Green Hills of Tyrol, The

One of the most popular pipe tunes ever, rendered in recent times as the song “Scottish Soldier.” The melody was originally the product of Italian composer Gioachino Rossini from his 1825 opera “Viaggio a Reims.” He used it again four years later in the “William Tell” opera. It is an example of a common song-and-dance genre of the time called a Tyrolienne. Tyrol is a state in western Austria. Though some claim the tune came from an Austrian folk song, it in fact became a folk song after Rossini composed it. In 1854 Pipe Major John MacLeod of the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders heard a Sardinian band play the tune and adapted it for pipes. A YouTube search will often turn up Rossini’s air. Thanks to Janette Montague and “Notices of Pipers” for this information.