| Bunessan – Hymn Tune | Solo Guitar | Tempo: Moderate | Duration: 1 minute |
| Key: C Major | Easy | Scottish folk song | Year: trad. |
The well-known Christian hymn ‘Morning Has Broken‘ celebrates the beauty of a new day, often associated with nature and renewal. The hymn’s lyrics were written by English author Eleanor Farjeon in 1931 and first appeared in the Songs of Praise hymnal. Farjeon, an accomplished children’s author and poet, was asked to write a text that would fit the traditional Scottish Gaelic tune called ‘Bunessan‘. Her words were inspired by the village of Alfriston in East Sussex, where she wrote the song.
The melody ‘Bunessan’ has origins in the Scottish Gaelic tradition. It is named after the village of Bunessan on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. The tune was originally associated with a traditional Gaelic Christmas carol, ‘Leanabh an Àigh‘ (Child in the Manger).
The hymn gained significant popularity when Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) recorded a version of it in 1971 for his album Teaser and the Firecat. His arrangement, featuring a distinctive piano accompaniment by Rick Wakeman, brought the hymn to a broader audience, especially within the folk-rock genre.
The arrangement presented here I have kept very simple for beginner guitar. Tablature helps with notation reading and left-hand finger placement.
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