Image: Lyrics for Auld Lang Syne, in the hand of Robert BurnsWeek 4 (#2122)Fiona Ritchie explores some of the timeless lyrics of Robert Burns, and delves into the verses of his famous anthem, Auld Lang Syne, to explain its bitter sweet nostalgia.Auld Lang Syne (short version)…by The Cast from Auld Lang Syne (Culburnie)Rantin’ Rovin’ Robin…by Alan Reid from The Complete songs of Robert Burns, Vol 2 (Linn) Rattlin’ Roarin’ Willie…by Dougie MacLean from A Robert Burns Selection (Dunkeld)Ye Banks and Braes…by The Cast from The Winnowing (Culburnie)Parcel of Rogues…by Old Blind Dogs from There Was a Lad… Songs of Burns (KRL)Niel Gow’s Lament for James Moray Esq. of Abercarney…by Pete Clark from Even Now (Smiddymade)A Red. Red Rose…by Andy M. Stewart from Songs of Robert Burns (WunderTüte)[ID excerpt] Wandering Willie…by The Birnam Quartet from The Music of Burns (Shoogle)Auld Lang Syne…by The Bells from There Was a Lad… Songs of Burns (KRL)Auld Lang Syne…by The Cast from The Winnowing (Culburnie)Address to a Haggis…by Hugh MacDiarmid from There Was a Lad… Songs of Burns (KRL)Thou Gloomy December…by Corrina Hewat from The Complete songs of Robert Burns, Vol 4 (Linn) The Shepherd’s Wife…by Jim Malcolm from The Complete songs of Robert Burns, Vol 4 (Linn) O Whar Gat Ye That Hauver-Meal Bannock?…by Wendy Weatherby from from The Complete songs of Robert Burns, Vol 4 (Linn) Scots Wha Hae…by Dougie MacLean from A Robert Burns Selection (Dunkeld)A Man’s A Man For A’ That…by The Birnam Quartet from The Music of Burns (Shoogle)

Week 3 (#2118)According to poet Robert Burns, “freedom and whisky gang thegither”. He was interested in its mind altering properties: “Inspiring, bold John Barleycorn! What dangers thou can’st make us scorn!” Learn more this week, from songs and tunes written about Scotland’s national drink.The Humours of Whiskey…by Andy M. Stewart and Manus Lunny from Dublin Lady (Green Linnet)Whisky Pilgrims…by Robin Laing from Holding Gold (Frisky Whisky)The Jug of Punch…by Altan from Best of The Thistle & Shamrock, Vol 1 (Hearts O’Space)Farewell to Whisky/Welcome Whisky Back Again/Highland Whisky/Athole Brose…by Pete Clark from Even Now (Smiddymade)Leaving Brittany/The Pernod Waltz…by Relativity from Relativity (Green Linnet)John Barleycorn…by Maddy Prior from Lionhearts (Park)[ID excerpt] Whisky & Beer…by Pete Clark and Gregor Lowrey from Caught & Released (musicinscotland.com)Shining Clear…by Battlefield Band from There’s A Buzz (Temple)Fermentation…by William Jackson from Composition (Mill)Willie Brew’d a Peck o’ Maut…by Tony Cuffe and Rod Paterson from Robert Burns: The Complete Songs, Volume 2 (Linn)The Wee Cooper o’ Fife…by Robin Laing from Whisky for Breakfast (Greentrax)A’ Bunadh…by Robin Laing from One for the Road (Greentrax)Happy Days…by Battlefield Band from Happy Daze (Temple)

Image: Rainbow at Clachnessie Beach (photo by Gordon Ritchie, Bon Accord Camera Club)Week 2 (#2120)It’s a life affirming hour of live music and lively audiences this week, to celebrate another year of great music to come! Glenlogie…by Jim Malcolm from Live in Glenfarg (Beltane) http://jimmalcolm.com Katie Campbell’s Rambles/Streets of Forbes…by Niamh Parsons from Loosely Connected (Greentrax)Man of Arran…by Niamh Parsons featuring the Loose Connections from Loosely Connected (Greentrax)Canan Nan Gaidheal…by Scottish Women & Band from Scottish Women (Greentrax) http://www.musicscotland.com/cd/Various-Artists-Scottish-Women.html Trip to Skye…by Skolvan from Live in Italia (Keltia Musique) http://www.skolvan.com Sir Patrick Spens…by Jim Malcolm from Live in Glenfarg (Beltane) http://jimmalcolm.com ID Excerpt: Flowers of Edinburgh…by Jim Malcolm from Live in Glenfarg (Beltane) http://jimmalcolm.comBogey’s Bonnie Belle…by Christy Moore, Donal Lunny & Jimmy Faulkner from Live in Dublin (Tara Music) http://www.taramusic.com The Rocky Road to Dublin/Indian Ate the Woodchuck…by Mozaik from Live From the Powerhouse (Compass) http://compassrecords.com Breileach…by Capercaillie from Dusk Till Dawn (Survival) http://www.capercaillie.co.uk The Big Set…by The Unusual Suspects from Live in Scotland (Foot Stompin’) http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/unusual_suspects_live_in_scotland The Kerry Dances…by Frankie Gavin and Stephane Grappelli from Frankie Gavin 2003-2004 Collection (Frankie Gavin) http://www.allcelticmusic.com

