In what seems likely to be the society’s last social meeting for the foreseeable future, Thursday 12 March saw us entertained with a delightful evening of Scottish song at the Scottish Arts Club.
Based on their very successful Edinburgh Festival Fringe show last year, our member David Purdie and award-winning singer Robyn Stapleton took us on a magical journey, in both time and space, guided by Scotland’s rich tradition of song and story. David, a superb speaker and raconteur, provided the context to the musical programme delivered, a capella, in Robyn’s magical voice.
The programme included songs in most, if not all, of Scotland’s languages, including Gaelic, Scots, English, Doric and even one (The Unst Boat Song) in Norn, the now extinct tongue of the Shetland Islands. Beginning with The Broom o’ the Cowdenknowes, we heard a comprehensive cross-section of many of the recurring themes of Scottish song. Killiecrankie brought in a Jacobite theme, The Uist Waulking Song, in Gaelic, introduced the weaving trade and Van Diemen’s Land reminded us of our very extensive diaspora throughout the world. The Doric tongue of the North East was represented by The Barnyards o’ Delgaty, that weel-kent satire on the fate of the agricultural labourer. More up to date was The 51st Highland Division’s Farewell to Sicily, and the concert rounded off with that great timeless anthem to humanity, Robert Burns’ A Man’s a Man For a’ That.
The concert was followed by a very convivial supper for members and their guests in the club’s dining room. We are enormously grateful to David and Robyn, and to the Scottish Arts Club who hosted us, for a happy and successful evening.