MacPherson's Lament

Reel · 4/4 · B minor

MacPherson's Lament is a traditional Scottish tune associated with the notorious freebooter James MacPherson, who allegedly played it on his fiddle before his execution in Banff in 1700. Despite being classified as a reel in 4/4 meter, the B minor melody is widely performed as a slow, haunting lament that highlights its dramatic and mournful character. Because the tune's early history relies largely on romanticized accounts from the 18th and 19th centuries, specific details surrounding its composition remain uncertain.

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