Scottish Harp

Home , Catriona McKay, Strathspey (dance)

SCOTTISH HARP

GRADE 1

1. PERFORMANCE: you have a maximum of 4 ½ minutes to play:

One air:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source A1 Buain na Ràinich (Pulling Bracken)* Trad / arr Isobel Mieras 4/4 Air Ref 14 A2 Tog Orm Mo Phìob (MacLeod of Trad / arr Isobel Mieras 3/4 Air Ref 15 MacLeod’s Lament)** A3 Hush a Baw Bairnie Wendy Stewart 3/4 Air Ref 1 A4 Nameless Lassie Wm Marshall / arr Isobel 4/4 Air Ref 1 Mieras A5 Thig am Bàta (The Boat Will Come) Trad / arr Catriona McKay 4/4 Air Ref 9 A6 Fuaim an t-Saimh (The Sound of Trad / arr Isobel Mieras 3/4 Air Ref 1 Stillness)

*This tune may be played in either Ab or A major. ** This tune may be played in either Eb or E major.

One dance tune:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source B1 Merrily Danced the Quaker’s Wife Trad / arr Isobel Mieras 6/8 Jig Ref 15 B2 Streams of Abernethy (top section only; Wendy Stewart 6/8 Jig Ref 3 twice through) B3 Duncan Gray Trad / arr Charlotte Petersen 4/4 Reel Ref 16

B4 Oliver Jack Trad / arr Patsy Seddon 4/4 Reel Ref 1 B5 Alexander Gibb Trad / arr Alison Kinnaird 6/8 Quickstep Ref 23 B6 Islay Jig Alan Reid / arr Alison 6/8 Jig Ref 4 Kinnaird

One recent composition:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source C1 Ishbel Begg (a.k.a. Sticky Jig) Heather Yule 6/8 Jig Ref 23 C2 Fires at Midnight Wendy Stewart 3/4 Waltz Ref 5 C3 Käte MacKinnon Wendy Stewart 4/4 March Ref 1 C4 The Youngest Ancient Mariner Phil Cunningham / arr Patsy 3/4 Waltz Ref 23 Seddon C5 The Breeze on the Brae Isobel Mieras 6/8 Jig Ref 23 C6 Cearc air Greideal Theth (Hen on a Hot ML Napier 4/4 Reel Ref 4 Griddle)

2. TECHNICAL WORK: to be played from memory in the following keys:

Eb or C major

The examiner will request only as many of the items below as needed to form a firm opinion of your ability – normally one per category. All items can be transposed according to key and lever settting.

Scales: one octave, ascending and descending, right or left hand, as in:

                4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4           

One octave in triplets (replacing thumb), descending and ascending, right or left hand, in the following pattern (play one octave lower for left hand):

                          1 2 3 1 2 3                          

Triads: two octaves, root position, alternating hands, then block chords alternating hands, then block chords hands together, in the following pattern:

           L.H. 3 2 1 3 2 1 R.H.          

Exercises: changing fingers on a repeated note, right hand only in the following pattern:

                 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 2 1 2

Octaves and fifths, left hand only in the following pattern:                     4 2 1 1 2 4                  

Repeating notes, alternating hands, in the following pattern (stems up, right hand; stems down, left):

               2 2  2                          2 2 2                                                   

3. QUICK STUDY: Perform EITHER at sight or by ear, at your choice, a short passage in air or waltz time, right hand only. For example:

Air / Harp / G1            p

The piece will be in one of the keys covered by the scale requirements at this grade.

