A weaver by trade and song-writer and poet by calling, Robert Tannahill of Paisley was born 3rd June 1774 and died 17th May 1810. He was an avid self-educator and recognised man of letters, founding the Paisley Burns Club in 1805 and developing one of the early Trades Libraries in Renfrewshire, despite his modest means. Over 100 songs, of a quality that compares with Robert Burns, constitute his great legacy.
It was with this in mind that Dr Fred Freeman, producer & musical director of the internationally acclaimed THE COMPLETE SONGS OF ROBERT BURNS (12 vols, Linn Records 1996-2003), decided to record for posterity THE COMPLETE SONGS OF ROBERT TANNAHILL in 5 volumes, in conjunction with Brechin All Records. The Year 2010 will mark the bicentenary of Tannahill's death and Dr. Freeman plans to complete all 5 volumes by that time.
As with the Burns songs, this is much more than an academic exercise. It is contemporary Scottish folk music, wholly modern arrangements, featuring outstanding musicians from every major folk group in the country. Here are upbeat songs set to traditional jigs, strathspeys & reels along with pastoral love songs that will sit happily alongside the Burns canon.
Volume 1 - Released 30th June 2006
Volume 1 brings together some of the better known Tannahill songs along with others promise to be a revelation: The Braes o Balquhidder, Jessie The Flower o Dunblane, O are you sleeping
Maggie, Yon Burnside, Och hey! Johnny Lad, I'll hie me to the Shieling-hill,
Coggie though heels me, The Dear Highland Laddie,O, When John and I were married, Rab Roryson's Bonnet, Molly my Dear, The Five Friends, Hey Donald! How Donald!, Meg o the
Glen, The Lassie o Merry Eighteen, I'll lay me on the wintry lea, With waefu
Heart.
Visit www.robert-tannahill-songs.com for more information
Volume 1 introduces some well-known names as well as younger artists who made their mark recently amongst the BBC & TMSA awards as 'young musicians of the year'. Some of the featured artists on Vol. 1 are:
SINGERS: Steve Byrne (Malinky), John Croall (Jock Tamson's Bairns), Wendy Weatherby, Gillian Mcdonald, Ross Kennedy (ex Tannahill Weavers), Ian Anderson (Fiddler's Leap), Jim Reid (Winner Scots Singer of the Year' 2005, Scots Trad Music Awards), Emily Smith (Winner BBC Scotland's Young Scottish Trad Musician of the Year 2002)
PLAYERS: Marc Duff (ex Capercaillie), Sandy Brechin (Burach, ex-Seelyhoo), Rod Paul (Iron Horse), Aaron Jones (Old Blind Dogs, ex-Seelyhoo), Anna Massie & Mike Vass (both recipients of young trad. musician awards) and others of note.
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