Sheet Music: The Dark Island

TitleThe Dark Island
Alternate titlesDr. MacKay's Farewell to Creagorry
Dr. McInnes’s Farewell To South Uist
ComposerIain McLachlan (1927–1995)
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyG major
RangeC4–D5
Time signature3/4
Tempo100 BPM
Performance time1:00
Difficulty leveleasy
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (49 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (479 kB)
Date added2021-02-11
Last updated2021-02-11
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 0.6 (below average)
Categories
Funeral music, Slow airs, Traditional/Folk, Waltzes

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Thursday 11 February 2021

Tune of the Day: The Dark Island

Scottish air

This melody was originally composed by Scottish accordionist Iain McLachlan in 1958 as a pipe lament for a local doctor, under the title “Dr Mackay's Farewell to Creagorry”. Creagorry is a town on the Outer Hebridean island of Benbecula, where Iain and his family lived.

In 1963, the tune was used as the theme for the BBC miniseries The Dark Island, and it became so popular that the name stuck. Like the song, the show was set in Benbecula, though it was mostly filmed on South Uist.

Thanks to Marion for suggesting this tune!