4. PRACTICAL AND AURAL MUSICIANSHIP FOR THE GRADE

GRADE 2

1. PERFORMANCE: you have a maximum of of 4 ½ minutes to play.

One air:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source A1 Tuireadh Iain Ruaidh (Lament for Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 6/4 Air Ref 1 John Roy) A2 Crodh Laoidh nam Bodach (The Trad / arr Wendy Stewart 3/4 Air Ref 1 Old Men’s Milking Cows) A3 Cumha Mhic Cruimein Trad / arr Patsy Seddon 3/4 Air Ref 1 (MacCrimmon Will Never Return) A4 MacLean’s Welcome Trad / arr Isobel Mieras 3/4 Air Ref 15 A5 Oran na Maighdinn Màra (The Trad / arr Catriona McKay 6/8 Air Ref 24 Mermaid’s Song) A6 I’m A’ Doun for Lack of Johnnie Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 4/4 Air Ref 20

One dance or rhythmically varied tune:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source B1 The Wind That Shakes the Barley Trad / arr Isobel Mieras 4/4 Reel Ref 17 B2 Dh’ fhalbhainn Sgiobalta (I Would Trad / arr Charlotte Petersen 6/8 Jig Ref 16 Hurry Along) B3 Barren Rocks of Aden A MacKellar / arr Patsy 2/4 March Ref 1 Seddon B4 Dòmhnall Beag an t-Siùcair (Sweet Trad / arr Charlotte Petersen 4/4 Reel Ref 24 Young Donald) B5 Puinneagan Càil (Brussel Sprouts) Trad / arr Wendy Stewart 6/8 Jig Ref 3 B6 Air Eilean Mhara Nach Traigh (On Trad arr/ Ann Macdearmid 4/4 Song air Ref 19 the Ebbless Isle) B7 Queen Elizabeth’s March PM Willie Ross / arr A 4/4 March Ref 4 Kinnaird

One recent composition:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source C1 Miss Kirsten Lindsay Morrison Patsy Seddon 4/4 Reel Ref 1 C2 Reely? Wendy Stewart 4/4 Reel Ref 1 C3 Balfour Village Bob Groat / arr Alison Kinnaird 2/4 Polka Ref 4 C4 Marigold Dick’s Delight Isobel Mieras 3/4 Waltz Ref 15 C5 Tolsta Solstice Wendy Stewart 4/4 Slow air Ref 1 C6 The Oakwoods of Glen Etive Isobel Mieras 3/4 Air Ref 1 C7 Lasses of Lasswade Anne Macdearmid 6/8 Air Ref 19

2. TECHNICAL WORK: to be played from memory in the following keys:

Eb, Bb major and C minor; or C, G major and A minor

Scales: two octaves, ascending and descending, hands separate or together, as in:

                                                              

Triads, arpeggios: chords and inversions in the following pattern:

                  R.H. R.H. R.H.  R.H. L.H.   L.H.  L.H.   L.H.           

                       R.H. R.H. R.H. R.H. L.H.  L.H. L.H.     L.H.                 

Arpeggios, one octave, ascending and descending, hands separate or together, as in:

                

Exercises: turns in the following pattern:

                                      2 1 2 3 1

Cuts in the following pattern:

                                    

Three-note runs in the following pattern:

                                   

3. QUICK STUDY: Perform EITHER at sight or by ear, at your choice, a short passage requiring both hands in air, waltz or march time. For example:

March / Harp / G2                          f                  

The piece will be in one of the keys covered by the scale requirements up to and including this grade.

4. PRACTICAL AND AURAL MUSICIANSHIP FOR THE GRADE

GRADE 3

1. PERFORMANCE: you have a maximum of 6 minutes to play two stand-alone tunes and one set of two tunes chosen from the following categories. At least one tune from each category must be played.

Airs:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source A1 Low Down in the Broom Trad / arr Isobel Mieras 4/4 Air Ref 17 A2 Gleann Gollaidh (Glen Golly) Trad / arr Jean Campbell 3/4 Air Ref 18 A3 Cròdh Cinn t-Sàile (Cattlefold of Trad / arr Alison Kinnaird 6/8 Air Ref 4 Kintail - theme only) A4 ‘Sa Choill ud Thall (In Yonder Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 6/8 Air Ref 19 Wood) A5 Roslin Castle Trad / arr Wendy Stewart 4/4 Air Ref 6 A6 Sealg a’s Sugradh nan Gleann Trad / arr Catriona McKay 3/4 Air Ref 24 (Hunting and Sporting of the Glens) A7 Eilean Beag Donn a’ Chuain (The Trad / arr Isobel Mieras 6/8 Air Ref 17 Little Brown Sea Isle) A8 Nach Truagh mo Chàs (Hard is my Trad / arr Isobel Mieras 4/4 Air Ref 15 Fate!)

