Scotland

The song “Caledonia” is an example of a folk song written in the traditional style. Dougie MacLean wrote the song in less than 10 minutes on a beach in Brittany, France, feeling homesick for Scotland. He said: “I was in my early 20s and had been busking around with some Irish guys. I was genuinely homesick. I'd always lived in Perthshire. I played it to the guys when I got back to the youth hostel where we were staying and that was the final straw – we all went home the next day." He adds: "It took about 10 minutes but sometimes that's how songs happen. I'm still amazed at how much it has become part of common culture. There's not a pub singer, busker or pipe band that doesn't play it." This version was recorded at the BBC Folk Awards concert in 2013. Dougie is joined by a large group of Scotland’s folk luminaries.

Dougie McLean

England

The Banks of Sweet Primroses (Roud 586) is a well known and very popular traditional song which has been sung and recorded by many people. An excellent choice for Josienne Clark and Ben Walker, whose performance of this song won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for best duo in 2017.

Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker

New Zealand

Lyrics written by Peter Cape, music Don Toms, c.1962 we have chosen two recordings of this song. The video is Phil Garland, while the audio track is Mike Harding

Peter Cape, Don Toms, Phil Garland, Mike Harding

Scotland

Freedom Come All Ye is a traditional song that is much loved and has been covered by many folk musicians. It is often sung on significant occasions. Written by Hamish Henderson in 1960 for the peace marchers at the Holy Loch near Glasgow, Freedom Come-All-Ye" is a Scots language socialist and anti-imperialist song Like many others who write songs about peace he developed his lyric to talk about our history, our future and our hopes. One of Henderson's most important songs, it presents a non-romantic view of the role of the Scots in the world at the time it was written. It describes a wind of change blowing through Scotland and the world, sweeping away exploitation and imperialism. It renounces the tradition of the Scottish soldier both as imperial cannon-fodder and colonial oppressor, mourning the loss of youth sent to invade foreign nations, and looks to a future society which is multiracial and just. ( Information from Scots Language Centre and from The King McHughes) We have chosen to share two versions of this song. The audio clip is by the King McHugh’s Their arrangement of this song is written in the style of a National Anthem and ends with Massed Pipes & Drums playing ¨The Bloody Fields of Flanders¨ the original pipe march used by Henderson when writing this song. This Pipe march was originally written by Pipe Major John MacLallan of the 8th Argylls regiment while fighting in the trenches in northern France in WW1 In 1943, during World War II, Hamish Henderson heard the pipe tune played on the beachhead at Anzio in Italy and remembered it when he came to write ‘The Freedom Come-All-Ye’. The video is of Karine Polwart singing Freedom Come All Ye in the Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm in August 2013 when a group consisting of artists, musicians, writers, scientists and filmmakers visited as members of Cape Farewell's "Sea Change" project exploring the landscapes, history and future of the Orkneys.

Hamish Henderson

England

When the town clock of Padstow strikes midnight on April 30th, there begins a ceremony which is one of the most remarkable pagan survivals in England. Between 12 and 2 a.m. the hobby horse committee walk through streets and gardens singing the May Day Song. Then, next day, the hobby horse dancer appears. He wears a six-foot hoop skirt, painted shiny black and reaching to the ground. This hoop rests on his shoulders, and his head is covered in a conical black mask on which a sinister face is painted in black and white. The opening photo on this web page shows a re-enactment of the Padstow May Day procession which took place at the Tutira Tradfest on ANZAC weekend in 2019. The Hobby Horse belongs to Robyn Park, and we thank Robyn, her family and all those who joined in the spirit of this Padstow May Day celebration here in New Zealand.

New Zealand

Sung by Chris Priestley with accordian by Craig Denham. The lyrics, written by an anonymous songwriter, were collected from E L Eyre by Neil Colquhoun. Neil added a tune to the lyrics, then published it in 1965 in Song of a Young Country.

Neil Colquhoun

Ireland

A renowned artist with a proven record of performance, recording and innovation, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh is a multi-award-winning traditional singer and musician from Corca Dhuibhne, West Kerry. Muireann has enjoyed a successful career as a touring artist, with over thirteen years experience as lead singer and flute player with the Irish traditional supergroup Danú, as well as many years performing as a solo artist. In 2022 Muireann was awarded “Best Folk Singer” at the RTÉ Radio Folk Awards, and amongst many other awards, was Amhránaí na Bliana at the TG4 Gradaim Ceoil in 2011. Recorded during the Transatlantic Sessions 2011, with Sharon Shannon, Jim Murray and Jerry Douglas

