Lamentation for McGregor of Roro

Lamentation for McGregor of Roro, Scottish

This piece is a lament for MacGregor of Roro (Ruaro in Scottish Gaelic), combining versions collected by Patrick MacDonald (1784, Lamentation for McGregor of Roro) and Frances Tolmie (1861, A Song to McGregor of Ruaro).

Solo performance on the 20-string wire-strung harp "Dragon Harp" (op.311)

Instrument design, construction, arrangement, and performance: Keisuke Teramoto
Japanese painting decoration: Tomoko Nakai

A lament for MacGregor of Roro, who was executed in Edinburgh in 1604. It is said to have been sung by his foster-mother. Many different versions of the song have been passed down, and in this performance, two versions are combined.

It begins with a version from A Collection of Highland Vocal Airs published in 1784 by the Scottish Reverend Patrick MacDonald (1729-1824).
It is followed by a version collected by Frances Tolmie (1840-1926), a folklorist from the Isle of Skye, who transcribed it in 1861 from the nurse Janet Anderson of Bracadale, Skye.

The lament is said to have been sung by the foster-mother of MacGregor of Roro, who was executed in Edinburgh in 1604.
Tolmie published the lyrics up to 22 verses (with some omissions).

A Song to McGregor of Roro

1. Sorrow, deep sorrow has seize me; a despairing grief which I am not destined to overcome; 2. for the sake of MacGregor of Ruaro, whose birthright is Glenlyon-3. MacGregor of the banners, in whose praise loudly the bag-pipes used resound; 4. whose badge was the pine ascending the mountain side...8.Though a rude fellow were to smite me, I would not complain; 9. though an injury were done to me, O Thou! [Lord!] Who would avenge it. 10. while those who would take my part are in the burying-ground, down yonder? 11. Those who would stand for my rights, sorely do I miss! 15. This advice I would fain give thee, if thou wouldst accept it: 16. when thou goest to the inn, take but one drink, 17. and take thy dram standing; and provide well for thy men; 18. be not too particular about the vessel, but use ladle or baler; 19. let the autumn be thee as winter, and summer as early spring; 20. make thy bed among the rocks, and sleep but lightly. 21. Though the squirrel be rare, there is a way to find her; 22. and proud though the falcon be, she may be taken with guile.

The subject of this song is Alasdair MacGregor, the clan chief who, in 1603, initiated a conflict with the Colquhoun clan at the Battle of Glen Fruin. As a result, he was executed in Edinburgh in 1604 along with eleven of his men. The MacGregor clan was severely punished by the Crown, and it was made legal to hunt down and kill members of the clan using bloodhounds. The ban on the MacGregor name and the loss of their civil rights would not be lifted until 1784, the very year when Reverend MacDonald's song collection was published.