Dance or rhythmically varied tunes:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source B1 When ye Cold Winter Nights Were Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 6/8 Air Ref 10 Frozen and Bobbin’ John Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 4/4 Dance air Ref 10 B2 John MacAlpine Trad / arr Wendy Stewart 4/4 Strathspey Ref 1 B3 Tail Toddle Trad / arr Patsy Seddon 4/4 Reel Ref 1 B4 Glenlivet Trad / arr Alison Kinnaird 4/4 Reel Ref 4 B5 Marry Me Now Trad / arr Patsy Seddon 4/4 Reel Ref 1 B6 Fac’ Thu na Feidh (Have You Seen Trad / arr Catriona McKay 6/8 Jig Ref 24 the Deer) B7 Dunkeld Steeple Niel Gow / arr Alison Kinnaird 4/4 Reel Ref 4 B8 Deil Amang the Tailors Trad / arr Alison Kinnaird 4/4 Reel Ref 4 B9 Gillean nan Dròbhair Trad / arr Corinna Hewat 6/8 Jig Ref 7 (The Drover Lads) B10 The Burning of the Piper’s Hut Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 4/4 Air Ref 19 and Morag nighean Dòmhnaill Duinn (Lord MacDonald’s Reel) Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 4/4 Reel Ref 19

Recent compositions:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source C1 Cairn Water Wendy Stewart 3/4 Air Ref 5 C2 Ellen’s Dreams Robin Morton 3/8 Air Ref 8 C3 White Rose Waltz Isobel Mieras 3/4 Waltz Ref 25 C4 Plantxy Crockery Patsy Seddon 4/4 Reel Ref 1 C5 Lindsay Grace Johnson Corinna Hewat 3/4 Waltz Ref 7 C6 Mrs E Matthews of Isobel Mieras 4/4 Air w/ variations Ref 15 Ponteland C7 Bunnahabhain Isobel Mieras 3/4 -12/8 Air w/ jig Ref 25 variations

2. TECHNICAL WORK: to be played from memory in the following keys:

Eb, Bb, F, C, G, D, A majors; C, G, D, A, E, B and F# natural minors

The examiner will request only as many of the items below as needed to form a firm opinion of your ability – normally one per category.

Scales: two octaves, ascending and descending, hands separate or together, as in:

                                                            

Arpeggios: two octaves, ascending and descending, divided between hands, as in:

                

Two octaves as brushed (rippled) chords, as in:

         

Exercises: repeated fast notes in the following key and pattern:

                             3 2 1 etc.

Four-note runs in the following key and pattern:

                                       4 3 2 1

3. QUICK STUDY: Perform EITHER at sight or by ear, at your choice, a short passage requiring both hands in waltz, march or jig time. For example:

Jig / Harp / G3                                     

The piece will be in one of the keys covered by the scale requirements up to and including this grade.

4. PRACTICAL AND AURAL MUSICIANSHIP FOR THE GRADE

GRADE 4

1. PERFORMANCE: you have a maximum of 6 minutes to play two stand-alone tunes and one set of two tunes chosen from the following categories. At least one tune from each category must be played.

