25/01/2014 Celtic Connections

255 years ago, and approximately 40 miles in that direction, Robert

Burns, Scotland's favourite son, an unofficial national poet was born in

a small Ayrshire village. Tonight, people across the globe are coming

together to accept bait his poetry and song on Burns' Night. Welcome to

a Celtic Connections Burns and the Commonwealth concertment

-- concert. Good evening, welcome to the SSE

Hydroin Glasgow, whereas part of Celtic Connections, a fantastic line

up of musicians from around the world, including South Africa,

Australia, India, Cyprus and of course, Scotland, will Join Together

with the royal Scottish national orchestra to celebrate Burns and the

Commonwealth. It promises to be a very special night of music, in

honour of a special man. From his poetry inspired bit Scottish

landscape to protest songs and of course, many love songs, Robert

Burns has become known and loved throughout the world. His legacy of

over 550 works has been translated into almost every written language.

Tonight, we will be bringing you some of those songs. First on stage,

celebrating their 30th anniversary, Scotland's own Capercaillie.

# There was a lass and she was fair # At the market to be seen

# When all the fairest maids were met

# The flower of them bonnie Jane. Aye, she brought her contriwork and

she sang it joyfully # The bonniest bird upon the bush

# Had never a lighter heart than she # But hawks will rob the tender joys

# The blessed whiteness # Frost of light on the fairest

flower # Love will break the soundest rest

# For she met a young lad # The pride of all his Glenn

# # And

# What could helpness Jeanie do # She had no-one to tell her no

# At length she blushed # And love was between them

APPLAUSE Thank you very much.

More from Capercaillie later. Now to an artist who has always been a

great admirer of the poetry of Burns and is the grandson of a shepherd

says the lyric to the next son really resonates to him. Here is

Dougie MacLean. Ca' the yowes. Tae the knowes. Ca'

them whare the heather grows. Ca' them whare the burnie rowes. My

bonnie dearie. Hark, the mavis' evening song. Sounding Clouden's

woods among. Then a-faulding let us gang. My bonnie dearie. We'll gae

doon by Clouden site. # Fair and lovely as thou art.

# You hae stown my very heart. I can die, but canna part.

# # My bonnie dearie.

# Ca' the yowes. # tae the knowes.

# Ca' them whare the heather grows. # Ca' them whare the burnie rowes.

# My bonnie dearie. # APPLAUSE

Earlier, Capercaillie opened the concert tonight with their rendition

of bonnie Jane. I'm joined now by the maestro and Donald Show. Why is

it that Robert Burns resonates so strongly with an international

audience? I think he was a man of the people and a poet of the people.

I think within his poetry, he has all the big themes of life and love

and humanity and equality. On top of that, the greatest melodies the

world has ever heard. There's a lot to love about him. Thanks very much.

Next on stage, Raghu Dixit comes all the way from Bangalore in India,

with his unique style of folk music. Before that, his own tribute to

burns buns and the Indian poet he inspired.

-- Burns. So I heard today is a very special day, remembering the great

poet of this land, Robert Burns. There's a very strong India

connection with Robert Burns, the fact that it inspired the national

poet of India. He wrote the National Anthem of India. He was so inspired

by Robert Burns' poetry that he travelled in search of that man into

this land. He looked for him and got inspired and he translated most of

his work in Bengali so Indians could get a taste of Robert Burns, so that

way, it's such a great testimonial that it doesn't really matter where

you're born, what race you are, what colour you are, it just takes a few

words of kindness to make this world a beautiful place to live in.

APPLAUSE CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

As Scots travelled they took Burns with them, shaping the culture and

music of nations across the world, including Australia. Here now from

Melbourne, the award-winning, Matreo.

