Burns Songs

[The Skunnered]

We're not Burns experts (though our bass player's late father was) but we like to include a few songs credited to the Bard in our act. Among these is "The Braes O'Killiecrankie"- does anyone know about the history of that song? We believe it's a traditional melody with words by Rabbie, but are prepared to stand corrected if anyone knows better.

[Our Scotland (Sean Whittaker)]

I do belive this is 'The Skunnered' on Celtic Music Radio Good sounds.

[The Skunnered]

Thanks, Sean- that's us alright. We do "Ye Jacobites By Name" during the show, rather than "The Braes O'Killiecrankie".

[Colin Shearer]

Its about the Battle of Killicrankie in 1689 - the 1st jacobite uprising with John Graham Viscount Dundee leading against Hugh Mackay and winning the battle but died in the process.

[The Skunnered]

Much-delayed thanks for the above!

[Kirsten Easdale]

Some information about Killiecrankie taken from the Canongate Edition (Andrew Noble & Patrick Scott Hogg).

"First printed in the Scots Musical Museum 2nd February 1790. Although Burns visited the scene of this battle, it is uncertain how much of this song is his. He left no commentary and the remarks in the Interleaved S.M.M. are by Robert riddell, who noted that the battle occured on 27th July 1689 between the Jacobite forces of Graham of Claverhouse (Bonnie Dundee) and the Hanovarian Loyalists led by General MacKay. As Kinsley states, the song is written in the voice of 'one of MacKay's men saved only by the deaths, in pursuit, of Claverhouse and Haliburton of Pitcur'"

Hope this helps
Kirsten

[The Skunnered]

Belated thanks!

[Graham Evan MacDonell]

Looking for a Celtic singer, female, and a song written prior to 1745 that could be used in a film of Bonnie Prince Charles, during the post-Culloden battle scenes. I like Kirsten's voice and the song 'Laoidh Chalum Chillie' but would like to here a slightly modified version that is basically her and one instrument as this would be attempting to set a sombre atmosphere as British troops walk about the battlefield at Culloden Moor, putting any wounded Jacobite to death.

Graham Evan MacDonell
Culloden