Whereas ‘Auld Lang Syne’ may be considered the best-known Scottish song ever yet at the same time it is an obscure one for there are but few people who know the complete text by heart. After the familiar ‘Should auld acquaintance be forgot .....‘ many people take their refuge to lyrics like ‘rum tee dum ta dee ..... lah lah lah ........... for auld lang syne’. Even in Scotland only a handful of persons know the entire text and are able to give a correct rendering of it. The current lyrics have been attributed to the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Burns however he did not write the whole poem : after he had heard an old man sing the centuries-old Scotchballad he wrote it down and added a number of stanzas (1788). Historical research teaches us that the ballad served many purposes both political and religious. Nowadays ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is sung as a Christmas Carol and it is also sung on New Year’s Eve at the turning of the year. Apart from that though the song is also sung on many other occasions – sometimes with different lyrics which usually have Love Friendship and/or Parting as their themes as these go well with the fascinating melody. In this arrangement a low-sounding solo instrument is central. The harmonization in the accompaniment fits in perfectly with the sentiments this song will evoke. Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? Should auld acquintance be forgot. And days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne my dear For auld lang syne We’ll take a cup of kindness yet For auld lang syne.

Whereas ‘Auld Lang Syne’ may be considered the best-known Scottish song ever yet at the same time it is an obscure one for there are but few people who know the complete text by heart. After the familiar ‘Should auld acquaintance be forgot .....‘ many people take their refuge to lyrics like ‘rum tee dum ta dee ..... lah lah lah ........... for auld lang syne’. Even in Scotland only a handful of persons know the entire text and are able to give a correct rendering of it. The current lyrics have been attributed to the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Burns however he did not write the whole poem : after he had heard an old man sing the centuries-old Scotchballad he wrote it down and added a number of stanzas (1788). Historical research teaches us that the ballad served many purposes both political and religious. Nowadays ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is sung as a Christmas Carol and it is also sung on New Year’s Eve at the turning of the year. Apart from that though the song is also sung on many other occasions – sometimes with different lyrics which usually have Love Friendship and/or Parting as their themes as these go well with the fascinating melody. In this arrangement a low-sounding solo instrument is central. The harmonization in the accompaniment fits in perfectly with the sentiments this song will evoke. Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? Should auld acquintance be forgot. And days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne my dear For auld lang syne We’ll take a cup of kindness yet For auld lang syne.

Frank Bridge (1879 – 1941) was one of the leading English composers of his time. In October 1922 he adapted his popular string quartet Sir Roger de Coverley for full symphony orchestra and Sir Henry Wood agreed at the last minute to include it in the last night of the Queen’s Hall Promenade Concerts at the end of that month.This elaborate and colourful orchestral version has never been widely performed but has now been brilliantly transcribed by Alastair Wheeler to provide a miniature dance poem for grade 5 level concert band.Bridge’s lively treatment of one of England’s most famous traditional dance melodies willmake a fitting end to any concert with the strains of Auld Lang Syne introduced by Bridge as a nod towards Sir Roger de Coverley’s traditional function as the final dance of a Christmas Ball as it was in Old Mr. Fezziwig’s party in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

S?il est souvent relativement facile de trouver l?œuvre idéale pour ouvrir un concert il n?en va pas de même pour la pièce de clôture. Farewell Medley (?Medley d?au revoir?) de Stefan Schwalgin vous facilitera cette tâche quelquefois ardue.Cet excellent medley qui rassemble trois célèbres airs traditionnels du patrimoine musical anglo-irlando-écossais permet aux musiciens de révéler une toute dernière fois la richesse des couleurs sonores de leur instrument. Danny Boy est un célèbre air traditionnel irlandais mieux connu sous son titre original Londonderry Air. Avec les paroles de Frederic Edward Weatherly (1848-1929) la thématique de la balladechangea pour devenir une ballade d?adieu. C?est ainsi que par extension Danny Boy devint une musique funèbre. En 1772 John Newton écrivit le poème Amazing Grace pour accompagner un traditionel irlando-écossais. On doit les paroles de la vieille ballade écossaise Auld Lang Syne (Ce n?est qu?un au revoir) au poète Robert Burns (1759-1796).L?interlude petit récitatif avant le finale fait sonner la retraite avec The Last Post une sonnerie militaire anglaise. L?anonymat des auteurs est l?élément commun partagé par l?ensemble des mélodies rassemblées dans ce medley.

Auld Lang Syne-This traditional melody is known worldwide as a song of farewell. Jan Van der Roost treated it as an anthem in this splendid arrangement. The melody is brought to us in whole or in part by various instruments and is surrounded by logical yet original - sometimes surprising - chords that dare to fluctuate. After a broad tutti the ensemble begins to die out. The piece ends with an impressive diminuendo of the final chord almost as if the orchestra itself were saying goodbye.

En associant les quatre chants multiculturels Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Écoutez le chant des Anges) The Dreydl Song Kumbayah et Auld Lang Syne (Ce n?est qu?un au-revoir) James L. Hosay a créé un medley de Noël (et de fin d?année) rythmé et pétillant couleur jazz New Orleans. Délicieux !

From the Mannheim Steamroller CD Christmas Extraordinaire here is a captivating setting of this traditional Scottish favorite. The varied orchestration includes a beautifully elongated melody a flugelhorn solo and an ending with optional audience sing-along.