I was inspired by all the contributions in this thread, and felt compelled to record a version of this popular Scottish tune. Played on an Ivor Pickard Octave Mandola, Faith Parlour Guitar and Phil Davidson Mandolin.
It has been a great thread, John, with so many versions of this fine tune posted. Your latest here is a lovely arrangement giving the three instruments space to be heard clearly and the sustain on your Packard octave is amazing as I listen on headphones as I type this!
Lovely arrangement and beautifully played, John. Glad you posted this!
Very nice, John! Also a good view of that OM which looks (and sounds) a great instrument. This reminds me that we have a new arrangement of this tune in our repertoire folder which we've been playing for about a year but which I haven't recorded. I'm not particularly happy with my old 2014 recording in this thread, so I'll need to get around to recording the new setting. Martin
What a great thread! Many great versions. Watching the link to Paul Anderson on YT, I was then led onto a classical guitar version by Matthew McAllister with some great stage banter, well worth a look for a plucked-string version: https://youtu.be/fPLC7v_vsVk
Great performance, John. Good choice to use the OM with its long sustain as main lead instrument.
Thank you all. John - I love the sustain on the OM too…and I’ve corrected the spelling of the Luthier’s name (Pickard, not Packard). Martin - I look forward to hearing your latest arrangement of the tune. bbcee - I’m glad you’re glad I posted…and I’m also glad I posted… Bren - That classical guitar version is superb. Frithjof - I think bowed instruments, and the accordion, have got the upper hand on this tune… Using the OM as lead enabled me to avoid using tremolo on mandolin to try and achieve the sustain of the notes.
I am certainly with you regarding the sustain of the OM, John, rather than using tremolo. It is such a great tune (as are so many of Gow's)!
As promised, here is the arrangement of Niel Gow's Lament that we've been playing for a few months in our group. Simpler than my 2014 recording, and no tremolo as John K will be pleased to hear. Based on a setting by Sean Manning, from: http://www.kiwifolk.com/dfc/DSFO%20Violin.pdf 1898 Giuseppe Vinaccia mandolin Suzuki MC-815 mandocello Vintage Viaten tenor guitar https://youtu.be/nc3bfC-Pelg Martin
Such a haunting tune, Martin. Your simple arrangement, without tremolo, is very pleasing.