Airs:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source A1 Lure of the Sea Maiden Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 6/8 Air Ref 19 A2 An Cuala Sibh Mar a Thachair Trad / arr Isobel Mieras 4/4 Air Ref 17 Dhuinn (Did You Hear What Befell Us, or Culloden Day) A3 Dh’ fhag Thu Mi Fo Bhròn Trad / arr Catriona McKay 3/4 Air Ref 9 (You Have Left Me Sad) A4 The Massacre of Glencoe Trad / arr Corinna Hewat 3/4 Air Ref 7 A5 The Dowie Dens of Yarrow Trad / arr S Stevenson 3/4 Air Ref 30 A6 O Cait’ an Caideal an Ribhinn a- Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 6/8 Air Ref 26 Nochd? (O Where Will the Maiden Sleep Tonight?) A7 The Sweetness of Mary Trad / arr Charlotte Petersen 12/8 Air Ref 9

Dance or rhythmically varied tunes:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source B1 Miss Sally Hunter of Nath. Gow / arr Wendy 6/8 Jig Ref 5 Thurston’s Jig Stewart B2 The Favourite Dram Trad / arr Wendy Stewart 9/8 Jig Ref 5 B3 The Iron Man J Scott Skinner / arr Patsy 4/4 Strathspey Ref 1 Seddon B4 The Spey in Spate J Scott Skinner / arr Patsy 4/4 Reel Ref 1 Seddon B5 The Little Cascade GS MacLennan / arr Wendy 4/4 Reel Ref 6 Stewart B6 Cailleach an Dùdain (The Trad / arr Alison Kinnaird 6/8 Jig Ref 4 Old Woman of the Mill Dust) B7 Port Patrick Trad / arr Alison Kinnaird 4/4 Air/Jig Ref 8 B8 The Thorn Bush* James Fraser / arr Anne 4/4 Strathspey Ref 20 and McDearmid Sir Reginald MacDonald* Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 4/4 Reel Ref 20 B9 Ben Dorain Ronald Stevenson 4/4, 12/8, Song Air Ref 27 2/2

*These tunes may be played in either Ab or A major.

Recent compositions:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source C1 Lament for a Blind Harper Savourna Stevenson 4/4 Air Ref 11 C2 The Wild West Waltz Wendy Stewart 3/4 Waltz Ref 3 C3 Amy’s Rollerskates Mary Macmaster 6/8 Jig Ref 1 C4 Marsaili Stewart Skinner Corinna Hewat 4/4 Reel Ref 7 C5 Harps at Hamnavoe Isobel Mieras 3/4 Air Ref 1

2. TECHNICAL WORK: to be played from memory in the following keys:

As in Grade 3, plus mixolydian (the ‘pipe scale’) starting on Bb, F, C, G, D, A and E

The examiner will request only as many of the items below as needed to form a firm opinion of your ability – normally one per category.

Scales: two octaves, ascending and descending, hands separate or together.

Arpeggios: three octaves, ascending and descending, divided between hands, as in:                 R.H. L.H. R.H.   L.H.  L.H.       

Exercises: damped scale, one octave, left hand only descending, as in:                                   

Or etouffe thumb:                                  

Shakes in the following key and pattern:

                       2 1 2 2 1 2 3 1 3 3 1 3 4 1 4 4 1 4

‘Thistles’ in the following key and pattern:

                       4 3 2 1

Repeated notes in the following key and pattern:

  3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1          

3. QUICK STUDY: Perform EITHER at sight or by ear, at your choice, a short passage requiring both hands in march, jig or strathspey time. For example:

Strathspey / Harp / G4

                           f                 

The piece will be in one of the keys covered by the scale requirements up to and including this grade.

4. PRACTICAL AND AURAL MUSICIANSHIP FOR THE GRADE

GRADE 5

1. PERFORMANCE: you have a maximum of 9 minutes to play two stand-alone tunes and one set of three tunes chosen from the following categories. At least one tune from each category must be played.