Image: Drumbeg, Scottish Highlands (photo by Gordon Ritchie, Bon Accord Camera Club)Week 1 (#2119)Make a resolution to explore new music this year, by artists you know and those you’ll soon discover. Here are some to get you started in 2024.Flannery’s Dream/The New Mown Meadow…by Owen Marshall from Throughline (owenmarshallmusic.com)Toss the Feathers/The Magherabaun Reel…by Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble from Peggy’s Reel (251 Records)Intro/The Three Danish Galleys…by Holly & the Reivers from Three Galleys (HATR)Thresherman…by Patakas (Will & Joe Sartin) from When You’re Ready (Wildgoose Studios)Ó ho Nighean, É ho Nighean…by Máire Ní Cathasaigh from The New Strung Harp (Old Bridge)Jigs…by Joy Dunlop from Caoir (joydunlop.com)[ ID excerpt] Dogs Among the Bushes…by Owen Marshall from Throughline (owenmarshallmusic.com)Princess Royal…by Simon Mayor from Carolan (Acoustics)Ballantrae Bound…by Davie Anderson from Ballantrae Bound (Brechin All Records)Les Filles des Forges…by Triton from Rule of Three (TritonTad.com)Pilé-menu…by Triton from Rule of Three (TritonTad.com)Dans La Froidure…by Triton from Rule of Three (TritonTad.com)Lovely Liddy/Teagan’s Trip…by Hanneke Cassel from Infinite Brightness (hannekecassel.com)

Image: Clashnessie Beach, Scottish Highlands (photo by Gordon Ritchie, Bon Accord Camera Club)Week 52. (#2118)We invite you to accompany us into the New Year, on a hopeful tide of tunes and songs.Reel à Bouche…by John McCutcheon from Water From Another Time (Rounder)Shadow of the Mountain…by Dougie MacLean from New Tomorrow (Dunkeld)Yellow Coat…by Mary Jane Lamond and Wendy MacIsaac from Seinn (Factor)The Beauty of Everyday Things…by Luka Bloom from Bittersweet Crimson (BigSky)Well for Zoë…by Karine Polwart and Tim O’Brien from Wells for Zoê Water for Life (Compass)Sitting on Top of the World…by Doc Watson from Trouble in Mind (Sugar Hill)How I Long For Peace…by Peggy Seeger from First Farewell (Red Grape)[ID excerpt] Keeping Up with Calum…by Mary Jane Lamond and Wendy MacIsaac from Seinn (Factor)The Great Storm is Over…by John McCutcheon from Water From Another Time (Rounder)Sunday River Waltz…by Bruce MacGregor, Christine Hansen and Friends from Kissin’ is the Best of A’ (Brechin All)Light on a Distant Shore …by Ossian from Light on a Distant Shore (Iona)Seudan a’ Chuain…by Mary Jane Lamond and Wendy MacIsaac from Seinn (Factor)

Image: Christmas Lights on Regent Street, London (photo by Fiona Ritchie).Week 51 (#2117)Festive songs, Christmas carols, and wintertime verses conjure the magical spirit of the season. As communities come together to mark the midwinter festivals, Fiona Ritchie debuts a community reading of her new poem: the Old Oak Tree.Here We Come a-Caroling…by The Gothard Sisters from A Celtic Christmas (gothardsisters.com)Children Go…by Eileen Ivers from Scatter the Light (Musical Bridge)Christmas Song…by Dougie MacLean (Christmas Song on You Tube)Hirour Erregereki…by Gwen Màiri from Douze Noëls (telyneg)The Wexford Carol…by Yo-Yo Ma with Alison Krauss from from Song of Joy & Peace (Sony)A Christmas Jig/Mouth of the Tobique Reel…by Yo-Yo Ma with Natalie MacMaster from Song of Joy & Peace (Sony)O Come, O Come Emmanuel …by Eliza Lynn (private recording)[ID Break] Beude Bazter…by Gwen Màiri from Douze Noëls (telyneg)Bleary Winter…by Holly & The Reivers from Three Galleys (Holly & The Reivers)Lully Lullay…by Nighnoise from Celtic Christmas III | (Windham Hill)The Old Oak Tree (poem and birdsong)…by Fiona Ritchie and friends (private recording)Sunrise at Solstice…by We Banjo 3 from A Winter Wonderful (We Banjo 3)Ring Out , Solstice Bells…by Jethro Tull from Songs from the Wood (Chrysalis)Winterberry Set…by The Gothard Sisters from A Celtic Christmas (gothardsisters.com)Noël Emmanuel…by The Fire from Very Scottish Christmas (thefirescottishband.com)

