Scottish songs

Bothy ballad A Bothy ballad is a work song. Strophic structure – uses same music for each verse. Is sung by men. Male soloist sings the verse. Refrain is sung in unison.

Waulking song Waulking song is a work song. Sung by women (in gaelic) Verse sung by a soloist. Refrain/chorus sung by others in unison. Refrain made of vocal sounds (ho ri ho ro). Sung A capella.

Gaelic psalm Gaelic psalms are sung a capella. Solo singer known as a precentor starts before the congregation join in when they recognise the song. Use of ornaments to decorate the melodies.

Scots ballad A Scots ballad is a song telling of an event. Slow and relaxed in style. Usually fairly long. Can be sung by male or female voices.

Mouth music Mouth music has a strong rhythmic pulse. Has sounds to fit the music rather than words. Was used to dance to. Replaced traditional instruments.

Scottish instruments and groups

Bagpipes Although associated with Scottish music they are used all over the world. Highland bagpipes commonly used in pipe bands. Drones are the accompaniment. Chanter plays the melody. Ornaments used to decorate the melody (grace notes). Pibroch is a long bagpipe piece with many variations (ornamented).

Fiddle The same instrument as a violin. The style of playing and music played are what makes it different. Often plays the melody. Can play arco (with the bow). Can play pizzicato (to pluck the strings). Can play double stopping (more than one string). Can play col legno (with the back/wood of the bow)

Accordian Can play melody and accompaniment. Often used in a Scottish dance band. Can play a vamp accompaniment.

Bohdran An Irish wooden drum, held in one hand and played with a wooden beater. Used in folk music to add a beat.

Clarsach A small Scottish harp, used in folk music. Clarsach is Gaelic for harp.

Folk group A group of two or more musicians who perform music in a traditional style, usually accompanied by guitars.

Scottish dance band A band which plays Scottish music for people to dance to. Instruments used are usually fiddle, accordion, piano, guitar and drums. (There can be variation on which instruments are used).

Celtic rock A style of music that mixes Celtic folk music and rock together. WolfstonePeatbog Faeries

Dances and features in Scottish music

Waltz 3 beats in the bar. The first beat of the bar is strongly accented. The tempo can be fast or slow. Used to dance a St. Bernards’ waltz at a ceilidh. To learn more about a Waltz try playing the ‘Skye Boat Song’.

Jig Lively dance with a fairly fast tempo. Is written in compound time. Uses triplet rhythms. To learn more about a Jig try playing ‘The Irish Washerwoman’. You can tell it is a Jig by saying ‘jiggedy jiggedy’ or ‘strawberry strawberry’ with the music.

Reel A lively dance with a fast tempo. In simple time. To learn more about a Reel try playing ‘Soldiers Joy’. You can tell it is a Reel by saying ‘really simple really simple’ with the music.

Strathspey Has a steady tempo. Uses a scotch snap. Sometimes uses triplets at the end of an 8 bar phrase. In simple time. To learn more about a Strathspey try playing ‘Highland Whisky’.

March Has a steady tempo – at marching speed. Accented beats on 1 and 3. To learn more about a March try playing ‘Scotland the brave’.

Features Pentatonic scale Drone Vamp Grace notes Scotch snap Pibroch Celtic rock. A five-note scale. Much Celtic and Folk music uses this scale. ie GABDE One note held on or repeated in the bass. A rhythmic accompaniment with a bass note played on the beat and a chord off the beat. Usually played on piano or guitar. A type of ornament played as a quick, crushed note before the main note of a melody. A very short accented note before a longer note. A feature of Strathspeys.Strathspeys Music for solo bagpipe, in theme and variation form, and with grace notes. A style of music that mixes Celtic folk music and rock together.

Your challenge! Use garage band to create your own style of ‘Celtic rock’. Use built in sounds and loops etc include a drone, pentatonic scale, ornaments, melody and counter melody. Improve performing skills through playing/singing various Scottish songs/dances. Create a pod cast on dances, songs or ‘celtic rock’. Perform a group performance of ‘Caledonia’. Be able to identify different Scottish songs and dances.

Caledonia Listen to the following versions of Caledonia. Dougie MacLean Paulo Nutini Simple Minds and Frankie Miller Amy MacDonald