While most people think only of the Scottish bagpipe (which after
centuries is still a vibrant form of music) Scottish music is much more
varied and expansive than that limited viewpoint. Today's post deals
with Scottish musical genres over the centuries -- all of which are
still played and enjoyed today.
Traditional Scottish Musical Genres
Clarsach (Scottish harp music)
One of 3 surviving medieval harps -- Museum of Scotland
One of the earliest forms of
music in Scotland, the Scottish harp is first seen in the stone carvings
of the Picts in the 600s and 700s.
Using horsehair for strings, the clarsach
(it's Gaelic name) spread from Scotland to England and Ireland and on
to Europe. Harpists were highly prized in the medieval periods, playing
for kings, featured on royal regalia, and playing for coronations and
other official functions. Today, Edinburgh hosts the International
Harpists Festival.
Tin Whistle music
Dating
back in Scotland to at least the medieval period (although similar
whistles have been discovered going all the back to the Neanderthals),
tin whistles are a mouth-blown, six-holed woodwind. Below, a performance
of Loch Lomond played on a tin whistle.
Bagpipe music
Although
most closely identified with Scottish culture, bagpipes are actually
found in many parts of the world. Initially a Highlands instrument
dating back to the 1400s and 1500s, it spread throughout the British
Isles and colonies in the 1700s and 1800s with the British army, when
large numebrs of Highlanders joined up post-1745. Most of what's played
todya is on the Great Highland Bagpipe although many different bagpipes
were found in Scotland
Scottish fiddle music
First
mentioned in a Scottish publication in 1680, Scottish fiddling became
very popular in the 1700s in both Scotland and the British colonies.
While it formed the basis for much of American folk music, traditional
Scottish fiddling is still quite popular today. Below is a performance
by Katie Boyle from Glagsow:
Scottish Accordion music
Usually
played for dances, Scottish accordions have long been popular. Below is
a performance by Sandy Brechin of Edinburgh playing accordion dance
tunes.
Cèilidh (country dance music)
The
word (pronounced "kay-lee"), which originated in Ireland, means "companion" and originally
referred to any social gathering. But later it came to mean specifically
dances. As should be clear by now, much of Scottish music involves
dancing and communal celebration.
Bothy Band music
From
19th Century Scottish farming communities where married couples lived
in cottages called touns and single men lived together in a bothy
(shelter). Often these single men formed bands for dances and
celebrations. They utilized fiddles, accordions, bagpipes, and tin
whistles. Below is a folk revival band from 1977, The Bothy Band
One
of my all-time favorites, Annie Lennox of Aberdeen, Scotland first
gained fame as part of the 80s duo Eurythmics, with hits such as "Sweet
Dreams", "Here Comes the Rain" and "Who's That Girl". She then emerged
as a successful solo artist in 1990s and 2000s with hits such as "Why,"
"Little Bird," and "Walking on Broken Glass" (see video below, which also features Hugh Laurie).
KT Tunstall
A
popular singer-songwriter from Edinburgh. Below are her two most
well-known songs. The first, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" is from
her first TV performance, which was her breakout performance.
Franz Ferdinand
This band from Glasgow formed in 2002. They've had several hits including "This Fire," Do You Want To," and "Take Me Out".
Simple Minds
From
Glasgow, Simple Minds were a major Eighties band, selling 40 million
records since 1979. Their hits included "Alive and Kicking," "Belfast
Child," "Sanctify Yourself," and their biggest hit -- from the 1985
film Breakfast Club -- "Don't You Forget About Me." (see below)
Susan Boyle
Perhaps
the most unlikeliest pop star of all time, Susan Boyle became a hero to
us "regular" folk the world over when she wowed judges and audiences on
Britain's Got Talent back in 2009. The Glasgow-native has since
sold millions. To see her first appearance, go to the link below. It's well worth it.
The Fratellis
An indie band form Glasgow that released two hit albums in the 2000s (Here We Come and Costello Music). For no they seem to be on permanent hiatus. Below is one of the bigger hits, "Chelsea Dagger."
Bay City Rollers
There
was a brief period between 1974 and 1975 when the Bay City Rollers were so
popular that the success of the "tartan teens from Edinburgh" was being
compared to Beatlemania (and was called appropriately enough
Rollermania.) Their two biggest hits were "Saturday Night" and "Bye Bye
Baby". (By the way, the person in the center in the above photo is not a
Bay City Roller but rather Witchiepoo from HR Puffnstuf)
The Proclaimers
Comprised
of idential twins Charlie and Craig Reid from Leith (near Edinburgh),
The Proclaimers had a huge hit in 1993 in the US with "I'm Gonna Be (500
Miles)" -- which had been a huge hit in the UK earlier in 1988.
For
many in Scotland, "Sunshine on Leith" is a sentimental favorite.
Sheena Easton
From
Bellshill, Scotland, Easton had several hits in the 1980s including
"Strut", "For Your Eyes Only" (from the 1981 James Bond film), "The
Lover in Me," and "Sugar Walls." Below is her first hit, "Morning
Train" (called "9 to 5" in the UK)
Gerry Rafferty
Singer-songwriter Rafferty, a Glasgow-native,
had several hits in the 1970s, first with his band Stealers Wheel
("Stuck in the Middle With You") then had several solo hits, such as "Right
Down the Line," "Days Gone Down," and his biggest hit (#2 in the US),
"Baker Street".
