A History of Scottish Folk Music

A History of Scottish Folk Music is a blog dedicated to the exploration and discussion of Scottish folk music. From the ballads of the borderlands to the fiddle music of the Highlands, we cover it all!

Origins of Scottish Folk Music

Scottish folk music has its roots in the music of the Scottish people. It is a product of the people’s history, culture, and environment. The music has been shaped by many factors, including the geography of Scotland, its history, and its relationship with the rest of the world.

Celtic music

The origins of Scottish folk music are largely unknown. However, there is evidence that the music has roots in the Celtic tradition. Celtic music is a type of folk music that originated in the British Isles and is closely related to Irish and Welsh music. The three traditions share many similarities, including the use of traditional instruments and musical forms.

Scottish folk music began to develop its own distinct sound in the early 20th century, thanks in part to the work of composers such as James Duncan (1863-1924). Duncan collected and arranged traditional Scottish tunes, which helped to preserve them for future generations. He also wrote new music in a traditional style, which helped to create a distinct Scottish folk sound.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Scottish country dancing became popular, and this also had an impact on Scottish folk music. Dance bands began to perform traditional Scottish tunes with a modern twist, which helped to make the music more accessible to a wider audience.

Today, Scottish folk music is enjoyed by people all over the world. There are many different styles of Scottish folk music, from traditional ballads to upbeat reels and jigs. Whether you’re listening to it or playing it, Scottish folk music is sure to put a smile on your face.

Gaelic music

Gaelic music is the traditional music of the Scottish Highlands. It is characterized by its use of the bagpipes, and its distinctive sound. Gaelic music has its roots in the Celtic music of Ireland and Scotland, and was brought to Scotland by Irish immigrants in the eighteenth century. Gaelic music is also influenced by the music of Scotland’s other ethnic groups, such as the Scots-Irish and Scottish Gaelic-speakers.

The spread of Scottish Folk Music

The Highland Clearances

The Highland Clearances were a series of forced evictions of tenants in the Scottish Highlands, which occurred primarily in the period 1750 to 1860. Many factors led to the Clearances, including overpopulation, increasing rents,changes in feudal land tenure,altogether around 200,000 people were removed from their homes and deported. The effects of the Clearances were greatly devastating for the Highlands, as many families were split up and forced into poverty. Not only did the Clearances have a profound economic and social impact on those who lived through them, but they also helped shape modern Scotland.

The Scottish diaspora

When the Scottish began to emigrate in large numbers in the 18th and 19th centuries, they took their music with them. The Scottish diaspora — which includes communities in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa — has kept alive many of the traditions that might have otherwise been lost.

In North America, Scots- Irish immigrants were particularly influential in shaping the sound of country music. Fiddlers like James Bowie (1796–1873) and Edward Buchanan (1791–1854) were important early figures, and their style can be heard in the playing of later musicians like Mark O’Connor (b. 1961) and Alison Krauss (b. 1971). In Canada, fiddling traditions were also kept alive by Scottish immigrants, notably Simon Fraser (1776–1862), who is considered the father of Canadian fiddle music.

Scottish music has also had an impact on popular music more broadly. Rock bands like Led Zeppelin and AC/DC both have roots in Scotland (via England), and many other bands have incorporated Scottish sounds into their music. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional Scottish music, led by artists like Tartan Amoebas, The Proclaimers, Karen Matheson, Dougie MacLean, and Ricky Ross.

The revival of Scottish Folk Music

In the 1960s, there was a revival of interest in Scottish folk music. This was led by groups such as the Clutha, the Corries, and the Fureys. These groups brought Scottish folk music to a wider audience, and helped to revive traditional Scottish songs and tunes.

The Scottish Folk Revival

The 1960s saw the beginnings of a Scottish folk music revival. The centrepiece of this activity was the Edinburgh Folk Club, which ran from 1957 to 1972 and played an important role in launching the careers of many leading Scottish musicians, including Sydney Devine, Alex Campbell, Archie Fisher, Davy Steele, Dick Gaughan and Jim Reid. The Club’s regular broadcasts on BBC Radio helped to bring folk music to a wider audience.

