Goodwife Admit the Wanderer

A Bhean an taigh nach leig thu steach am fear a tha air fogairt

No Text

Captain Simon Fraser Collection N° 121

Sequenced by Christian Souchon

Tune

"This air has an interesting incident attached to it.
Prince Charles is known to have sustained extreme hardship in wandering on his way from the place of his defeat to the Isle of Skye, often remaining all night, in the cold month of April, in the open air, without approaching house or cabin. Overpowered with an effort to which he must have been so unaccustomed, it was necessary to send one of his servants to entreat for quarters. From the hesitation and impatience of this individual, anxious yet afraid to communicate his request to the goodwife, and uncertain but she might accept of a bribe in case of speedy pursuit; the air at first represents him as scarcely whispering his request in broken sentences; but, on finding they were likely to be well received, he acquires more confidence, and the second part seems to picture a composure, however temporary, at their success" .

. Fraser (The Airs and Melodies Peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland and the Isles), 1874; No. 121, pg. 48.
In Mrs Mary Anne Alburger's opinion (Scottish Fiddlers and Their Music. Victor Gollancz Ltd., London. 1983), this tune was probably written by Fraser himself.

"Une anecdote intéressante se rapporte à cet air. On sait quelles souffrances a du endurer le Prince Charles pendant son errance depuis le lieu de sa défaite jusqu'à l'Ile de Skye, souvent contraint de passer les froides nuits d'avril dehors loin de toute chaumière ou de toute masure. Contraint par une nécessité à laquelle il était fort peu préparé, il lui fallait d'envoyer un de ses fidèles quémander un gîte. L'air décrit d'abord l'hésitation et l'impatience de ce négociateur, pressé mais appréhendant de formuler sa demande à la bonne femme, et de lui proposer une récompense en cas de poussuite imminente. Il chuchote à peine sa demande en phrases entrecoupées de silences. Puis, dès qu'il se rend compte qu'il sera bien accueilli, ilprend de l'assurance et la seconde partie semble décrire le calme, bien que passager, de l'homme sur de son succès."


. Fraser (Les Airs et Mélodies propres aux Hautes Terres et aux Iles d'Ecosse), 1874; No. 121, pg. 48.
Selon Mme Mary-Anne Alburger (Scottish Fiddlers and Their Music. Victor Gollancz Ltd., Londres. 1983), cet air fut probablement composé par Fraser lui-même.

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