Hamish Henderson commemoration

Subject: RE: Hamish Henderson commemoration
From: GUEST,karen
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 02:32 PM

I had the pleasure of meeting Hamish Henderson, and he was a beautiful person.

I must admit I only know two of his songs; Freedom Come All Ye and The John McLean March.

Could anybody out there give us a potted history ?

Subject: RE: Hamish Henderson commemoration
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 26 May 03 - 01:25 PM

Wonderful! Parliament should just throw its support (laudatory and financial) behind the Carrying Stream Festival. Hamish would want no higher accolade- and the Henderson bust in Sandy Bells takes care of the statue issue. I'll myself be ancient by November, but I'll think and plan and hope to be on the next Carrying Stream...

Subject: RE: Hamish Henderson commemoration
From: Virginia Blankenhorn
Date: 26 May 03 - 10:06 AM

Thank you! I hadn't seen these -- and this festival is exactly the sort of thing that would have delighted Hamish.

Subject: RE: Hamish Henderson commemoration
From: Drumshanty
Date: 26 May 03 - 07:09 AM

Last November, there was a festival here in Edinburgh called "The Carrying Stream". It was held on the weekend that would have coincided with Hamish Henderson's 83rd birthday. This article is about the man and the festival and this one is about the future of the festival.

Subject: RE: Hamish Henderson commemoration
From: GUEST,Virginia Blankenhorn
Date: 25 May 03 - 10:45 PM

Hamish and I were colleagues at the School of Scottish Studies in the late 1970's. He was a wonderful person, generous with his time and guidance and an absolute fund of stories about poets, singers, Scottish Nationalist (and other left-wing) politics, and the song heritage of Scotland. He wanted everyone he met to share his enthusiasm for the tradition, and it didn't matter who you were, he'd take you to Sandy Bell's bar down the street and ply you with strong drink and bend your ear. Like everybody who knew him, I have some very warm memories of this Scottish giant. I do hope they can come up with a fitting memorial to him. In the meantime -- check out his poetry!

Virginia

Subject: RE: Hamish Henderson commemoration
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 25 May 03 - 04:07 PM

Just one of those things- we mastered it with the others, then got busy with Kids, Jobs, Travels, General Living- and it dropped by the wayside. No,Greg, we were NOT actively striving to publish this, all these years!!! Actually, what happened was that someone did her doctoral thesis on our Scottish Trip; she was also a very good friend of Hamish, and both she and Hamish urged us to bring the old tapes to life. I'll always be glad that at least Hamish knew that it was going to happen, before he left us. One of the tracks is of him, singing unaccompanied, "Johnny rose up on a May morning, Ca'd for water to wash his hands..." Beautifully sung.

Subject: RE: Hamish Henderson commemoration
From: greg stephens
Date: 25 May 03 - 03:40 PM

Well Jean, it's often taken me a long time to get a recording finished and issued, but I'm going to stop feeling guilty about it, now I've read your last post!

Subject: RE: Hamish Henderson commemoration
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 25 May 03 - 03:35 PM

Hamish was our guide during my Fulbright year, 1952-53, when George and I travelled through Scotland, Ireland and England. Now at long last, our Field Trip- Scotland, CD is almost ready to be issued (Ireland and England came out years ago on Folkways). I realize it won't count very much as a commemoration, but we're going to dedicate this one to Hamish Henderson. Well, it's a start...      Jean

Subject: RE: Hamish Henderson commemoration
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 24 May 03 - 11:27 PM

Perhaps the best way to honour Hamish would be to show more respect for his mother tongue (Gaelic) and raise it to it's proper place.
          Suas e!
             Sandy

Subject: RE: Hamish Henderson commemoration
From: GUEST
Date: 24 May 03 - 02:33 PM

Dear Abby
A prophet in their own land?????
Thank you for the link

Subject: Hamish Henderson commemoration
From: Abby Sale
Date: 24 May 03 - 11:17 AM

FYI

After Hamish's death last year, there was some discussion at the Scottish Parliament on how best to commemorate him. There was some respectful debate and Placing in the Record. A forum was opened to the public on Scottish Parliament Live but, far as I know, nothing ever came of it.

It's archived at their site, Clicky. If that link doesn't work, it's a bit hard to find. 'View past discussions / Past discussions / (page 2 - Hamish Henderson, 1919-2002) /   2nd thread, 'How should we commemorate him?'

Not all that much time has passed but I'd really hate to think that Scotland might forget the likes of Hamish.

Subject: Memorial for Hamish
From: Abby Sale
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 09:56 PM

I'm reposting this excellent heads-up from David Sproat and my response. I have a transcript of the Parliamentary remarks now. The mentioned SMP Cathy Peattie was permitted to sing but one verse of Hamish's and she reasonably chose the last verse of "The Freedom Come All Ye."

Few parliaments or congresses in the world have, I think, had a Member sing a folk song (don't argue) in session. Good for them.

Although the debate is over, the parliament is still inviting opinions from the world at large (but mostly from Scotland) how best to honor/ memorialize him.

If you knew/were influenced by the man, you can go to the website shown below, join the small forum and record your opinion.

It should not be felt in Scottish Parliament that nobody cares. http://www.communitypeople.net/interactive/

In rec.music.folk, "David Sproat" wrote:

>Hamish Henderson, 1919-2002
>
>Join the Parliamentary Debate.
>
>Pay your tributes and let us know how this Great Scot should be honoured at
>www.scottishparliamentlive.com
>
>On Wednesday 27th March, the 1001st day of the Scottish Parliament, Cathy >Peattie MSP for Falkirk west will lead a debate on the life and legacy of >Hamish Henderson, a man who did more than most to make it happen.
>
>How should our country honour Hamish?
>
>What specifically should the Scottish Parliament do?
>
>These are the specific questions MSPs will be addressing in Wednesday's debate, which you can watch live on www.scottishparliamentlive.com from 17,00. The debate will also be archived and you can read it all on the Parliament's Official Report within a few hours of it ending.
>
>And as Hamish would have very much wanted, people outside parliament can have a say. Use the official parliamentary forum to not only have your voice heard but have your tributes permanently stored in the electronic archives of the Scottish Parliament - Hamish's Parliament.
>
>And somewhere out there in cyberspace we reckon Hamish will be logging on.
>Let him hear you!
>
>www.scottishparliamentlive.com