A STARZ Original Series From Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore: Outlander

[Carlo]

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Therefore I believe that it would have been very historically inaccurate, to have the cast wearing Victorian invented "clan tartans", esp. the predominantly red "dress tartans", as I believe we have been told that only the rich could have afforded such colours, in their clothing. I also seem to recall reading that wearing a mix of different tartan patterns was not an uncommon practice, before the banning of tartans.
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I have read on different occassions, that the English army used red coates because the red dye was cheap.

[figheadair]

I've come somewhat late to this thread but.......

Despite the fact that Outlander is purely and quite obviously a work of fiction, hopefully, the attention to detail is present. I am curious what the rabble thinks.

Lead characters, Claire Randall Fraser (played by Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (played by Sam Heughan)

Photo used with kind permission by STARZ.

Fell at the first tartan hurdle I'm afraid. Not only is the tartan historically inaccurate but the plaid is made from double width cloth with an unfinished edge rather than a selvedge. Cheap and cheerful but oh so wrong.

Yet, I think the Fraser tartan in the reproduction colours achieves that look quite well.

But of course they are historically inaccurate too - a D.C. Dalgliesh invention.

The man's tartan looks to me very much like the the MacKay Reproduction as woven by D.C.Dalgliesh.

It's a new design which has just come to the STR Advisory Group for comment as part of the Registration process. A classic example of cart before horse - what will they do if we reject it!

Regarding earlier questions about the tartan being worn, and Fraser or MacKenzie:
From my reading of the history of tartan, I seem to recall that most agree that before the Ban on wearing of tartan, after Culloden, there were no such thing as uniform "clan tartans", that most Scots, in the Highlands, wore mostly whatever the local weavers wove. Most of those tartans were also made with locally available dyestuffs ( probably mostly plant based dyes). I also seem to recall that what few written accounts were made, commented upon the tartans as also blending in with the local plants, and thus acting as a form of camouflage.

Without going completely off topic, this is not the case. Tartan per se was never banned and all the surviving examples of Culloden era tartans are dyed with imported dyestuffs. The camouflage idea is very much a Victorian myth and not borne out by evidence or tactical practicalities.

Whilst it would be inaccurate as you say for them to have used the post 1820s "clan tartans", I believe that tartans of the period were probably rather more colourful than those used in Outlander. The painting below was painted in 1746 by D. Morier and he used prisoners from Culloden as his models. None of the tartans are identifiable with modern tartans, but they are decidedly bright and contain a lot of red.

Attachment 21264

Absolutely right, certainly as far as the gentry were concerned. Red was a status symbol which is why so many chose to be painted in it.

I have read on different occasions, that the English army used red coates because the red dye was cheap.

Not really. The choice of colour was about uniformity and being able to identify your side form the opposition in the midst of a black powder engagement when visibility was very poor. The French, the old enemy, wore blue so the British chose another colour that would stand out. The red of the soldiers' coats was dyed with Madder, the officers' with cochineal which was the most expensive natural dye of the time.

[Carlo]

figheadair, as always very interessting.

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Not really. The choice of colour was about uniformity and being able to identify your side form the opposition in the midst of a black powder engagement when visibility was very poor. The French, the old enemy, wore blue so the British chose another colour that would stand out. The red of the soldiers' coats was dyed with Madder, the officers' with cochineal which was the most expensive natural dye of the time.

Is there really no page on Wiki one can trust

The adoption and continuing use of red by most British/English soldiers after the Restoration (1660) was the result of circumstances rather than policy, including the relative cheapness of red dyes,,

Red was by no means universal at first, with grey and blue coats also being worn.
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[Lodrorigdzin]

Madder or "Turkish" red

http://www.colorantshistory.org/MadderRed.html

I found out last weekend that an area near where I live (Rotterdam) was well known for its madder cultivation and export.

[Calgacus]

I also seem to recall that what few written accounts were made, commented upon the tartans as also blending in with the local plants, and thus acting as a form of camouflage.

