DESCRIPTION:
Sung by Si Canta duo, - Marianne Asjiki Lihannah and Catharina Rickett.
Thanks to 'Silly Sisters', June tabor and Maddy Prior for their inspiring duo version of this great folk song, from whom we have learnt this.

This song is built on a historical event, there is however different stories behind it that seem to say some contradictory things. Willie McIntosh did exist though and he did burn down Auchindoon because he wanted to revenge the killing of the Earl of Moray, - and it seems that Willie McIntosh also really did get hanged for this in the end.
If you are interested in more information, - the following is what I found here: http://bardd.net /college/archice/songs/achindoon.html

AUCHINDOON:

Auchindoon has been an unlucky house for its owners. It was built in1479 for the Earl of Mar, the brother of James III. James the III had the Earl murdered and the holding was given along with the title to a court favourite, Robert Cochrane in 1479. Cochrane was hanged by the Barons at Lowder in 1782. The land then passed to the Ogilvies but were lost by debt to the Gordons and was held as part of the lands of their chief, the Marquis of Huntley.

In 1592 the then Marquis o fHuntley (This is the one mentioned in the song) was sent by James IV of Scotland to apprehend and arrest the earl of Moray. Huntley was cautioned to take him alive (q.v. the ballad 'The Bonnie Earl of Moray') Huntley ran Moray to earth at Donibristle, Fife, but Moray refused to surrender to Huntley because of an earlier feud. Huntley had the house set afire and in the ensuing confusion, Moray was killed. In revenge for the death of Moray, the MackIntoshes raided and burned several of Huntley's manors. Auchindoun was among them.

PS : I apologize that the castles seen in the video aren't Auchindoon castle itself unfortunately. They are photos I took when I spent a month in Scotland myself, - but I hope I have managed to create the mood of the song instead.

Go well
Marianne Lihannah

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