Flett Fae Flotta
Notation:
Standard Notation
ABC Notation
Mandolin Tablature
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legacy / Scottish
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Standard Notation
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Tune Sheet
Donald MacLeod
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
"Flett fae Flotta" or "Flett from Flotta" is a Scottish march in 4/4 time and A Major.<br> The parts are played AB.<br> It was composed by Pipe Major Donald MacLeod. Flotta is a small island in Orkney, Scotland,<br> lying in Scapa Flow which was the United Kingdom's chief naval base during the First and<br> Second World Wars.<br> The title refers to George (Dode) Flett (or William A. Flett), who was a Highland Piper in the<br> Seaforth Highlanders, along with the tune's composer, Donald MacLeod. A couple of stories are<br> attached to the tune. One has it that Flett had a peculiar walking gate, and MacLeod's tune is<br> in imitation of it. Another story goes that MacLeod and another piper had guard duty on a train,<br> protecting the regimental silver as it was being transported for some function in London.<br> To pass the time, they brought out their chanters and began to play and MacLeod suggested<br> they compose a tune together. They came up with this march and cast about for a title. MacLeod<br> inquired of the other piper's name and applied it to the march. A photograph exists of<br> Flett from Flotta marching troops in desert operations during WW2. Flett died in 1998 in New<br> South Wales, to which he retired in 1967.<br> It was printed in Martin's Ceol na Fidhle, vol. 3 (1988). <br> It was recorded by Abby Newton on Castles, Kirks and Caves (2001).<br>
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