Amy MacDonald
While
not as well-known in the US, MacDonald from Bishopbriggs, Scotland is
huge throughout Europe (especially in Germany, Denmark and Sweden). Her
album, This is the Life has sold 3 million copies.
Donovan
Briefly
considered the UK's answer to Bob Dylan, Donovan (full name: Donovan
Philips Leitch) of Glasgow had several hits in the 1960s, including
"Sunshine Superman," "Wear Your Love Like Heaven," "Atlantis" and the
"Hurdy Gurdy Man" (below), which was used quite effectively in the film Zodiac.
Big Country
A staple of "Best of the 80s" compilations, this Dunfermline-based band formed in 1981. Their biggest hit was "In a Big Country.
Del Amitri
From Glasgow, this band's hit "Roll to Me" was ubiquitous in the 1990s.
Maeve O'Boyle
One of Scotland's newest singer-songwriters, O'Boyle is from Glasgow, where she often performs at local clubs.
Nazareth
The
group was from Dumfermline, Scotland. Their biggest hit was 1976's
"Love Hurts," one of the original "power ballads" this is now a staple of Hollywood soundtracks.
Mark Knopler (of Dire Straits)
Knopler was born in Glasgow, Scotland and is best known for the 1985 Dire Straits song, "Money for Nothing."
Jesus and Mary Chain
A Glasgow-based alternative band from the late 1980s and 1990s. Below is one of the bigger hits, "Head On."
Emma's Imagination
The
stage name of Edinburgh-native Emma Gillepsie. While not well-known in
the US yet, she has had two hit songs in the UK, "Focus" and "This Day"
(see below). She got her break when she won the Sky-TV talent program Must Be the Music.
Lulu
A
star in the 1960s and early 1970s, Lulu (real name Marie McDonald
McLaughlin, from Glasgow) was most famous for the theme song to the
James Bond hit Man With the Golden Gun and for starring in and singing the title song to To Sir, With Love.
To me, one of the most enjoyable aspects of travel is to immerse oneself into the culture before arriving at your destination. And for Britain, there are so many ways to do this – through books, magazines, radio (btw, all BBC Radio programs are free on the web for Americans), films, and especially television.
Earlier this year, I posted clips and trailers for several mainstream British shows (i.e., those shown throughout the UK). But today, let's look at some shows produced by STV (Scotland Television) and BBC Scotland for primarily a Scottish audiences (although a few of these became hits in the UK and beyond). This will give you a flavor of the diversity of accents, attitudes, and cultures we'll be encountering.
Case Histories
Based on the novels by Kate Atkinson, and stars Scottish actor Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies), this a crime mystery series based in Edinburgh. Here's a trailer for it (and it is available in the US on DVD).
Rebus
Based on the worldwide bestselling crime novels by Edinburgh-native Ian Rankin, these STV shows adapted several novels featuring Detective John Rebus. He was played by two actors (John Hannah, pictured, and then Ken Stott). Filmed primarily in Edinburgh. They are currently streaming on Netflix.
Great shots of Edinburgh from the Ken Stott version
Burnistoun
This is a popular comedy sketch show from BBC Scotland starring Glasgow comedians Iain Connell and Robert Florence. It's a series of short sketches all based in a fictional West Scotland town. They are in their third season (called series in the UK).
Clip 1: Scottish History
Clip 2: Burnistoun Rap (Who's Shoe is That?) (contains some mild language)
Chewin the Fat
Another Glasgow-based BBC sketch comedy show that ran from 1999 to 2002, yet still has a big following. Starred Greg Hemphill and Karen Dunbar (more with her below).
Clip 1 Those Who Can and "Can't"
Clip 2 Shakira parody (mild language)
Single Father
A 4-part 2010 mini series about a newly widowed father of three (played by David Tennant of Doctor Who and Harry Potter fame). Excellent, emotional drama. Filmed in Edinburgh and Glasgow by BBC Scotland. (Can you tell that the BBC Scotland is based in Glasgow?)
Trailer
The Karen Dunbar Show
A BBC Scotland produced comedy sketch show from 2002-2005 that is still popular. Stars the popular comedian from Ayr, Scotland, Karen Dunbar (from Chewin the Fat).
Clip 1: Paperclip as a Q-tip
Clip 2 Group photo
Bob Servant
A 6-episode comedy that aired last year, based on a series of hilarious articles and books by Neil Forsyth. Bob Servant is a former hamburger restaurant owner in the small town of Broughty Ferry who decides to run for the British Parliament. The show is about his inept campaign and his decidedly poor handle on political matters. Stars Scottish actor Brian Cox (of X-Men, Troy, Bourne films and who played the original Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter). Most of the shows are currently available on Youtube.
River City
A Glasgow-based soap opera from BBC Scotland that began airing in September 2002. Based in a fictional area of the West End of Glasgow (an area we will visit), the hour show airs each Tuesday 9it originally aired twice a week in half-hour shows). Forget Brave and Braveheart -- this is the real Glasgow (minus the murders, affairs, and crimes
