Looking at a Rainbow Through a Dirty Window Calum Stewart arranged for celtic harp Rachel Hair 3 versions of Calum Stewart’s tune “Looking at a Rainbow Through a Dirty Window”. Published with permission from Calum. 1. Advanced Arrangement 2. Simpler Arrangement 3. Original Melody Buy this music now    Score: £8.00 + p&p

Rachel Hair: Profile and Discography

Contents

1. Advanced Arrangement
This arrangement is based on the version I recorded with my duo guitarist, Ron Jappy, on our 2019 album SPARKS. It includes a transcription of the break improvisation from the album. I vary this every time I perform the tune.

2. Simpler Arrangement
This arrangement is the version I have been teaching to harp players around the world since 2008. It includes a harmony section allowing you to play it in a duet or in an ensemble. This can be played at a slightly slower tempo. Please note, it is NOT possible to play this version along with the advanced arrangement as it has different chordal harmony.

3. Original Melody
This is the original melody as written and performed by Calum from his 2008 album Earlywood. It includes some additional parts to the tune.

About

Calum Stewart is an award winning uilleann piper, flautist and composer originally from Garmouth in the North-East of Scotland and now residing in Brittany. We’ve been friends for over 25 years, having first met as teenagers at the advanced Fèis Alba in Ullapool in the late 90’s.

I first heard Looking at a Rainbow Through a Dirty Window being played by Calum at Speyfest festival in Fochabers, not long after he had released his album Earlywood. Later that year, I was needed a new tune to teach some talented teens at Fèis Rois and this tune came to mind, as I’d been listening to it on my journey up the road to Ullapool. I quickly transcribed it during a lunchbreak and taught it that afternoon – they loved it!

Since then I’ve taught it to students and at workshops throughout the world. I love that it has become part of the repertoire for many celtic harpists globally and it is often an audience favourite when I perform it on stage.

It’s curiously long title often catches the attention of audiences when I first announce it. Calum reflects in the notes of his album: “Looking at a Rainbow Through a Dirty Window is to glance hopefully beyond present circumstance”.

In other words, it’s a tune about hope, with the dirty window representing the not-so-great things that are perhaps present in your life or the world. If you look through the dirty window you’ll see a rainbow, with hope to be had. Keep this in mind as you play these arrangements.

Title:	Looking at a Rainbow Through a Dirty Window
Contents:	3 versions of the tune
Composer: Arranged for harp:	Calum Stewart Rachel Hair
Instrumentation:	Celtic Harp
Level:	Intermediate - Advanced
Format:	Score
Size:	A4
Our Ref:	SM0766
Publisher:	March Hair Publications
Edition/Year:	2024
Origin:	UK