Jenna Reid plays Hector the Hero

[@radharcanna]

Jenna’s playing of this tune always gets to me. Really beautiful.

[@susanmahler428]

Tears to my eyes… so beautiful

[@bobcabrera8112]

I never get tired of listening to this one . Real nice there folks. Thank you from Bob , 1/8/2021.

[@duncanandrew3307]

I am in pieces listening to this. Out of this world.

[@bluefidle]

Just. Beautiful.

[@AnTreasach]

What a gorgeous, talented girl...not enough of them out there! Great air, great playing, our Scottish cousins def know how to do music without a doubt!

[@arstor1]

Total control over violin and bow . A master class.

[@ghostpiper1]

Fantastic !!! Has me in tears every time. Thanks for posting. Alba Gu Brath !!

[@philako6160]

Nobody plays this better than Jenna Reid

[@jimholt5332]

Even the angels weep at such incomparable Beauty....

[@celticdadgad]

Heartwrenchingly beautiful. I have to go learn this one right now!

[@lesleymcshanemitchell9651]

This is so lovely . Thank you

[@georgehill6726]

Captures the essence of the tune 👌

[@samrobbins5665]

His story is one of incredible success followed by harrowing sadness. It is easy to blame the British "ruling classes" for being prejudiced against him due to his lowly birth and no doubt there were some who acted in that way but this is a person who was offered a Victoria Cross or a commission in his regiment (which he took), was eventually promoted to General and was knighted by the King - clearly at least some in the establishment appreciated his talent, leadership, patriotism and bravery. Although the final word on his sexuality is still in doubt, there was considerable concern about it throughout his career. I think the findings of a government commission into his suicide -"While honourably acquitting the late Sir Hector MacDonald of any charge whatsoever, we cannot but deplore the sad circumstances of the case that have fallen so disastrously on one whom we have found innocent of any crime attributed to him." says it all.

[@martinsnook1061]

And yet secretly married and also a son included.

[@MeneerHerculePoirot]

My favorite version is on a collection from the Green Linnett label. It's a live track of Aly Bain and John Cunninghan on acoustic 6 string in dropped D tuning. This is right up there, though.

[@HacheVLn]

great.... beautiful song....

[@caterthun]

Jenna sets the standard for playing this lovely, highly emotive tune by Scott Skinner. It is easy to learn by ear, but if you must have the music it's on page 29 of the book, The FIDDLE MUSIC of SCOTLAND. This is the best book of Scottish music around and well worth having a copy of . I play this sometimes with my brother on guitar, sometimes with my friend in Canada on piano, Either way it's a tear jerker that always elicits a replay from our audience. Good Luck

[@stuartlarner2946]

It's good on Solo saxophone too

[@comesahorseman]

Lovely, very "thoughtful" version. Thanks for posting; now I have to go wipe the dust from my eyes! ;)

[@findmejak1]

This lament was written by James Scott Skinner for Major General Sir Hector Archibald MacDonald, KCB, DSO (4 March 1853 - 25 March 1903) born at Rootfield, near Dingwall, in later life he was also know in gaelic as Eachann nan Cath ('Hector of the Battles'). The son of a crofter and stonemason he was promoted through the ranks of the British Army on merit alone, he was disliked by the ruling classess as he not born a gentleman. There was rumours circulated about Sir Hector forcing him to take his life, by shooting himself in a Paris hotel on 25/03/1903. RIP Sir Hector

[@alasdairmcdonald8775]

My Mother, Margaret (Bunty) McCuish lived at the Mulbuie school house. She knew Bessie Mackenzie, Sir Hector's niece. As a young boy back in the 60's, our family would holiday in Muir of Ord & visit Bessie & husband Donny at Rootfield. On one occasion I slept over at the house & vividly remember Bessie telling me I was in Sir Hectors bedroom. Even at a tender age, I knew the magnitude of Sir Hector's heroic deeds. I have somewhere in a family photo album, a picture of me, holding (in awe), a ceremonial sword that belonged to him. I also remember the large collection of his memorabilia, that adorned the walls of the hallway. To the memory of a true Scottish hero. Alasdair McDonald (SW1)

[@calumjohnstonjohnston9770]

Googled lol

[@findmejak1]

@@calumjohnstonjohnston9770 haha, actually, my information has come from Fèis Rois, where I learnt this tune on the fiddle but thank you for your comment...

[@dadgad888]

thank you jenna that was wonderful

[@charlesduguid4811]

Just sae braw Jenna absolutely divine

[@1950accordionman]

What wonderful playing

[@stevemorris3751]

Beautiful

[@GladysWils]

Beautiful.

[@kilehagen1]

And its Daggar Gordon accompanying Jenna.

[@lindamon8]

I wondered when someone will give Dagger (David) Gordon) due credit, well done.

[@jonathanwatts1337]

Exquisite. Nothing less. ... I feel quite inadequate!

[@phomans]

Beautiful Scots-Shetland fiddle playing....

[@johnwelsman2625]

Wow.

[@antonaidh]

Beautiful! I would love to hear the lyrics, sung by a current Scot Trad artist!