This is John Anderson. # When we were first acquent

# Your locks were like the raven # Your bonnie brow was Brent

# But now your brow is beld, John # Your locks are like the snaw

# But blessings on your frosty pow, # John Anderson, my jo.

# John Anderson, myjo, # We climb the hill thegither

# And mony a cantieday, John # We've had wianeanither

# Now we mauntotter down, John # And hand in hand, we'll go

# And sleep thegither at the foot # John Anderson, my jo.

# John Anderson, my jo. #

APPLAUSE Burns' poetry and song crosses

continents and borders. Here is a platinum-selling artist from Cyprus.

When did I first hear about Robert Burns? I had heard his name before,

but I came closer to his poetry through another poet you have here

and a great artist. She introduced me to Robert Burns' poetry. That was

something very special for me, because I found a poet who is also a

song writer and he used to be a singer, of course. I feel very much

connected with this, because our tradition is like that, since Homer,

poets used to sing their songs. When you see this keep going on and new

song writers coming up through this tradition, all the time, new

Scottish song writers coming through the tradition of Burns, this is

something fantastic. Thanks very much. You're performing later. Right

now, Alexis Palisson, performing a song in this version reveals what we

shall call Burns' fondness for women.

# There's nowt by care on every han # In every hour that passes, O

# What signifies the life of man # And were na for the lasses, O

# Green grow the rashes, O # Green grow the rashes, O

# The sweetest hours that every I spend

# Are spent amang the lasses, O # The wal' ly race may riches chase

# And riches still may fly them, O # But at last they catch them fast

# Their hearts can never enjoy them, O

# Green grow the rashes, O # Green grow the rashes, O

# The sweetest hours that I every I spend

# Are spent amang the lasses, O. But give me a cannie hour at even

# My arms about my deary, O # And war' ly cares and worldly men

# May give tapsalteerie, O. # For you saedouce, ye sneer at this

# You're naught but senseless asses, O

# The wisest man and the wal' e' er saw

# He dearly loved the lasses, O. # Auld nature swears, the lovely

dears # Her noblest work she classes, O

# Her prenti ce han, she tried on man,

# And then she made the lasses, O. Green grow the rashes, O

# Green grow the rashes, O # The sweetsest hours that ever I

spent # Are spent among the lasses, O

# Green grow the rashes, O # Green grow the rashes, O

# The sweetest hours that ever I spend

# Are spent among the lasses, O. APPLAUSE

Thank you. Michael McGoldrick on flute there.

Friendship is a theme that runs through many of Burns' works. Before

he died in 1796, he wrote, "You're welcome Willie Stuart" about his old

friend. This is a dynamic group of musicians and singers to Prince

Harry form that song. # You're welcome Willie Stuart

# You're welcome, Willie Stuart # There's never a flower that blooms

in May # That halves as welcome's thou art.

# Come, bumpers high, express your joy

# The bowel we maun renew it, to welcome Willie Stuart.

# You're welcome, Willie Stuart # There's never a flower that blooms

in May # That's half as welcome's thou art.

# May foes be strong and friends be slack

# Their actions may he rue it # Many women on him turn her back

# That wrongs thee, Willie Stuart # You're welcome, Willie Stuart,

# There's never a flower that blooms in May

# That's half as welcome as thou art.

# There's never a flower that blooms in May,

# That's half as welcome as thou art. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Coming up later: Music from Rachel

Sermani, more from Dougie MacLean. But Celtic Connections is not just

about the celebration of traditional Celtic music, it's about the

influence and connection to music from around the world. A band that

represent this spirit of the festival is Salsa Celtica. Here they

are with a Cuban love song, inspired by the poetry of Robert Burns.

I think if Burns would have been around, he would have been a salsa

dancer. Tonight's concert is both a

celebration of Burns and the Commonwealth. Joining me now is

Hilda from The Mahotella Queens, a group formed 50 years ago, a huge

part of the struggle for freedom in South Africa. Later, they're going

to be playing their tribute to the man who brought South Africa back

into the Commonwealth, Nelson Mandela. How does it feel to be

playing in the place which first gave Nelson Mandela freedom of the

city? My God, I must say, it's exciting. Point number one. Number

two, it's like, it's touching, to be in the place that really wanted to

be in struggle together with Mandela, to say, Mandela, we are

there for you, go on. We are looking at you. We are going to help you.