In 1965, the Scottish Folk club toured America and Europe, giving rise to a new interest in Scottish music overseas. This was followed by a number of folk clubs and festivals being established throughout Scotland, helping to create a new generation of folk musicians. The successful televising of some of these events, such as the St. Andrews Folk Festival and the Glasgow Mayfest further boosted interest in Scottish folk music.

The 1970s saw a continued growth in the popularity of Scottish folk music with bands such as Ossian, Silly Wizard and The Whistlebinkies achieving widespread success both at home and abroad. This decade also witnessed the emergence of a number of iconic female singers including Sheila Stewart, Annie Grace and Ishbel MacAskill.

The 1980s and 1990s saw a decline in the popularity of traditional Scottish music, however this was offset by renewed interest in Celtic music from Ireland and Brittany. This led to the formation of several successful cross-over acts such as Capercaillie, Wolfstone andRunrig who blended traditional Scottish sounds with elements of rock and pop to create a uniquely Scottish musical identity.

The Ceilidh

A ceilidh (/ˈkeɪlɪ/ KAY-lee; Scottish Gaelic: [ˈtʲʰeː.lɪ], Irish: [ˈc��lʲiː]) is a traditional Scottish or Irish social gathering. In its most basic form, it simply means a party where music and dancing are enjoyed.

The term has been used in other countries, including Canada, Australia, and the United States, but in these cases it generally refers to a social event where traditional Scottish or Irish music is played. Ceilidhs are generally open to the public and are often fund-raisers for local charities or non-profit organizations.

Ceilidhs typically feature a mixture of folk music and dance, including jigs, reels, strathspeys, highland flings, square dances, step dancing and more. The music is mostly provided by fiddles (which may be augmented by accordions, guitars, mandolins, drums and other instruments), with occasional singing between tunes. The dances are often called by a dance caller who walks everyone through the steps; sometimes calling is done in Gaelic, but English is more common nowadays.

Ceilidhs can be found throughout Scotland and Ireland (particularly in the Highlands and Islands), but they have also become quite popular in North America in recent years. Many Scottish and Irish festivals now feature ceilidhs as part of their programming, and there are also dedicated ceilidh clubs and venues in many cities across the continent.

Contemporary Scottish Folk Music

The Gaelic music scene

Gaelic music has been enjoying something of a renaissance in recent years, with a new generation of musicians carrying on the tradition and bringing it to a wider audience. This has been helped in part by the growth of Gaelic-language media, including BBC Radio nan Gaidheal and BBC ALBA, which have given exposure to many new bands and artists.

One of the most successful Gaelic bands of recent years is Blazin’ Fiddles, who have won multiple awards and toured extensively throughout Scotland, Europe and North America. Other popular Gaelic bands include Rant, Skipinnish, Tide Lines and Peatbog Faeries.

There are also many traditional Gaelic singers who are keeping the Scots-Gaelic musical tradition alive. These include Gillie McPherson, Mairi Campbell, Christine Primrose, Julie Fowlis andk Iain Mackinnon.

The Scottish Folk scene

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Scottish folk scene was vibrant, with a number of important singers and groups performing. The Songs of Robert Burns were being rediscovered and performed with new energy, while traditional songs were being collected and published in volumes such as The Scots Singer (1971) edited by James Hunter. The Glasgow Folk Song Club, founded in 1951, was an important source of information and encouragement for many performers.

There was also a strong revival of interest in the music of the Hebrides, led by figures such as Calum MacLean, Robin Hall and Jimmie McGregor, who made numerous field trips to collect songs. These were often published in volumes such as Horizon (1972), edited by McGregor.

One of the most significant developments of this period was the formation of the group The Clutha, which brought together some of the finest traditional musicians in Scotland, including Adam decisions on personnel matters made by successive bandleaders.