Commentary by Hamish Henderson on James MacPherson's fiddling before his execution

Audio file

Date recorded: July 17, 1951
Contributor(s): Performer: Lomax, Alan; Performer: Henderson, Hamish; Recordist: Lomax, Alan
Subject(s):
Genre: interview/commentary
Culture: Lowland Scotland, Scottish
Instruments: voice
Setting: The Commercial Hotel
Location: Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
Physical form: Reel to Reel
Tape number: T3418
Track Number: 8
Archive ID: T3418R08
Note: Henderson corrects MacBeath's version of the MacPherson execution story. MacPherson, standing on the gallows cart, supposedly offered his fiddle to any man who could play a tune but none of those who came forward played to his satisfaction, so MacPherson broke the fiddle over the last man's head, and leapt off the cart, thereby hanging himself.
Transcript:
Belongs to: Turriff II 7/51
About the session: Bothy ballads and local Aberdeenshire songs sung by Jimmy MacBeath, John Strachan, and friends. The ballads in this session sung by William Matheson, consist of first verses only, with the exceptions of "Died For Love" (T3421R14) and "The Death of Harry Bradford" (T3421R21).
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