Hamish, Burns and Music

An exploration of two great sangsters, Hamish Henderson and Robert Burns, both of whom redefined Scottish culture; provided, against all odds, a national and international vision of the country - bringing together all the vital Scots, Gaelic and Norse cultural strands and rejecting all the empty arguments of those who insisted that Scotland was, at best, a mere fragmented nation lacking social and cultural wholeness.

Both artists recreated the nation - especially through their song-writing. Both artists had strong links with the Northeast and the Southwest of Scotland.

This is an Immortal Memory with a difference by Professor Fred Freeman of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

This multimedia presentation draws upon Professor Freeman’s recordings and graphic illustrations that highlight the central points of his thesis.

Freeman is the producer of the internationally acclaimed The Complete Songs of Robert Burns (12 vols., Linn Records); two Tribute albums on Hamish Henderson (Greentrax Recordings); the author of extensive chapters on Hamish Henderson and Burns in a new book, Hamish Henderson : A Conversation Piece; one of the central figures featured in a new documentary on Hamish - Inspiration.