It's really touching and exciting. This is our home, I must say. We're

really excited to be performing here. An honour to have you. We're

looking forward to seeing you play later on in the concert. Right now,

Dougie MacLean and a rousing version of Highland Harry.

# My Harry was a gallant gay # Stately staid he on the plain

# But now he's banished far away # I'll never see him back again.

# Oh, for him back again # O for him back again.

# I would be on Knockhaspie's land # For Harry back again

# When all the lavegae to their bed # I wander dowie up the Glenn

# I set me down and greet my fill # For aye I wish him back again

# O for him back again # O for him back again

# I would gie a Knockhaspie's land # For Harry back again

# O were somevillean hangit high # And ilka body had their ain

# Then I might see the joy of sight # My Highland Harry back again

# O for him back again # O for him back again

# I would be a Knockhaspie's land # For Highland Harry back again.

# Sad was the day and sad the hour # He left me in his native plain

# Rushed his friends to join # But no he'll come back again

# O for him back again # O for him back again

# I wadgi E.On Knockhaspie's land # O for him back again

# I wadgi E.On Knockhaspie's land # O for him back again.

APPLAUSE Thank you very much.

You can see highlights from the Celtic Connections festival and from

tonight's concert by going to our web page, bbc.co.uk/Celtic

Connections. Back to the concert now. The beguiling voice a young

singer, from the Smallvilleage in the Highlands, Rachel Sermanie, with

what is probably Burns' most popular love song.

# My love is like a red, red rose # Newly sprung in June

# O my love's like a melody # That's sweetly played in tune

# As fair art thou, my bonnie lass # So deep in love am I

# And I will love thee still, my dear

# Till all the seas gang dry. # Till all the seas gang dry, my

dear # And the rocks melt wi' the sun

# I will love thee still, my dear, # Till all the seas run dry.

# Till all the seas run dry my dear # And fare thee well

# And I will come again, my love, # Tho' it were ten thousand mile.

# My love is like a red, red rose # That's newly sprung in June

# My heart is like a melody # That's sweetly played in tune.

# As fair art thou, my only love # So deep in love am I.

# And I will love thee still, my dear

# Till all the seas gang dry. # O and I will love you still my

dear # Till all the seas gang dry. #

Burns' love of women and his many affairs is no secret, though no-one

can be really sure how many children he cully fathered. Numbers swing

between 12 and 14. What we do know is that these love affairs provided

the romantic Burns with the inspiration he needed for his poetry

and songs, one of those and his most recorded song A Fond Kiss, was

written as a farewell to his Edinburgh lover, known as Nancy.

# Ae fond kiss, and then we sever # Ae farewell, alas forever

# Deep in heart-wrung tears, I pledge thee

# Warring sighs and groans I wage thee

# Who shall say that fortune grieves him,

# While the star of hope she leaves him?

# Me, naecheerful twinkle lights me, # Dark despair around benights me.

# I'll ne' er blame my partial fancy,

# Naething could resist my Nancy # But to see her was to love her.

# Love, but her, and love forever. # Had we never loved sae kindly

# Had we never loved sae blindly # Never met or never parted,

# We had never been broken hearted. # So, fare, thee, weel, thou first

and fairest # Fare theeweel, thou best and

dearest # Thine be ilka joy and treasure

# Peace, enjoyment, love and pleasure.

# Ae fond kiss and then we sever # Ae farewell alas, forever

# Deep in heart-wrung tears, I'll pledge thee

# Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

# I'll wage thee. # I'll wage thee .

# I'll wage thee. # APPLAUSE

Despite his international reputation today, Burns never left Scotland. As

he grew older his writing increasingly reflected injustice

across the world. True to his e-Goole tarn principles, he penned

several poems highlighting man's inhumanity to man. One is a Slave's

Lament. # It was in sweet Senegal that my

foes did me enthaw # For the lands of Virginia, ginia,

O # Torn from that lovely shore, and

must never see it more # And alas! I am weary, weary O.

