Christine Kydd and Tripple. These four fine singers have worked together to create three innovative versions of songs sung by Lucy, Rig A Doo, Dainty Dounby, and The Bonny Hoose O Airlie.
Tripple are an acapella singing trio hailing from the North East of Scotland. Together mother, Jill, and siblings, Cit and Annie, create contemporary arrangements of traditional songs with innovative and exciting harmonies.
Christine is described by Living Tradition as ‘one of Scotland’s timeless treasures’ She is one of Scotland’s best-known traditional singers, performing solo and with many of Scotland’s finest singers and musicians, in ground-breaking projects and partnerships, and touring and recording extensively. As well as working with Tripple Christine also sings for this project solo versions of other songs recorded by Lucy.
The Laird of the Dainty Doonby seduces a young girl, when she proves pregnant he puts into her hand the keys to the 21 rooms of his castle, saying Ye’re lady o the Dainty Doonby’. The last verse says
Oh, said the auld man, Whit will I dee? Oh, said the auld wife, I’ll dance until I dee.
Oh, said the auld man, I think that I’ll dance tee, since she’s lady o the Dainty Doonby
There are several variants of the spritely song Ricky Doo aka Mebbe I’ll Be Mairriet, one of the few Scots songs in which the female is assertive and hopeful of escape. The Stewart family tradition says the young woman lived a handful of miles from Fetterangus.
Mebbe I’ll be mairriet yet an mebbe nae ava, an mebbe ah’ll be mairriet yet tae the Laird fae Turner Haa
There’s neen o yese been gweed tae me but I’ll reward yese aa yet, ye’ll be glad tae buy a peck o meal fin I can sell yese twa yet
The Bonny Hoose O Airlie tells of Airlie Castle in Perthshire, which was destroyed as part of a clan feud that happened 100 years before the 1745 Rising, but Prince Chairlie is imported to the story.
Oh it fell on a day on a bonnie summer day, when the clans were awa wi Chairlie
When there fell oot a great dispute a-tween Argyle and Airlie
Lady Ogilvie she lookit fae her windi high, and oh but she sighed sairly
For tae see Argyll and aa his men come tae plunder the bonny hoose o Airlie