George (Dode) Flett was a piper in the Seaforths along with Donald MacLeod,
who composed the tune. There is quite a famous photograph kicking about of
Flett from Flotta marching troops in desert operations during WW2.
I have always felt that the tune posed a puzzle because it seems to be 'off
beat'. By making the starting phrase the first beat group all of a sudden
the tune becomes very regular and the main beat of the bar of four is quite
definable.
I also feel that the use of an entire beat group for an anacrusis isn't
quite right anyway. The starting phrase (or more properly beat group) should
add up together with the last beat group to form a whole beat group, not be
its total.
I'm not dogmatic about that, though, and would be interested to hear other
opinions on the use of it in this tune and others.
Having said all that it is one of the greatest of all 4/4 marches, written
by the leading light music composer in piping history. It is also one of my
favourites and I have played it since the '60s.
I might have the photograph some where if you are interested and don't mind
waiting bit while I hunt it out.
Bruce Campbell (Editor and coffee boy)
Celtic World (incorporating Highland Gathering).
The best selling Celtic cultural monthly.
Postal address: PO Box 98, Corrimal NSW 2518
Street Address: Suites 4/5 108 Railway Street, Corrrimal NSW 2518 AUSTRALIA
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>From: Jack Campin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Re: [scots-l] Flett from Flotta
>Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 16:23:30 +0100
>
> >> My pipe band is learning Flett from Flotta and are curious about
> >> the name. Does anyone know what it means? It's a cute march.
> > Flotta is a place in Orkney. Mr Flett is a chap from there -
> > a musician I think.
>
>You find the name Flett in fishing ports all round Scotland, and probably
>down the North Sea coast of England. Most of them are Brethren (the name
>outsiders give to the Baptist sect that doesn't have a name for itself).
>All the Brethren fisherfolk are closely related.
>
>=================== <http://www.purr.demon.co.uk/jack/> ===================
>
>
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