Robert Burns Songs in waltz time.

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The well known poet, Robert Burns, was born 25th January 1759.

As most already know his subjects were mainly the natural world around him, human relationships and strongly held views on equality and democracy. The last two in particular made many in high society uneasy as he was active around the early stages of the French revolution but on the other hand was held up as a beacon of enlightenment by others, not least Abraham Lincoln in the emerging United States of America.

The main media, TV, radio and printed newspapers here in my native Scotland are mainly owned and controlled from outwith the country and Robert Burns gets minimal, grudging exposure even on his birthday. I was brought up in an environment where Burns songs and poetry were common and I miss greatly hearing them.

Here are four Burns songs in 3/4 time recorded with my c1950s, Hohner Morino, Korg left-hand bass and chords with a few chords added later from the same accordion, all mixed down in Apple’s Garage Band.

The songs are ‘Leezie Lindsay’, ‘Ca’ the Ewes Tae the Knowes’, Bonnie Briar Bush, and ‘Ye Banks and Braes o’ Bonnie Doon’. (I’d be happy to ‘translate’ any of these titles for anybody interested)

Dropbox

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I've just noticed that the last tune in the set is NOT 'Ye Banks and Braes' but is intact 'A Rosebud by my Early Walk'.

 

[Dingo40]

We have a Robert Burns Society in our capital city and a statue of him in our cultural precinct. They celebrate his birthday every year.
Even I have a book of his verse which I have dipped into now and then. ?
Evidently, he was quite a lad with the lasses. ?

 

[Buttons]

Fine tunes. Good to hear and with lock down restrictions lessening we may see a better life again. Starting tomorrow. Best wishes and I am in Edinburgh.

 

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Dingo40
Thanks for your response.
Even although I speak Scots I stlll need to reach for my Scots dictionary occasionally to fully understand Burns’ 18th century dialect. However the effort is well worth it; his vocabulary and rhythm are unsurpassed as he makes his point. ‘Whaure’s yer Shakespeare noo?’ to quote another admirer.
I think you’re right about his reputation for the ladies. He never had a complaint either as far as I am aware.

Buttons
Thanks. I arranged and recorded a lot of his tunes during the lockdown. I’m in Gorebridge.

 

[Waldo]

My lineage is Scots/Irish and while there are two fellow countrymen available, here, I have a question youse can probably answer.

I often hear/read references to Scotland and/or its residents as Scots, Scottish, Scotch, Scotchman etc. What is the proper application of these terms? Is there some grammatical rule?

 

[Walker]

Well Waldo, it would be standard to use the word Scots or Scottish to refer to a person or people from Scotland or those with such cultural, family links etc.

To refer to a person as Scotch or Scotchman would be considered archaic.

Scotch is sometimes used to refer to uisge beatha (Scottish Gaelic), also known as the 'water of life' - whisky.

 

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As Walker says 'Scotch' is something which is put in a glass. As far as I know there is no such thing as a 'Scotchman'. Maybe Harry Lauder should take some of the blame.

 

[dunlustin]

Scotsman?

 

[debra]

Sounds nice! A bit too much tremolo for my taste, even for this style of music, but nicely done.
It's a pity there is a hum in the recording, most clearly audible before the song starts, but it is there all the time.