Our Writers’ Circus challenge for January 2024 was to write about ‘Memories of 2023’.
As some of you may know, I love singing.
I have also become ‘addicted’ to YouTube.
Put these two pastimes together and out pops this offering.
I hope you enjoy my selection.
Click here to download the PDF.
My wife is very keen on genealogy and some time ago wrote an article for the 3Ls Genealogy Club at Strathclyde University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning.
This piece chronicled what she had discovered about her forebear, Private John Reid of Dalrymple, Ayrshire.
‘Our’ John Reid was a professional Scottish soldier who fought at Waterloo with the 79th Regiment of Foot, before being shipped to Canada, complete with wife and family.
Recently on Scotland’s People (a government-run website), there was a release of Kirk Session records which enabled Margaret to discover a little more about ‘our’ John Reid.
You are invited to read on and to listen to me singing a version of The King’s Shillin’, a song which depicts what it was like for men like John Reid.
Here you will find a PDF song sheet and an MP3 music file of A Capella songs sung by me over the last few months and sent individually to Zac (Isaac Rory Bonthron) our grandson born on 4 August, 2020, in Abingdon near Oxford.
I am keen to ensure Zac gets a chance to hear and sing these songs.
They are all Scottish gems except Edelweiss, a song I love to sing.
Why not grab a copy of the words and sing along!
Here we go. I hope you like them.
A Gordon for Me
Ally Bally Bee (Coulter’s Candy)
Bee Baw Babbity
Bonnie Dundee
Katie Bairdie
Red Yo Yo
Braes o’ Killecrankie o’
The Jeely Piece Song
Three Craws
Edelweiss
Ye canny shove yer Grannnies
Wee Cooper o’ Fife
Skye Boat Song
Will ye no’ come back again?
Over the past year of Covid Lockdown my singing has moved online, mainly in Zoom.
Despite the fact that singing to ourselves at home rather than meeting to sing live is very much second best, there have been some benefits.
This piece offers my reflections on this experience which may be of interest to other amateur singers.
Click here to download the PDF.
In our Mackintosh Choir Zoom meetings we are asked to nominate a particular song or piece of music which we like and choose a YouTube version to share with those attending.
We are also required to explain our choices.
On 16 December 2020 I chose Still the Night.
This rather prosaic tale recounts my words of introduction.
Click here to download the PDF.
Here are three songs for children to sing or have sung to them.
The original version was written for our Grandson Matthew.
This version is for all children, everywhere.
Click here to download the PDF.
This is another song for Donald, he of “From a Wheelbarrow” fame, as a challenge that he might be able to “make music that suits it!”
Donald is an aficionado and exponent of Traditional Scottish Music.
I think this song might just suit him better that my earlier effort “Quiver Ma Knees”.
Good Luck, Laddie!
Click here to download the PDF.
Donald, he of “From a Wheelbarrow” fame, accosted me:
“You haven’t written me any Songs!”
A few nights later I was watching a documentary about Dolly Parton.
Here is a woman with a talent and a big, big heart!
Each year she donates millions to charity to help children to learn to read.
Donald’s request popped into my head.
As I watched and listened to Dolly I started to tap out this song.
Yes, I know, it is drivel. But it is MY drivel.
Donald, so far, has been stumped, stymied, he told me.
We shall see!
Click here to download the PDF.
