Duncan Williamson tells the story of the birth of MacPherson

Storyteller

Williamson, Duncan

Date

• 1986

Summary

• James MacPherson was an outlaw who lived in the North East of Scotland and was hanged, through a miscarriage of justice, at the Cross of Banff on 16 November 1700. The song "MacPherson's Farewell" (Roud no. 2160; Greig-Duncan no. 697) is also known as "MacPherson's Lament." Its hero, MacPherson, is the subject of many legends. Much of the song is set in MacPherson's own voice as he stands on the gallows about to be hung, having been falsely accused of theft. After playing a last tune on his fiddle, he breaks his instrument into pieces so that no one else will play it. In this recording, Williamson and Betsy Whyte trade different versions of the story. The recording was made by John Niles in the course of an informal ceilidh at the Williamsons' home at Kincraigie Farm Cottage, near Strathmiglo, Fife.) tells of his gallant death on the gallows. Here Duncan Williamson tells a long story, closely reminiscent of "Cinderella" in parts, about how MacPherson was the son of a Traveller woman who married a laird, but who then went back to her own people. The recording was made in July 1986 by John Niles and his research team.