Farewell to Whiskey - Celtic Whistles Collection Vol.18 Front Cover

Farewell to Whiskey - Celtic Whistles Collection Vol.18

Sho Koshikawa & OriverMusic

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"Farewell to Whiskey" was composed in 1799 by the legendary Scottish fiddler Niel Gow.
In that same year, Scotland experienced a poor barley harvest, leading to a shortage of the main ingredient for whisky. The tune is said to lament this "farewell to whisky."

For people in Scotland at the time, "parting with whisky" meant losing one of life's simple pleasures, and a sense of melancholy can be felt in the melody.

After the tune spread to Ireland, it came to be played-somewhat unexpectedly-as an upbeat, fast-paced polka, resulting in two distinct styles. This time, it is performed in a slower version closer to the original character.

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