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh

Scotland

A Robbie Burns song sung to the tune of Dainty Davy. It is thought that Burns may have written this as a celebration of his 28th birthday. The video, by Beth Boyle, is a slideshow celebrating 250 Years of Robert Burns Jan. 25, 2009. It contains Burns material set to his Autobiographical song, Rantin' Rovin' Robin. Singing is Sylvia Barnes with The Battlefield Band. The photos in the last quarter are of the Burns House and his tomb in Dumfries, Scotland in 2007. To learn more about the wonderful recordings of the Battlefield Band follow this link! http://www.battlefieldband.co.uk/

Battlefield Band

England

"Grimstock" is a lively English country dance tune and accompanying set dance that dates back to the 17th century, first published in John Playford’s seminal dance manual, The English Dancing Master (1651; republished and expanded through 1686).

England

The Young'uns are a very successful English trio who compose songs about current issues, and perform these unaccompanied in traditional folk style.

The Young'uns

Ireland

Irish singer Niamh Farrell and Scottish singer Linda Nic Leòid perform the traditional Irish sean-nós song Eleanór na Rún, with accompaniment from Seamie O'Dowd (Guitar) and Stephen Markham (Harmonium). Lyrics below and click cc for Irish, English, German or French lyrics. This clip is taken from the TG4 series ‘Port’ - part documentary; part travelogue; part spellbinding music performance, which charts the musical landscapes of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Asturias and Galicia.

Ireland

Breizh Pan Celtic offers a Brittany-Ireland version of The Gael, the famous music from the film The Last of the Mohicans, composed by Dougie MacLean. The Pan Celtic festival usually takes place each year in Ireland the week after Easter, and brings together representatives of all the Celtic nations for competitions and performances of Celtic music, song, dance and languages. The festival is canceled in 2022 for the third consecutive year due to health measures. We wish to testify by this video of our support and our attachment to the cultural exchanges between the Celtic countries, of which the harp is the prestigious heritage. Ancient and modern harps coexist here happily. We especially thank our Irish friends Siobhan Buckley and his harp school Music Generation Laois for this collaboration. Groups: Herrou-Mayor, Guiya, Herriwenn, Music Generation Laois Musicians: Violaine Mayor, Joel Herrou, Jean Herrou, Mikaël Herrou, Lenn Derreumaux, Maëla Derreumaux, Silvan Derreumaux, Annaëlle Brossard, Jawen Laroche, Siobhan Buckley and her students, Elodie Autissier, Riwal Harjay, Yann-Yvon Dodeur. Sound: Jean Herrou Video: Mikaël Herrou Production: Hent Telenn Breizh – Breizh Pan Celtic

Ireland

From his Album A Lifetime of Happiness, Daoiri Farrell sings Valentine O'Hara. A traditional song arranged by Donal Lunny and Daoiri Farrell. This story of a dashing highwayman is found in many versions throughout England and Ireland

Ireland

A fast set from Brendon Mulholland, Conor Lamb and Deidre Galway. This is from their album 'Music in the Glen' recorded in 2018

England

Sussex Cotillion played here by English Melodeon virtuoso Will Allen. A cotillion is a type of social dance that originated in France in the 18th century. This is a version from Sussex.

Scotland

The tune of this song is said to have been composed by James MacPherson, the night before his execution on November 1700. Born of an aristocratic father and beautiful gypsy mother, MacPherson was an outlaw of the Robin Hood mould taking only from the rich and acting as the champion of the poor. It is said that he played the tune on his gallows and when none of his clan took up his offer on the fiddle if they would play it at his wake, he broke it and jumped to his death.

Scotland

"Ye Jacobites by Name" (Roud # 5517) is a traditional Scottish folk song which goes back to the Jacobite risings in Scotland (1688–1746). While the original version simply attacked the Jacobites from a contemporaneous Whig point of view, Robert Burns rewrote it in around 1791 to give a version with a more general, humanist anti-war, but nonetheless anti-Jacobite outlook. This is the version that most people know today

Wales

New Zealand

Davy Lowston is considered to be one of New Zealand's earliest folk songs

England

Recorded by John Kirkpatrick on his album Sheepskins 1988

Wales

New Zealand

New Zealand

England

Peter Knight is best known for his work as fiddle player with the legendary Steeleye Span This is one of the most poignant of traditional English folk songs, and Peter Knight’s Gigspanner do a lovely version of it.

England

Folk supergroup Bandoggs recorded this track in 1978. Nic Jones was joined by Pete and Chris Coe and Tony Rose

New Zealand

Written by Paul Metsers. This song has been popular and there are several versions from other artists, notably a version by Nic Jones on his album Penguin Eggs

New Zealand

New Zealand

Scotland