Caller Herrin' Explained

"Caller Herrin is a Scottish song, the music by Nathaniel Gow (1763–1831), and the words by Carolina Nairne (1766–1845).

History

"Caller herrin means fresh herring.^[1] It was the traditional cry of Newhaven fishwives, who carried in creels freshly caught herring which they sold from door to door.Gow, a violinist and bandleader of Edinburgh, incorporated this cry, and also the bells of St Andrew's Church, into his composition, written about 1798. It became one of his best-known tunes.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne, was a songwriter, using the pseudonym "Mrs Bogan of Bogan". Attending balls in country houses of Perthshire, she heard the music of Nathaniel Gow, and wrote words for "Caller Herrin.^[5]

It has been adapted many times. Philip Knapton composed a set of variations of the tune, for piano or harp, which appeared in 1820 and became popular.^{[6] [7]} Joseph Binns Hart (1794–1844) arranged the tune as a quadrille in his 8th Set of Scotch Quadrilles (1827).^{[3] [8]}

Music

The tune and words of the chorus: \addlyrics

In literature

• In The Ascent of Rum Doodle by W. E. Bowman, Constant the Linguist gives a "passionate rendering" of Caller Herrin' to Travis the Seal with devastating results.

External links

• Caller Herring tunearch.com
• Traditional Scottish Songs - Caller Herrin' - Lyrics rampantscotland.com
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SywNZn6vsCA Jean Redpath. Will ye no come back again? The Songs of Lady Nairne

Notes and References

1. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, rev. Ivor H. Evans. 1994.
2. [Percy Scholes]
3. http://regencydances.org/paper022.php Nathaniel Gow (1763-1831)
4. http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/secondary/genericcontent_tcm4555468.asp (Wha'll Buy My) Caller Herring
5. William. Donaldson. 19723. Oliphant, Carolina.
6. Philip Knapton. Caller Herring: a favorite Scotch air; arr. with variations, for the piano forte or harp, 1820.
7. 15701. Knapton, Philip.
8. http://regencydances.org/paper008.php The Life & Quadrilles of Joseph Binns Hart (1794-1844)