By the River that Softly Flows: Pastoral Air for Accordion
I’ve often felt compelled to write music about the place I call home. I guess you tend to write about what you know, and as a Highlander, I’ve found the tranquil corners of this land endlessly inspiring, a wellspring from which my accordion can draw music. I’m fortunate that my own home is nestled in such a peaceful place. I often joke that I live in Brigadoon, that mythical, Highland glen forever shrouded in the mist, somehow hidden from the rest of the world. However, today was a day of bright beauty. The summer sun shone warmly, with just the lightest hint of a breeze. While spending time in the garden, I wandered down a steep bank and into the small woodland, alive with pheasants, squirrels, and all manner of wildlife. As I ventured deeper, the gentle sound of the burn (the Scottish word for stream) met my ears, its waters lapping soft and cool. This little burn winds its way through our little woodland before joining the River Nairn, just a field or so beyond my garden. The pools and shallows of the river are a sanctuary of calm, where dragonflies almost the size of your hand hover over the water and salmon rest unseen in the depths. Standing there by the river I couldn’t help but think of my home in this valley, and felt an urge to write music.
What I’d like to present here is a Scottish pastoral air I composed, part of a larger series of miniatures inspired by this valley, its landscapes, its wildlife, and the people who live and work here. Pastoral music has a long history, with countless Baroque works evoking the rural idyll, as well as Romantic pieces shaped by the beauty of the countryside. Indeed, some of the most moving Scottish works I’ve cherished are Scottish airs, like those by the great Scottish violinist James Scott Skinner (1843 to 1927), such as The Music of Spey, are marvellous examples of the best of traditional Scottish music and the landscapes that breathe life into it. There is a rich heritage of Scottish tunes written about these high, wild places, and about the rivers and lochs that define them.
I’d like to share a Scottish pastoral air called By the River that Softly Flows. It aims to capture the spirit of the Strathnairn valley and the gentle song of the River Nairn's flowing waters. Written for accordion, it carries a soothing and elegant charm. In time, more pieces inspired by this beautiful place will surely follow.
By the River that Softly Flows by Stewart Walker.