There is a written account, I think from some time in the 17th century, where the narrator states that previously, bright tartans were in vogue but at the time of the narration duller hues were more popular, as a form of blending in or camouflage, however the evidence shows that by the time of Culloden, rather brighter tartans were the norm again.

*Edit* Account found-

In James Aikman's 1827 translation of George Buchanan's 1581 "History of Scotland":

"They delight in variegated garments, especially stripes, and their favourite colours are purple and blue. Their ancestors wore plaids of many colours, and numbers still retain this custom but the majority now in their dress prefer a dark brown, imitating nearly the leaves of the heather, that when lying upon the heath in the day, they may not be discovered by the appearance of their clothes; in these wrapped rather than covered, they brave the severest storms in the open air, and sometimes lay themselves down to sleep even in the midst of snow."

[Jack Daw]

I've seen the first two episodes, and I noticed the use of Doune Castle, which was also used for Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I visited the castle in 2003 and was very pleased with the renovations.

[Blupiper]

I just skimmed through the 18 pages to see if anyone has mentioned the music. I didn't notice any.

The music is by our local (Hollywood) guy Bear McCreary, who did some very interesting music for Battlestar Galactica, mixing orchestral, Celtic, and Arabic musical styles to great effect.

Composers tend to stick by their cadre of trusted musicians, so I expect many of the same people to be involved with Outlander, with Eric Rigler on Highland pipes and uilleann pipes and perhaps low whistles, Chris Bleth on flutes, whistles, and duduks, and a couple Oingo Boingo guys on drums and guitars.

Here's an interview with Bear in which he mentions being happy to be able to use the bagpipes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdbEnWwdyV0

(I've worked for Bear, he's a really cool guy.)

Here you can hear the Highland pipes under the vocals, with the uilleann pipes at the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrusSXEEv1M

Quite appropriate, because in the 18th century the instrument we call 'uilleann pipes' was being widely made and played in Scotland. Nowadays we (incorrectly) think of the uilleann pipes as being uniquely Irish.

The Skye Boat Song has an odd melody, odd in that it starts and ends on the 5th.

About Outlander, I've never heard of the books and my only knowledge of the show, before reading this thread, was seeing a TV commercial. Sounds interesting!

Richard:

Be sure to check out the second episode if you are able. There is some actual piping in it. At a scene where everyone has come to present their petitions, grievances, etc., before the laird, there is a piper doing some "piobaireachd-y" piping, as a gathering call and to set the scene. It appears the piping is genuine--I rewound the scene a couple of times to check the fingering. It was a nice change of pace from the usual musical use of the pipes and very good to set the mood for the scene. Give it a look.

JMB

[Elizabeth]

The 5 tartans registered this month for Outlander.

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/qRe...ring=outlander

[Bluescelt]

I just saw that Balgonie Castle near Markinch, Fife has become an official filming location for the Outlander Series. My wife and I stopped there in 2013. Would love to see it used in the series.

[Liam]

"Without going completely off topic, this is not the case. Tartan per se was never banned and all the surviving examples of Culloden era tartans are dyed with imported dyestuffs. The camouflage idea is very much a Victorian myth and not borne out by evidence or tactical practicalities."

It has been my understanding that it was the wearing of the tartan that was banned by the 1746 Act of Proscription

Abolition and Proscription of the Highland Dress 19 George II, Chap. 39, Sec. 17, 1746:

That from and after the first day of August, One thousand, seven hundred and forty-six, no man or boy within that part of Britain called Scotland, other than such as shall be employed as Officers and Soldiers in His Majesty's Forces, shall, on any pretext whatever, wear or put on the clothes commonly called Highland clothes (that is to say) the Plaid, Philabeg, or little Kilt, Trowse, Shoulder-belts, or any part whatever of what peculiarly belongs to the Highland Garb; and that no tartan or party-coloured plaid of stuff shall be used for Great Coats or upper coats, and if any such person shall presume after the said first day of August, to wear or put on the aforesaid garment or any part of them, every such person so offending ... For the first offence,shall be liable to be imprisoned for 6 months, and on the second offence, to be transported to any of His Majesty's plantations beyond the seas, there to remain for the space of seven years.