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Notes
“Da Slockit Light” is a hauntingly beautiful slow air composed by Shetland’s Tom Anderson in 1969. The title, meaning “The Extinguished Light” in local dialect, refers to the darkening windows of deserted crofts in the Shetland countryside. A masterpiece of 20th-century traditional music, this piece is a favorite for its soulful melody and its reflection on the passage of time and the shifting landscape of community life.
“Da Slockit Light” is one of the most beloved and evocative slow airs in the entire fiddle repertoire. Composed in 1969 by the legendary Shetland fiddler Tom Anderson (1910–1991), it has since gained “traditional” status, played by musicians around the world.
The Story Behind the Tune
The title is in the Shetland dialect; “Slockit” means “extinguished” or “put out.” Tom Anderson wrote the piece during a time of significant social change in the Shetland Islands. As he looked out across the valley of Eshaness, he noticed that many of the lights in the crofthouses (traditional small farmhouses) were going out as the older generation passed away and younger people moved to larger towns or the mainland.
The tune is a musical meditation on the thinning of a community and the loss of a way of life. Despite its mournful origins, it is often played at weddings and celebrations as a reminder of the enduring spark of memory.
Musical Characteristics
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Rhythm & Key: It is a slow air in 4/4 time, played in the key of D Major.
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Structure: The melody is notable for its wide intervals and soaring reaches, particularly in the “B” part, which requires a very smooth, controlled bow arm to capture the “vocal” quality of the notes.
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Style: In the Shetland style, players often use very light, shivering ornaments and delicate vibrato. The tune relies heavily on the resonance of the open strings to create a sense of vast, open space—much like the Shetland landscape itself.