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