Scottish Christmas Songs

Subject: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: Maryrrf
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 01:22 PM

I have a mini gig where I've been asked to sing Scottish songs. They would like me to include some Scottish Christmas songs. Any suggestions??? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 01:27 PM

I can't think of any Christmas songs that are particularly Scottish, we've always been more inclined to celebrate New Year up here, than the christian festivals. Although we do not keep Christmas, we certainly keep any thing else we can lay our hands on. *BG* - Jock

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: MMario
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 01:45 PM

so - any Scottish Hogmany songs?

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: Mac Tattie
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 01:57 PM

The one Scottish song mentioning Christmas that springs to mind is "The Minister's Sheep". Recorded by the Gaugers, but which record, ah dinna ken. cheers.

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 02:21 PM

One or two Mario. Mille grazie. Jock

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 04:35 PM

Rothsayo is a fun one which could work. There is that Auld-Lang-Syne thingy. Other than that it's Ye' Canna Shuv yer Grannie off a bus, try searching for anything by Robin Hall and Jimmy/ie? Mc/ac?Gregor. OK so I'm not much help am I. JohnB

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 05:55 PM

"Child in the Manger, infant of Mary" - is (I believe) a Scottish hymn - the tune is the one used for "Morning has broken".

Cheers

Steven

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: Aodh
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 05:55 PM

The pagan mainlanders may not have any Scottish x-mas songs but there are loads in gaelic if that is any help, one is 'the Christ child lullaby' I dodn't now the english words but there are some out there some where! :P

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 06:28 PM

I found these words to "The Christ Child's Lullaby" here.

I have a slightly different translation. I'll take a look. (There are 6 verses.)

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 06:38 PM

My tune in "The Christmas Revels Songbook" appears to be a little different also. The book notes that this song was collected by Marjory Kennedy-Fraser on the isle of Eriskay, and translated from the Gaelic by Seamus Ennis. If anyone is interested in the words or tune let me know, and I'll take a closer look.

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,maryrrf (no cookie!)
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 08:08 PM

Thanks, all. I didn't think there were many that were "typically" Scottish. I'll just do a few traditional Christmas songs and some Scottish songs and it'll be fine!

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 04:43 AM

Christmas songs in Scotland? They'd hae tae be in the "pop" category; it wasn't even a holiday when I was in my apprenticeship! A guid new year tae yin and a' and mony may ye see!

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 06:40 AM

my late father StewartRoss wrote a 'tartan' christmas song, recorded by the tartan lads in 1977, it sold 10,000 copies within a few weeks. Unfortunately 'mull of kintyre' - the ultimate scottish christmas hit came out and killed it stone dead, though it still gets airplay.

The Christmas Dream was the name of my father's song on REL records. It is a copyright work and not for internet circulation, but I can send you a copy if you write to me (I am using a library computer

1 Ashton Road Raigmore Estate Inverness Scotland IV2 3UE

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: cetmst
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 07:07 AM

See Maggie's Music CD "A Scottish Christmas" with Bonnie Rideout, Maggie Sansone and Al Pettaway et al., featuring seasonal music adapted to tunes collected in Scotland, the Hebrides and the Shetlands. This group situated in Annapolis MD also tours the region with a program of the same name. Tour schedule and much other wonderful music accessible at www.maggiesmusic.com

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: masato sakurai
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 07:34 PM

Two ("Christmas Rhyme" by Ewan MacColl; "Taladh An Leinibh Losa (Christ Child Lullaby)" by Scottish Crofter group) on Various Artists, Songs of Christmas from the Alan Lomax Collection.
~Masato

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 10:37 PM

I don't recognise Taladh An Leinibh Losa offhand; the song most usually known as "The Christ Child Lullaby", Tàladh Chriosda, was written by Father (Ranald?) Rankin of Moidart in the mid 19th century.  An extensive text in Gaelic (29 verses) can be seen at George Seto's website:  www.geocities.com/Area51/Zone/6338/taladh.html

Some additional comment and variants in English can be seen in the Forum here, at:  Christ Child Lullaby, different verses?

There is also a translation into English made by Seamus Ennis from a migrant variant recorded in Ireland in the DT:  Christ Child Lullaby   -with midi.

Staff notation and mandolin tab based on the set recorded by Cathal McConnell can be seen at Nigel Gatherer's site:  Nigel Gatherer's Traditional Music Pages

Staff notation for another variant, with English text only, is at:  Famous Potatoes

These are examples only; a search through Google.com will return a good few more.

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: CraigS
Date: 18 Nov 01 - 08:01 AM

to masato sakurai : please note that Ewan MacColl was an Englishman with no Scottish forebears, who simply chose to be Scottish to enhance his image (the same comments apply to Robert the Bruce, a seventh generation Viking born in Essex, but the Scots do not usually mention this).

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,maryrrf
Date: 18 Nov 01 - 08:19 AM

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I wouldn't attempt to do anything in Gaelic for fear of truly botching it, and any source has to be something I can actually listen to since I can't read music. Right now I'm checking through the links kindly provided by Malcolm. But it doesn't sound like there's a lot out there that is specifically Scottish and Christmasy!

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 18 Nov 01 - 12:20 PM

Although Jimmie Miller was born and raised in Salford, his parents were Scots.  His later re-invention of himself as Ewan MacColl wasn't as unreasonable as CraigS makes it sound!

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: Genie
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 08:11 PM

Isn't "Mighty Lak A Rose" a Christmas song or used as one?

Genie

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,Stavanger Bill
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:56 AM

What about "Barrin' O The Door"? As sung by Lorna Campbell, it tells the story about a slight "domestic" on Christmas Eve. The words and tune are given in DigiTrad, the version shown is by Jean Redpath her first line mentions Martinmass as the festival, Lorna Campbell's used Christmastide.

Subject: RE: Scottish Christmas Songs
From: GUEST,jim
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 05:44 PM

There's always "The Twelve Days of Christmas" version by (IIRC) Bill Barclay.

Somethings along the lines of:

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me - a wee heavy and a half pint!

etc etc

further drinks ensue and it is sung with a gradually more inebriated voice.