Written by Robert Burns (1759-1796) in 1790. Uses a mixture of Scots and English language. We are going to learn about the music of Malcolm’s Arnold’s ‘Tam o’Shanter’ Suite which is based on Robert Burns’ famous poem.

When chapman billies leave the street, And drouthy neebors, neebors, meet, As market-days are wearing late, An’ folk begin to tak the gate; While we sit bousing at the nappy, And getting fou and unco happy, We think na on the lang Scots miles, The mosses, waters, slaps and styles.

One dark and stormy night, after a long day at market and an even longer day sitting in his favourite pub, Tam climbed on to his trusty old mare Meg and set off on his long road home across the dark and rain swept moor.

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Spooky atmosphere – Owls hooting. OBOES, PICCOLO AND CLARINETS Tam comes out of the Pub, drunk and humming a tune. 2 BASSOONS It is raining. STRINGS PLAY TREMOLANDO Thunder. TIMPANI Tam climbs onto his horse. ASCENDING SCALE PLAYED BY BRASS AND WOODWIND.

Sometime later, around midnight, Tam approached an old ruined church in Alloway. The church was reputed to be haunted and also a place where witches gathered. As he drew close to the ruined church, Tam thought he heard strange music and it looked as if it was full of light. Tam edged his way closer so he could see through the ribs of a gothic window.

What a sight he saw! For there inside the roofless church, dancing around a huge bonfire was a coven of witches and warlocks with the devil himself as a huge shaggy black dog playing the pipes. Tam sat on his horse, gazing at the sight of the ugly old men and women leaping about. Then he noticed that one of them was not old. She was young and beautiful and she flung herself into the wild Scottish dances with complete abandon.

As she danced she threw off all her clothes except a short petticoat known in Scotland as a Cutty Sark. This young witch was called Nannie. As he watched her dancing became wilder and wilder and Tam became more and more entranced. Finally, he was so carried away he roared out ‘Well done ‘Cutty Sark!’

In an instant the bonfire went out and in the pitch black the witches and warlocks screamed their fury at the man who had ruined their party. They poured out, racing towards Tam, shrieking for vengeance. Tam, in desperate fear for his life and soul, spurred Meg on a race to save them both. He set Meg galloping madly towards the bridge across the river Doon, with the witches screaming in hot pursuit.

Crash of thunder and whistling wind – DRUMS AND CYMBALS Crash of thunder and whistling wind – DRUMS AND CYMBALS. MAIN THEME ‘AULD SCOTS SONNET’ – ACCELERANDO. Tam, still drunk, thinks that he is seeing witches and ghosts and shouts out – TROMBONES. Whips his horse to make it go faster – MAIN THEME ON TROMBONE. Urges Meg up the church path to investigate – HESISTANT RISING IN THE BRASS.

Tam sees the witches dancing to bagpipes in the churchyard Tam sees the witches dancing to bagpipes in the churchyard. DRONE ON BASSOONS AND TROMBONES – ‘HOOCHS’ ON HORNS. Tam looks in the church – JAZZED UP HYMN TUNE. Tam sees a terrible sight on the Holy Table – CHURCH BELLS TOLL. The dancing get wilder and wilder – CHURCH BELLS BECOME PART OF THE BAND.

‘Weel done Cutty Sark’ – TROMBONE SOLO ‘Weel done Cutty Sark’ – TROMBONE SOLO. Witches chase Tam and his horse out of the church. His horse breaks into a wild gallop. CHROMATIC ASCENT AS THEY GAIN ON HIM.

Tam knew that witches could not cross running water and if he could just cross the keystone of the bridge he would be safe. Meg realised her master’s peril and galloped furiously for the bridge but Nannie, speeding ahead of the pack of witches, started to gain on them. Tam glanced back and in terror saw the wild figure getting closer and closer reaching out for him. The foaming mare strained for the bridge ahead but, almost there, Nannie flung herself at Tam, stretching out an arm to grab him.

Meg however, made a final desperate leap for safety and crossed the keystone with her master clinging to her back and left nothing in Nannie’s hand but a large lump of her own tail.

Chase ends suddenly as Tam crosses and bridge to safety Chase ends suddenly as Tam crosses and bridge to safety. The cockerel crows and the witches vanish. CHROMATIC ASCENDING PASSAGE IN THE CLARINETS. Nannie’s wrath – SUDDEN FLURRY IN THE FULL ORCHESTRA.

Tam was safe and his story served as a warning to all those who would stay out drinking late and have to cross the moor at witching hour. Nannie went on to become a feared presence around Ayr and Galloway.

Now, wha this tale o’ truth shall read, Ilk man and mother’s son, take heed: Whene’er to drink you are inclin’d, Or cutty-sarks run in your mind, Think, ye may buy the joys o’er dear, Remember Tam o’Shanter’s mare. Watch and listen