# Torn from that lovely shore, and must never see it more.

# And alas! I am weary, weary O. # All on that charming coast is no

bitter snow and frost, # Like the lands of Virginia, Ginia,

O. # There streams forever flow, and

there flowers forever blow # And alas! I am weary, weary O.

# There streams forever flow, and there flowers forever blow,

# And alas! I am weary, weary O. # The burden I must bear, while the

cruel scourge I fear, # In the lands of Virginia, Ginia,

O. # And I think on friends most dear,

with the bitter, bitter tear. # And alas! I am weary, weary O.

# And I think on friends most dear, with the bitter, bitter tear.

# And alas! I am weary, weary O. # # Torn from that lovely shore, and

must never see it more. # And alas! I am weary, weary O.

2014 marks the 20th anniversary since South Africa rejoined the

Commonwealth, led by Nelson Mandela. Though Mandela sadly is no longer

with us, we are joined tonight by The Mahotella Queens, a group that

formed 50 years ago in Johannesburg, and whose songs have been an

inspiration for many in the fight gents apartheid. They lead us

singing later on Auld Lang Syne, but first they begin with their own

tribute to Nelson Mandela. # The giant has fallen

# The nation in the mourning # The cries, chanting Mandela

# The light has fallen # The nation in mourning

# Just listen to the cries # Chanting "Mandela".

# Mandela # Man deala

# Mandela # Farewell Mandela.

# Be mands # Mandela

# Farewell Mandela. # APPLAUSE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE We're nearly at the end of the show.

Before we rejoin all of tonight's performers on the stage, I want to

say a huge thank you to all of our acts and to you for watching. Catch

up with all the highlights on the website, bbc.co.uk/Celtic

Connections. For two of Robert Burns most enduring songs, in a couple of

minutes, a man's a man, and a song you can hear in the background, that

doesn't need any introduction, it's known and loved throughout the

world. Good night.

# Should alled acquaintance be forgot

# And never brought to mind? # Should auld acquaintance be forgot

# And auld lack syne. # For Auld Lang Syne, my dear

# For Auld Lang Syne # We'll tak a cup O'kindness yet

# Would auld acquaintance be forgot # And never brought to mind?

# For Auld Lang Syne, my dear # For Auld Lang Syne

# We'll tak a cup O'kindness yet, machine for Auld Lang Syne.

# For Auld Lang Syne, my dear # For Auld Lang Syne

# We'll tak a cup O'kindness yet, # For Auld Lang Syne.

# For Auld Lang Syne # We'll tak a cup of kindness yet

# For Auld Lang Syne. # Is there for honest poverty

# That hings his head, and all that # The coward slave, we pass him by

# We dare be poor for all that. # For all that and all that

# Our toils obscure and all that # The rank is but the Guinea's stamp

# The man's the gowd for all that. # What though on hamely fare we dine

# Wear hoddin grey and all that # Gie fools their silks and naves

their wine # A man's a man for all that.

# For all that, and all that. # Their tinsel show, and all that.

# The honest man, tho' every sae poor

# Is king of men for all that. Ye Er onbirkie, cad, asparse Lord

# What strut and stares and all that # Tho' hundreds worship at his word

# He's but a coof for all that. Er posh all that, and all that.

# His ribband, star and all that. # The man O'independent mind

# He looks and laughs at all that. # But an honest man's abon his might

# Gude faith, he maunnafa' that. # For all that, and all that.

# Their dignities and all that. # The pitho' sense and pride o'

worth # Are higher rank than all that.

# So let us pray that come it may # As come it will for all that.

# That sense and worth, over all the earth

# Shall bear the gree, and all that. # For all that, and all that.

# It's coming yet for all that. # That man to man, the world over

# Shall brothers be for all that. # For all that, and all that.

# It's coming yet for all that. # That man to man, the world over

# Shall brothers be for all that. #