Image: Yo-Yo Ma, American cellist (photo courtesy of the artist).Week 50 (#2116)Monochrome landscapes, wild weather and long dark nights are perfect for inspiring the songs and tunes of the season.Snow on the Hills…by Kim Robertson from Christmas Lullaby Volume II (Gourd Music)Long Shadows…by Maddy Prior from Ballads & Candles (Park Records)Shenandoah…by Dean Shostak from Revolutions (Dean Shostak Music)The Undefeated Sun…by Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band from Ringing the Changes (Park Records)Cold Frosty Morning/Growlin’ Old Man, Growlin’ Old Woman…by Atwater.Donnelly from When Winter Calls (Rabbit Island Music)Wild…by Atwater.Donnelly from When Winter Calls (Rabbit Island Music)Planting in Winter…by Maggie Sansone from Cold Frosty Morn (Maggie’s Music)[ID excerpt] The Snowy Path…by Altan from A Thistle & Shamrock Christmas Ceilidh (Green Linnet)When the Wind Begins to Sing…by John Renbourn from Traveller’s Prayer (Shanachie)Travellers’ Prayer…by John Renbourn with Mairead Ni Dhomhnaill and The Voice Squad from Traveller’s Prayer (Shanachie)Improvisation on Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace)…by Yo-Yo Ma with Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile from Songs of Joy & Peace (Sony Classical)Improvisation on Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace)…by Yo-Yo Ma with Sérgio Assad and Odair Assad from Songs of Joy & Peace (Sony Classical)Improvisation on Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace)…by Yo-Yo Ma with Paquito d’Rivera and Alon Yavnai from Songs of Joy & Peace (Sony Classical)Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace)/Auld Lang Syne…by Yo-Yo Ma with Chris Botti from Songs of Joy & Peace (Sony Classical)Dona Nobis Pacem…by Jean Redpath from Still the Night (Jean Redpath Records)The Moving Cloud…by Kipps Bay from A Thistle & Shamrock Christmas Ceilidh (Green Linnet)

Image: Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and recording artist Loreena McKenitt.Week 49 (#2115)Music is the gift that will keep giving through the year to come. Host Fiona Ritchie offers some new music and seasonal favourites that will all make welcome gifts for music lovers everywhere.Breton Carol…by Loreena McKennitt from A Midwinter Night’s Dream (Quinlan Road)Kerry Slides…by the Chieftains from The Foxhunt - San Francisco 1973 & 1976 (Claddagh / Universal)Blinding…by Luke Jackson from Of The Time (First Take)The Drouthy Burn…by Dougie MacLean and Jamie MacLean from Flo (Dunkeld)I Saw Three Ships…by John Renbourn from A Thistle & Shamrock Christmas Ceilidh (Green Linnet)Garçon À Marier/Orgies Nocturnes/Dans Fisel…by Touchstone from A Thistle & Shamrock Christmas Ceilidh (Green Linnet)Swannanoa…by Janis Ian from The Light at the End of the Line (Rude Girl)[ID excerpt] The Snowy Path…by Altan from A Thistle & Shamrock Christmas Ceilidh (Green Linnet)Bach’s Sonata No. 1 in G Minor - IV Presto…by Chris Thile from Bach Sonatas and Partitas (Nonesuch)Petty harbourt Bait Skiff…by Ofra Harnoy from On The Rock (Analekta)Prelude from Bach’s Cello Suite No 1 in G Major…by Chris Newman from Breaking Bach (Old Bridge Music)The Diamond Ring…by Karen Matheson from Still Time (Compass)Strathspeys and Reels…by Brìghde Chaimbeul, Ross Ainsley and Steven Byrnes from LAS (Great White)Better Times Will Come…by Janis Ian from The Light at the End of the Line (Rude Girl)Noël Nouvelet…by Loreena McKennitt from from A Midwinter Night’s Dream (Quinlan Road)