Flowers of Edinburgh

Kind of Tune
reel
Pronunciation Guide
eh-din-BUH-ruh
Place of Origin
Scotland

Flowers of Edinburgh has been in circulation in Scotland since at least the mid-18th century, and was in all likelihood carried across to PEI by the first waves of Scottish settlers. Local interest in the tune was then refreshed by later waves of immigration, as in this instance cited by Leonard McDonald, whose forbears came from Ireland.

My mother and father didn't play. But a lot of these tunes, the first tune I played there was my mother's favorite tune, it was The Flowers of Edinburgh. When we'd be kids sit​ting on her knee she'd jig [sing] these tunes to us and that's where we learned them. And those tunes came right from the old country.

Listeners who are familiar with this tune should take note of how Island fiddlers have subtly altered the melody to allow for the insertion of lively bowing accents. Of particular note in this: the versions of Stephen Toole, Dennis Pitre, and Elliott Wight.

Notation for this tune as played by Elliott Wight is in Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island.

Tune Selections

Flowers of Edinburgh Musician: Reg Banks, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Harry Buell, gtr Central Kings info
Flowers of Edinburgh Musician: Elliott Wight, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Judy Lowe, pno; Ed Drover, gtr Eastern Queens info
Flowers of Edinburgh / Mrs. McLeod of Rasay Musician: Gary Chipman, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Ken Perlman, bjo Messer or Maritime info
Flowers of Edinburgh / Farmer's Reel Musician: Angus McPhee, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Cynthia Jay Crane, pno Central Kings info
Flowers of Edinburgh Musician: Dennis Pitre, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Vincent Doucette, gtr; Ken Perlman, bjo West Prince info
Lassie with the Yellow Coatie / Donald Cameron's Reel / Farmer's Reel / Princess Reel / Flowers of Edingburgh / Turkey in the Straw / Stack of Barley Musician: "Young Peter" Chaisson, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Kevin Chaisson, gtr Northeast Kings info
Flowers of Edinburgh Musician: Stephen Toole, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Margaret Ross MacKinnon, pno Western Queens info
Flowers of Edinburgh Musician: Attwood O'Connor, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Ken Perlman, bjo South Kings info
Flowers of Edinburgh Musician: Victor Doucette, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Vincent Doucette, gtr; Cathy Doucette, bass West Prince info
Flowers Of Edinburgh Musician: Fr. Faber MacDonald

Accompanied by: Jeff Matheson

info
Flowers of Edinburgh Musician: Francis MacDonald, Recordist: Ken Perlman Unaccompanied Northeast Kings info