Ye Banks and Braes (arr. Strommen)

From Wind Repertory Project

James Miller or Charles Miller (arr. Carl Strommen)


General Info

Year: c. mid-18th century / 2012
Duration: c. 2:55
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Folk song
Publisher: Alfred Music Publishing
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $57.00; (digital) - $57.00   |   Score Only (print) - $9.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F
Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bells
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Suspended Cymbal


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The melody of Ye Banks and Braes, written in 1788, is attributed to Charles Miller. The lyrics were added in 1792 by Scottish poet Robert Burns. The melancholy character of the melody matches the pastoral images and feelings of unrequited love as set by Burns. The word "brae" indicates a hill or hillside along a river.

- Program Note from publisher


The Caledonian Hunt's Delight or Ye Banks and Braes was credited to "Mr. Miller of Edinburgh" by Niel Gow in Second Collection of Niel Gow's Reels (1788). The antiquarian William Chappell wrote an article in 1867 on the subject of the air, entitled The Caledonian Hunt's Delight, 'Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonnie Doon', and Robert Burns, in which he states that Mr. Miller was said to have been an excellent singer. "Mr. Miller" was James Miller, a writer who served for many years as clerk in the Teind Office, Edinburgh.

The collector John Glen (1891) relates a delightful story of the tune's origins involving the famous Scots poet, Robert Burns (1759-1796), who wrote to publisher George Thomson in 1794:

Do you known the history of the air? It is curious enough. A good many years ago, Mr. James Miller, writer in your good own (Edinburgh), a gentleman whom, possibly, you know, was in company with our good friend Clarke; and taling of Scottish music, Miller expressed an ardent ambition to be able to compose a Scots air. Mr. Clarke, partly by way of a joke, told him to keep to the black keys of the harpsichord, and preserve some kind of rhythm, and he would infallibly compose a Scots air. Certain it is, that, in a few days, Mr. Miller produced the rudiments of an air which Mr. Clarke, with some touches and corrections, fashioned into the tune in question. Ritson, you know, has the same story of the black keys; but this account which I have just given you, Mr. Clarke informed me of several years ago.

- Program Note from Traditional Tune Archive


N.B. There is uncertainty about the original composer of the melody. The publisher of this arrangement attributes it to "Charles Miller", in 1788. Other sources (IMSLP, Traditional Tune Archive) attribute the work to James Miller. The Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music attributes the work to a Charles Miller born in 1899.


Media


State Ratings

  • California: I
  • Indiana: ISSMA JH/MS/ELEM BAND GROUP II
  • Louisiana: II
  • Michigan: Junior High B
  • Michigan: Senior High D
  • North Carolina: III
  • Texas: II. Complete


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Owen County High School (Owenton, Ky.) Band (Michael Pinskton, conductor) - 23 April 2022


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

  • Sundance (Flex instrumentation) (2012/2014)


All Wind Works


Resources