MP3 Willie Stewart - Robert Burns - Songs O´ the Lassies

Willie sings the songs of Robert Burns with an intimate and sensitive delivery to simple guitar and piano arrangements. Produced in Kilmarnock, the home of Burns's 1st edition, this is a worthy contribution to 2009's celebration of the poet's birth.

19 MP3 Songs in this album (61:46) !
Related styles: FOLK: Scottish Traditional, FOLK: Traditional Folk



Details:
Hi, Iâm Willie Stewart.

I was born and raised in Kilmarnock, birthplace of Rabbieâs first edition. A working replica of the printing press is to be found locally in The Dick Institute, which is just a couple of hundred metres from Loanhead Primary School, the place where at the age of eight I sang and recorded my first Burns song âFlow Gently Sweet Aftonâ. My music career has gently flowed through many differing scenes and stages, all of which have been pleasing and pleasant, just like the river. For five years I was the singer in a Scottish cabaret show which was fronted by Larry Marshall and housed in Edinburghâs King James Hotel. Also for many years I toured with the international Gaelic singing star, Calum Kennedy. For two years I ran my own Burns show in The Land Oâ Burns Centre, now known as Robert Burns National Heritage Park.

It has taken many years of Burns suppers, being cajoled and asked, âHave you got a CD of yourself?â before I recorded this album. It is an intimate recording, where I want you to picture me sitting down beside you with my guitar singing some songs oâ the lassies. (Although I do play guitar while performing, this recording features the best session guitarist this side oâ the border, Duncan Findlay.)

In it there is a selection of songs featuring lassies, some popular, some well known and loved, some original tunes from Johnsonâs Scots Musical Museum, âThe Bonie Lass Oâ Albanieâ to which I have set a popular folk song known as âThe Riverâs Wideâ, and the last being the original tune for âAuld Lang Syneâ, which Burns took and so masterfully built on to create an international anthem. Is this a song about a lassie? âWe twa hae paddled in the burn, We twa hae run about the braes.â Could this be an early childhood memory of a wee boy and lassie who grew both up and apart? I leave you to decide for yourself as we sit doon aside the fire and enjoy a sang or twa.