Robert Burns is known as "Scotland's National Poet." His birthday, on January 25, is celebrated each year by Scots around the world. In addition to Burns's poetry and songs, his birthday has become a reason to celebrate Scottish culture more broadly and is now the equivalent for Scots of what St. Patrick's Day is to the Irish.
In this audio segment, parts of which were broadcast on A Celtic Sojourn, Brian O'Donovan explores songs of the great bard and chooses a wide variety of recordings in style and approach. Contemporary artists still view Burns' repertoire as a vast resource worthy of regularly re-visiting though over two hundred years have passed since his death. In this segment, the sounds and styles you will hear range from quite traditional through contemporary and indicate — as O'Donovan points out regularly — the vitality and currency of today's traditional influenced music from Scotland. Selections included in the playlist are listed below.
In addition to the main article, here is an interesting sub-segment celebrating the bard's poetry and song. We included it in our broadcast of January 23, 2021. In it, we cover a fascinating but lesser-known Burns song, "The Slaves Lament." In 1786, Burns successfully applied for a job running a slave plantation in Jamaica. He even had his passage booked when his now-famous Kilmarnock collection of poetry was published. The book was immediately successful and reversed the poet's financial woes, which allowed him to stay in Scotland. For a writer known for a deep commitment to egalitarianism and the plight of his fellow man, this episode, it is said, haunted Burns. "The Slave's Lament," published in 1792, was possibly written as an apology. We include versions here by Robin Stapleton and a particularly intriguing one by Jamaican singer Brina.
The Slave's Lament
In January 2020, Fiddler Alastair McCulloch visited GBH and Robert Hopes from the National Trust for Scotland. They had with them what has become known as "Burns Fiddle." Listen to the interview, hear some tunes played on it by McCulloch, and get some insights into the ongoing and important work of the National Trust for Scotland.
Burns Fiddle
When it is safe to travel again, O'Donovan looks forward to once again, leading a tour to Scotland to explore its sites, music, and culture. For more information, please send an email to celtic@wgbh.org and include "Scotland Tour" in the subject line.
The Songs of Robert Burns
Title, writer/artist/reader, and album (if applicable)
"Auld Lang Syne," Dougie MacLean et al., A Christmas Celtic Sojourn (unpublished)
"Westlin Winds," Dick Gaughan, The Harvard Tapes
"My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose," Eddi Reader, Sings the Songs of Robert Burns, Vol. 1
"Rantin Roving Robin," Robyn Stapleton, Songs of Robert Burns
"Ca' the Yowes," Dougie Maclean, Tribute
"Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation," Chris Drever, Drever/Coyne/Henderson EP
"Ye Jacobites," Eddi Reader, Sings the Songs of Robert Burns, Vol. 1
"Ae Fond Kiss," Rachel Sermani, Aoife O'Donovan, Adam Holms, Blazin' Fiddles, the Inverness Gaelic Choir, (unpublished)
"Auld Lang Syne," Mairi Campbell et al., A Christmas Celtic Sojourn (unpublished)
"Dona Nobis/Auld Lang Syne," Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Botti, Songs of Joy and Peace
