Flowers of Edinburgh
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
In Gaelic Blata Duin-Eudain, this is a widely known<br> reel / hornpipe played by both Scottish, Irish and American<br> fiddlers. Bayard collected it in Pennsylvania for Hill Country Tunes.<br> In the old days the city of Edinburgh was less famous for its<br> greenery than for the smoke and bad stench pervading the Old Town<br> which gave rise to its nickname, "Auld Reekie". Hence, one<br> interpretation of the title of this dance views it as a kind of<br> euphemism for the situation. Some sources prefer to relate the<br> title to the young ladies of the city.<br> Gow and others credit composition of the melody to James Oswald.<br> Its earliest appearance in print is in Oswald's collection<br> Curious Collection of Scots Tunes (vol. II, sometimes dated 1744),<br> which appeared in London and contained the "Flowers" tune as a<br> "crude" song entitled "My love's bonny when she smiles on me."<br> Fenig's All-Stars play a good version with hammered dulcimer.<br> It was also recorded by Aly Bain, Abby Newton and Alasdair Fraser.<br> <br> I play this tune in a medley with one or more of the following:<br> The Boys of Wexford<br> Gary Owen<br> The Irish Washerwoman<br> Scotland the Brave<br> All of which are in this section.<br>
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