The Boortree from The Woods by Hamish Napier
7. The Boortree 3:15
Elder is represented by letter 'R' in the Scottish Gaelic alphabet.
R is for RUIS [Roosh], Elder, droman, eller, borral, boortree, bountree, Sambucus nigra.
The pithy cores of elder branches were hollowed out to make a ‘bountry-gun’, a child’s peashooter. The pale, hard and easily polished wood was used to make chanters and whistles at one time. Highlanders planted elder near their house to keep the devil at bay, while burning it was thought to summon him. The wood spits and screams on the fire. The strong smelling leaves seem to deter flies and so were placed around the home for reasons of hygiene. Elder has compound leaves divided into five to seven elegant leaflets. The dark autumn elder berries are tasty, as are elderflower champagne and cordial. Elder is most commonly found at woodland edges and on grasslands.
Tracklist
| 7. | The Boortree | 3:15 |
Credits
Musicians:
HN: F flute
RA: Small pipes
JL: bass
SB: guitar, drums
All tracks composed by H Napier PRS/MCPS.
Produced by Andrea Gobbi & H Napier.
Arranged by S Byrnes & H Napier.
Recorded, mixed & mastered by A Gobbi at GloWorm Recordings & Carrier Waves, Glasgow.
Additional recordings by Barry Reid on location in Hamish’s livingroom, Grantown-on-Spey.
Field recordings by H Napier, W Boyd-Wallis and P Smith.
