The Skye Boat Song

Traditionnel (Écosse) · Level 2 (Beginner) · traditional · Piano

A Scottish air collected in the 1870s; Harold Boulton’s words (1884) tell of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s escape to the Isle of Skye. Chorus, verse in E minor, chorus. An easy arrangement in C major: the right hand plays the tune, the left hand holds open fifths (root and fifth of each chord).

▶ Play this piece with the interactive score

How to practise it

  • Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
  • Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
  • Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
  • Learn the tune alone by singing it, then the left hand alone: spot the chord changes before putting hands together in Wait mode, then at a reduced tempo. Let the 6/8 sway like the stroke of the oars: two big beats.

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Source : Arrangement Note after Note d’après l’air écossais traditionnel · Public Domain