[@tullochgorum6323]

Anthony Xavier No lyrics - it's a tune! You might like to know that the 1903 manuscript's online: www.abdn.ac.uk/scottskinner/display.php?ID=JSS0176

[@Kheltonheadley]

Tullochgorum There is lyrics, not sure what you're on about. Lament him, ye mountains of Ross-shire;Your tears be the dew and the rain;Ye forests and straths, let the sobbing windsUnburden your grief and pain.Lament him, ye warm-hearted clansmen,And mourn for a kinsman so trueThe pride of the Highlands, the valiant MacDonaldWill never come back to you.O, wail for the mighty in battle,Loud lift ye the Coronach strain;For Hector, the Hero, of deathless fame,Will never come back again.Lament him, ye sons of old Scotia,Ye kinsmen on many a shore;A patriot-warrior, fearless of foe,Has fallen to rise no more.O cherish his triumph and gloryOn Omdurman's death-stricken plain,His glance like the eagle's, his heart like the lion'sHis laurels a nation's gain.O, wail for the mighty in battle,Loud lift ye the Coronach strain;For Hector, the Hero, of deathless fame,Will never come back again.O rest thee, brave heart, in thy slumber,Forgotten shall ne'er be thy name;The love and the mercy of Heaven be thine;Our love thou must ever claim.To us thou art Hector the Hero,The chivalrous, dauntless, and true;The hills and the glens, and the hearts of a nation,Re-echo the wail for you.O, wail for the mighty in battle,Loud lift ye the Coronach strain;For Hector, the Hero, of deathless fame,Will never come back again.

[@tullochgorum6323]

OK - I stand corrected. I'd forgotten that it was originally published with some particularly gruesome lyrics. But in practical terms my point stands - I've been listening to this music to over half a century and never heard the lyrics actually sung. None of the dozens of recordings on Spotify use the lyrics, for example. In every practical sense, Hector the Hero is a fiddle tune....

[@brianmorgan4523]

+Khelton Headley Beautifully put.

[@tullochgorum6323]

Ok Brian Morgan , seeing as how you are so keen on these lyrics, here they are in all their glory. I challenge you to sing them at your next session! Lament him, ye mountains of Ross-shire; Your tears be the dew and the rain; Ye forests and straths, let the sobbing winds Unburden your grief and pain. Lament him, ye warm-hearted clansmen, And mourn for a kinsman so true The pride of the Highlands, the valiant MacDonald Will never come back to you. O, wail for the mighty in battle, Loud lift ye the Coronach strain; For Hector, the Hero, of deathless fame, Will never come back again. Lament him, ye sons of old Scotia, Ye kinsmen on many a shore; A patriot-warrior, fearless of foe, Has fallen to rise no more. O cherish his triumph and glory On Omdurman's death-stricken plain, His glance like the eagle's, his heart like the lion's His laurels a nation's gain. O, wail for the mighty in battle, Loud lift ye the Coronach strain; For Hector, the Hero, of deathless fame, Will never come back again. O rest thee, brave heart, in thy slumber, Forgotten shall ne'er be thy name; The love and the mercy of Heaven be thine; Our love thou must ever claim. To us thou art Hector the Hero, The chivalrous, dauntless, and true; The hills and the glens, and the hearts of a nation, Re-echo the wail for you. O, wail for the mighty in battle, Loud lift ye the Coronach strain; For Hector, the Hero, of deathless fame, Will never come back again.

[@happychappy12]

I still looooove you Jenna...............ooops..X

[@althesmith]

A sad ending for a man betrayed by the King he served. Whether the truth is that he was straight, gay, or bi, he was ten times the man King Lardbutt was, who wouldn't lift a finger to save him.

[@happychappy12]

I was going to say something silly like, ' If only we English', or, 'you Scots!!'....and after hearing this ditty.......all I can say is, We need you more than you need us, please stay in the uk, xxx Either way this records the very best I've ever heard, Mighst all chrighty I looooooove Jenna

[@b1apples]

I want this played at my funeral.

[@breifneorourke.3400]

Give me a date and time and I'll book you in. lol

[@Stibsyt]

Out of the strong came forth sweetness...

[@MaggieGriner]

Gorgeous

[@Donegal]

Classic!

[@grahamfleming9179]

Each an mor nan cath! Uabhasach math!

[@TheAdvancedMusic]

Is that 'Dagger' on the Mandolin hybrid thingy?!

[@amc3]

Think Hector was actually from Dingwall.......he committed suicide by shooting himself in a Paris hotel after various comments and rumors were made about him. .....so very very sad. But what a tune to remember it by........jenna plays this so well.

[@calumjohnstonjohnston9770]

Accusations of homosexuality ....absoloutely tragic if he was alive in this day he would be prime-minister for what he done in his military career alone . Different time unfortunately.

[@thefightingchance]

Where can I find her version on sheetmusic ?? Please

[@stooriefit]

I think you may be mistaking feeling for syrup ?

[@Stibsyt]

Tommy People's version on the 1975 Bothy album does it for me. More bleakness and less syrup...

[@duncanandrew3307]

Simply the best. I can play it, but not like this.

[@seeifficare]

nobody plays it like aly bain.

[@happychappy12]

Is it me?.......................

[@MrCoast21]

im not scotish but that was great

[@1950accordionman]

You don't have to be Scottish to like Scottish music

[@happychappy12]

X

[@billybunter230]

she's a wee stoater....