Airs:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source A1 An t-Eilean Muileach (The Isle Trad / arr Savourna Stevenson 3/4 Air Ref 2 of Mull) A2 Isle of Aigas Corrina Hewat 3/4 Air Ref 7 A3 Port Atholl Trad / arr Alison Kinnaird 4/4 Air Ref 8 A4 Miss Graham of Inchbrakie Nath. Gow / candidate’s own 4/4 Air Ref 13 arrangement A5 Mo Dhòmhnallan Fhèin (My Trad / candidate’s own 3/4 Air Ref 22 Own Dear Donald) arrangement A6 Leanaibh an Aigh (Child of Trad / arr Anne MacDearmid 3/4 Air Ref 28 Joy) A7 Smeòrach Chlann Dhòmhnaill Trad / arr Isobel Mieras 3/4 Air Ref 1 (Clan Donald’s Thrush)

Dance or rhythmically varied tunes:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source B1 The Shepherdess Trad / candidate’s own arrangement 12/8 Jig Ref 22 B2 The Point Road Iain MacLeod / candidate’s own 6/8 Jig Ref 12 arrangement B3 Aandowin’ at the Bow and Trad / arr Catriona McKay 4/4 Reel Ref 2 Bonnie Isle o’ Whalsay and Trad / arr Catriona McKay 4/4 Reel Ref 2 Ahint da Daecks o’ Voe Trad / arr Catriona McKay 4/4 Reel Ref 2 B4 Fr John MacMillan of Norman MacDonald/ candidate’s 2/4 March Ref 21 Barra own arrangement B5 Crossing the Minch Donald MacLeod/ candidate’s own 4/4 Hornpipe Ref 21 arrangement B6 The Old Reel Trad / arr Corinna Hewat 4/4 Reel Ref 7 B7 The G Minor Reel Trad / arr Corinna Hewat 4/4 Reel Ref 7 B8 Old Woman’s Dance Donald MacLeod / arr Patsy Seddon 6/8 Jig Ref 1

B9 The Seagull Donald MacLeod / arr Patsy Seddon 6/8 Jig Ref 1 B10 The Merry Boys of Greenland Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 4/4 Reel Ref 10 and Sleep Soon in da Mornin’ and Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 4/4 Reel Ref 10 Willafjord Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 4/4 Reel Ref 10 B11 Seann Triubhais Uilleachan Trad / arr Charlotte Petersen 4/4 Dance air Ref 29 (Plain Old Trews) B12 Bhanarach Dhonn a’ Chruidh Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 3/8 Air Ref 10 (The Brown-haired Dairymaid) and Bò Lurach Thu (My Pretty Trad / arr Anne Macdearmid 3/4 Working Ref 10 Cow, You) song

Recent compositions:

Title Composer/arranger Time-sig Type Source C1 The Flawless Juggler Mary Macmaster 4/4 Reel Ref 1 C2 Michael’s Mazurka Michael Ferrie/ arr Patsy Seddon 3/4 Mazurka Ref 1 C3 Calum’s Road Donald Shaw / candidate’s own 4/4 Strathspey/ Ref 21 arrangement Reel C4 Marnie Swanson of the A. Thorburn / candidate’s own 6/4 Air Ref 12 Grey Coast arrangement C5 Ceolraidh Inbhirnis (The Anne Macdearmid Tbc Strathspey Ref 1 Inverness Muses) and Ceolraidh 2002 Anne Macdearmid Tbc Reel Ref 1

2. TECHNICAL WORK: to be played from memory in the following keys:

As in Grade 4, plus C, G, D and A harmonic minors

The examiner will request only as many of the items below as needed to form a firm opinion of your ability – normally one per category.

Scales: two octaves, ascending and descending, hands separate or together.

Arpeggios: two octaves, ascending and descending, hands separate or together, as in:

                              

Dominant seventh chords: two octaves in the keys of Eb, Bb and F majors, root position, divided between hands, as in:

                               

Exercises: harmonics in the following key and pattern:                                             

Grips in the following key and pattern:

2 1                                                 4 1 R.H. L.H.

Strikes in the following key and pattern:

1 2 4 1 1 2 4 1                                          

Birls in the following key and pattern:

2 1 2 1                                              2 1 2 1 L.H.

