Auld Lang Syne

(2000) 16 tracks

Featuring Alasdair Fraser, Bachue, Chantan, Paul Machlis, Skyedance, Tony McManus and The Cast. This rich, evocative compilation celebrates the old and the new in Scottish music, bringing together acclaimed artists who are carrying this musical heritage into the new millennium. Featuring gorgeous female vocals, fiddle, Scottish and Irish bagpipes, harp, piano, guitar, percussion and bass on pieces ranging from classic Burns songs to haunting new instrumental anthems. Scotland's beloved poet Robert Burns used the old Scottish phrase "Auld Lang Syne" to convey a world full of fond memories, convivial kindness and community. He borrowed a fragment from an old Scottish song to create a classic. The artists on this compilation, like Burns, look back as well as forward. With a shared reverence for the rich musical tradition of Scotland, they are taking a fresh look at old songs, exploring influences from around the world, and creating their own statements. Their music speaks with a Scottish accent, imbued with the vibrancy of a living tradition.

Featuring music and artists heard on CBS TV's Kennedy Center Honors and NPR's Morning Edition and Thistle and Shamrock.