE.  See Campbell's Farewell to Red Gap, Steph's Reel.
Scottish, March (2/4 time).  A Mixolydian.  Standard.  AABB' (Gatherer, Martin).

The Campbell referred to in the title may by the Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, who led troops in the massacre of Glencoe Pass in 1692.  Redcastle is a village on the north side of Beauty Firth approximately 100 miles from Glencoe, whose castle was built in 1179 (it claims to be the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland).  The Scots Guards Standard Pipe Settings suggests that The Sweet Maid of Glendaruel follow Campbell's Farewell to Redcastle.  Glendaruel is on the way to Tighnabruaich from Glencoe and is nearly as far to the south as Redcastle is to the north.

Gatherer (Gatherer's Musical Museum), 1987; pg. 46. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), Vol. 2, 1988; pg. 1. Ross, William Ross's Collection of Pipe Music (1875).

Subject: RE: Campbell's farewell to Redgap: info?
From: Margo
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 12:58 AM

Thanks Malcolm. This gives me something to read up on. But in 1367 a Donald Campbell sold Redcastle and I wondered if he might be the subject of the song.... One can only guess. Margo

Subject: RE: Campbell's farewell to Redgap: info?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 07:16 AM

Malcolm, that would be "the Beauly Firth", rather than "Beauty Firth".Pronounced just like "beauty" except for the "l". (Although it really is a "beauty firth" :-)

Murray

Subject: RE: Campbell's farewell to Redgap: info?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 08:18 AM

Thanks, Murray!