Tunes from The Life and Land of Robert Burns
On Volume 2 of this series of the traditional Scottish fiddle repertoire, Alasdair plays 'Robert Burns' on fiddle, accompanied by Muriel Johnstone (piano) and Natalie Haas (cello).
The project was inspired partly by the comprehensive book The Songs of Robert Burns by James C Dick, published in 1903. The author meticulously sets the historical and social context of Burns' work, and re-connects his lyrics to the melodies that Burns had intended. The published collections of Burns' day became the basis for selecting tunes for this recording. It was a time when every class of society danced vigorously. A fiddler might play for classical concerts as well as country dances and courtly balls. Many of Burns' poems and letters refer to fiddle music, fiddlers, and the dance, giving us insight into the social life of the day - indeed he himself was a fiddler.
- Watson's Scotch Measure/Lady Mary Hay's Scotch Measure
- Muirland Willie/Hoop Her & Gird Her/Merrily Danced the Quaker's Wife/The Hemp Dresser
- The Yellow-Haired Laddie/Afton Water
- Argyle Bowling Green/Earl of Hynford's Reel/Miss Farquharson of Invercauld's Reel/Hon. Mrs. Campbell of Lochnell's Reel
- Hey, Tutti, Taitie (Scots, Wha Hae)
- The Bashful Lover/Corn Rigs/Sic A Wife As Willie Had/Duncan Gray/Red House
- O'er the Muir amang the Heather
- The Miller's Daughter/My Wife's A Wanton Wee Thing/Deuks Dang ower My Daddy/I Hae a Wife
- Ca' the Ewes
- Invercauld's Reel/The Lea Rig/Rattlin Roarin Willie/Col. David Stewart of Garth
- Killiecrankie
- Loch Erroch Side/Rothiemurchus Rant/Bonnie Lass of Fisherrow/The Marquis of Queensberry
- Lads of Leith/The Highway to Edinburgh
- Miss Johnstone/ Mr. Ferguson of Raith's Strathspey/Green Grow the Rashes/Tibby Fowler o' the Glen/The Drummer
- My Nanie O
- Sir Walter Scott/Dainty Davie/Mr. John Trotter of Castlelaw's Hornpipe
- Wandering Willie/Major Graham of Inchbrakie/McLauchlane's Scots Measure
- Within a Mile of Edinburgh Town/Bonny Wee Thing/Wha Can Help it
- Cadgers in the Canongate/Bonnie Anne/The Highlandman Kissed His Mother/Push about the Jorum/Lady Mackintosh's Reel/Edinburgh Castle Reel/Up, and Warn' A', Willie
- For A' That an' A' That (A Man's a Man)
- Goodnight & Joy Be wi' Ye A'/The Gates of Edinburgh/The Bottom of the Punch Bowl/The Cairdin' o't
