Gallant Lady

In November, 2005, Richmond Folk Music hosted a concert by Rhiannon Giddens. At the concert, I bought Out on the Ocean, a CD by the Celtic band Gaelwynd, of which Rhiannon is a member. Track #11 on this CD is a beautiful waltz titled Gallant Lady, composed by Gaelwynd fiddler Nora Garver. I remember thinking that this moving tune would make a wonderful film soundtrack for historical dramas in the vein of Last of the Mohicans.

I phoned Nora to ask for a copy of the music, since I don't learn by ear very well and this tune is not a simple one for a novice fiddler. I left the request, my phone and e-mail on her voice mail, not sure whether I would hear back from her. A few days later, Nora phoned and said that she was on vacation, but would be happy to send the music when she returned. I was delighted when a JPG of the handwritten music appeared in my inbox a few weeks later as an e-mail attachment. I have begun working through this music and look forward to accompanying Nora on my fiddle as the CD plays this tune at some point in the not-too-distant future.

As a small token of my appreciation for her kindness, I entered Gallant Lady into my PrintMusic 2006 software and emailed a PDF version of the finished product to Nora.