Saturday 17 June 2023
Tune of the Day: Bosun Peter's Whistle
Hornpipe by Roddy Campbell
Today's tune was kindly contributed to our collection by its composer, piper Roddy Campbell from the isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. He writes:
My father Peter was a bosun in the Merchant Navy, after having done a stint in the Royal Navy. The tune is I hope reminiscent of the old sea-dog type of tune that sailors danced to aboard 19th century ships sailing out of seaports such as Portsmouth, Plymouth and Bristol. In Barra “The Sailor's Hornpipe” is a popular act at social functions, where young dancers dressed in mock naval uniforms perform it.
The bosun (or boatswain) is the most senior member of the deck department of a ship, responsible for the crew and for the upkeep of the hull.