Fiddlers' Burns

A selection of tunes associated with the songs of Robert Burns arranged for fiddle by Eric Allan.

Robert Burns devoted much of his latter years to studying, collecting, arranging and writing songs. He met with the music publisher, James Johnson, who had secured support to launch a song collection to be entitled The Scots Musical Museum. In October 1787 Burns wrote "An engraver {Johnson} in this town has set about collecting and publishing all the Scotch songs, with music, that can be found...I have been absolutely crazed about it, collecting old stanzas, and every information remaining respecting their origin, authors etc., etc."

As his words indicate, he threw himself wholeheartedly into building up this collection, embarking on a complete study of everything that had been published and consulting with singers, players and others. He became the leading expert on the subject.................

He practiced the fiddle but did not attempt to develop his skills. In a letter to a friend he describes himself as "a brother fiddler" and in another as "a fiddler and a poet".

With his musical ear, he became a master of matching words to music. His words were not always original, as often his purpose was to perpetuate an old song by remodelling it. He left a collection of about 350 songs.

Eric Allan is a fiddle player and composer in the traditional field.

52 tunes including  A man's a man for a' that, Ae fond kiss, Roslin Castle.

A Man's a man for a' that
Ae fond kiss
Auld lang syne
Birks of Aberfeldy, The
Blythe was she
Bottom of the punch bowl, The
Ca' the yowes
Come fy, let's a' to the bridal
Comin thro the Rye
Corn rigs
Daintie Davie
Dairy Maid, The
Deil's awa wi' the exciseman, The
Deuk's dang o'er my daddie, The
Duncan Gray
Flow gently, sweet Afton
Goodnight and joy be wi' ye a'
Green grow the rashes, o
Hey ca' thro'
I'll gang nae mair tae yon toun
I'm o'er young to marry yet
Invercauld
John Anderson my jo
Johnny McGill
Kenmure's on and awa
Killiecrankie
Lassie lie near me
Lea rig, The
Loch Ericht
MacPherson's farewell
Major Graham of Inchbrakie
Miller's wedding, The
Miss Admiral Gordon's Strathspey
Morag
Muckin' o' Geordie's byre, The
My love she's but a lassie yet
My wife's a wanton wee thing
Niel Gow's lamentation for James Moray Esq of Abercarney
O leave novels
O Whistle and I'll come to you, my love
O'er the water to Charlie
Rantin dog, the daddie o't, The
Rattlin' roarin', Willie
Roslin Castle
Rothiemurchus rant
Roy's wife of Aldivalloch
Stool of repentance, The
Stumpie
There'll never be peace till Jamie comes hame
To daunton me
Whistle o'er the lave o't
Ye banks and braes