3. QUICK STUDY: Perform EITHER at sight or by ear, at your choice, a short passage requiring both hands in jig, strathspey or reel time. For example:

Reel / Harp / G5                             mf mp mf                 

The piece will be in one of the keys covered by the scale requirements up to and including this grade.

4. PRACTICAL AND AURAL MUSICIANSHIP FOR THE GRADE

References for tunes listed in the Scottish harp syllabus

Reference Title Publisher/Edition/Year Ref 1 Not yet published. Please check for updates on N/a availability at http://gradedexams.rsamd.ac.uk. Ref 2 Comunn na Clàrsaich: The Milennium Folio Comunn na Clàrsaich: 2000 Ref 3 About Time: Music for the Clarsach by Wendy Stewart Harpstring House: 1994 Ref 4 The Small Harp: a Step by Step Tutor by Alison Kinmor Music: 1989 Kinnaird Ref 5 Standing Wave: Music for the Scottish Harp by Wendy Cairn Water Music: 2003 Stewart Ref 6 About Time Too!: Scottish Harp by Wendy Stewart Harpstring House: 1998 Ref 7 Scottish Harp: A Collection of Original and Scottish Harpstring House: 2002 Traditional Tunes Arranged for the Celtic Harp by Corrina Hewat Ref 8 The Harp Key: Music for the Scottish Harp Arranged by Kinmor Music: 1986 (2nd Alison Kinnaird reprint 1995) Ref 9 Traditional Tunes for Harp: Arranged by Catriona CMCP Publications: n.d. McKay and Charlotte Peterson – Book 1 (Intermediate to Advanced) Ref 10 Ceòl na Clàrsaich: Arrangements and Compositions for Anne Macdearmid: 1987 Celtic Harp by Anne Macdearmid Ref 11 Lament for a Blind Harper, by Savourna Stevenson Old School Productions: 1997 Ref 12 The Nineties Collection: New Scottish Tunes in Saltire Music: 1995 Traditional Style Ref 13 The Fiddle Music of Scotland Hardie Press: 1988 Ref 14 Singing Strings Swanston Music: 2005 Ref 15 Comunn na Clàrsaich, Folio 28 Comunn na Clarsaich: n.d. Ref 16 Tunes from Scotland for Harp: Arranged by Catriona CMCP Publications: n.d. McKay and Charlotte Peterson – Book 1 Ref 17 The Wind That Shakes the Barley Swanston Music: 2004 Ref 18 Comunn na Clàrsaich, Folio 1 Comunn na Clarsaich: n.d. Ref 19 Ceòl na Clàrsaich: Arrangements and Compositions for Anne Macdearmid: n.d. Celtic Harp by Anne Macdearmid, Book 2 Ref 20 Ceòl na Clàrsaich: Arrangements and Compositions for Anne Macdearmid: 2001 Celtic Harp by Anne Macdearmid, Book 4 Ref 21 Ceòl nam Fèis (vol 1) Feisean nan Gaidheal: 1996 Ref 22 The Simon Fraser Collection: Airs and Melodies Peculiar Cranford Publications: n.d. to the Highlands of Scotland Ref 23 Comunn na Clàrsaich 75th Anniversary Folio Comunn na Clàrsaich: 2007 Ref 24 Tunes from Scotland for Harp: Arranged by Catriona CMCP Publications: n.d. McKay and Charlotte Peterson – Book 2 (Elementary to Intermediate) Ref 25 A Harper’s Pleasure Swanston Music: n.d. Ref 26 Comunn na Clàrsaich Folio 14 Comunn na Clàrsaich: n.d. Ref 27 Sounding Strings United Music Publishers: n.d. Ref 28 Comunn na Clàrsaich Folio 15 Comunn na Clàrsaich: n.d. Ref 29 Traditional Tunes for Harp: Arranged by Catriona CMCP Publications: n.d. McKay and Charlotte Peterson – Book 2 (Intermediate to Advanced) Ref 30 The Dowie Dens of Yarrow, by Savourna Stevenson Old School Productions: n.d.