Tune of the Day: Cold Frosty Morning
There are many versions of this lovely modal melody. There is an Irish version, a Scottish version and a version played in Appalachia. The tune is performed in a variety of styles ranging from bluegrass to modern Celtic, and of course it is open to a variety of interpretations.
According to a couple of sources, “Cold Frosty Morning” was written to commemorate the battle of Culloden Moor, Scotland. On the very bloody morning of April 16, 1746, 8,000 English troops massacred a Scottish army of 7,000, ending the Jacobite Rebellion in Scotland. This did not, however, end the bloodshed. In order to ensure that the rebellion would not be rekindled, King George II gave the Duke of Cumberland instructions to punish the Scots. The English army started killing any Highlander they could find. Even Highlanders who had not joined the rebellion were slaughtered, and in some cases this also meant the murder of women and children. These acts earned the Duke of Cumberland the infamous title of “The Butcher”.