Isle of Skye by Bjorn Snelders | Unsplash

A Gift of Thistle

James Horner’s music for the film Braveheart is one of the most iconic and beloved scores in cinematic history. Most consider ‘A Gift of Thistle’ to be the central theme of the film.

This track is played during the scene where William Wallace first meets Murron MacClannough as children. Murron gives Wallace a thistle, a symbol of Scotland, and the two share a tender moment. The piece is also used throughout the film to represent Murron and Wallace’s bond.

The music is also notable for its use of traditional Celtic melodies. Horner weaves these melodies into the score in a way that is both respectful and innovative.

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How to play A Gift of Thistle | fingerstyle guitar

The guitar tab for A Gift of Thistle is beautifully written across two pages.

Enjoy, the guitar guitar tab is available below:

After the intro, the guitar tab consists of one long passage played twice though.

**Braveheart: A Gift of Thistle (love theme) for guitar

A Gift of Thistle is played in standard tuning with a capo on the 5th fret.