The Calgary Burns Club singers performed at the Edinburgh Tattoo from the 7th - 29th of August, 2009.
The CBC Singers on the Mini Tattoo Circuit at Linlithgow. Photographs courtesy of Bert Thorne.
Thank you to Jean Jones, Bert Thorne, Jim Little, Trevor Ramage, Bill Laing, John Hamilton, Will Hope-Ross & Jim McLaughlin for the following photographs!
An excerpt from the Bridgeton Burns Club (Glasgow) website:
Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2009
The 250th Anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2009 and Calgary Burns Club Singers from Alberta in Canada, all adds up to a spectacular show.
As the year of the Home Coming draws to a close, one highlight was the Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2009. The content included many references to Robert Burns, to both his works and his collection of songs.
The Massed Pipes and Drums played The Immortal Memory, Duncan Gray, There was a Lad, Scots Wha Hae, Green Grow the Rashes and a Man’s a Man, stirring stuff to begin the show. The Burns Vocal Vignette included Ye Banks and Braes, Green Grow the Rashes Oh and Ae Fond Kiss.
Soloists Elysia Leech and Christopher Nairne were backed by the Calgary Burns Club Singers. The Mass Highland Dancers entertained with a display depicting Tam O’ Shanter. A whirlwind of colour as the scene at Kirk Alloway was re-enacted right up to the chase with Meg losing her tale.
The finale included Coming Through The Rye and the Star of Robbie Burns before the National Anthem and concluded with Auld Lang Syne.
Symbolically the Lone Piper played a tune titled "Gratefu Prayer."
The content and quality of these poems and songs along with the dancers and the Calgary Burns Club Singers made this years Edinburgh Military Tattoo much more emotional than in years before.
While attending the last night show, Bridgeton Burns Club Director Andy McArthur met with some of the Calgary Burns Club Singers to compliment their performance and to pass on greetings from The Bridgeton Burns Club.
The Calgary Burns Club President Jim Hutchens said, "It was a privilege to be invited to appear at the 2009 Edinburgh Military Tattoo. We were representing Burns Clubs world wide and so very proud to do so."
The picture of the CBC Singers was taken at the Robert the Bruce Statue located near the Jubilee Auditorium in Alberta, a fitting back drop for such a fine group of men who share the common aim of celebrating the life and works of Robert Burns.
The 250th Anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2009 and Calgary Burns Club Singers from Alberta in Canada, all adds up to a spectacular show.
As the year of the Home Coming draws to a close, one highlight was the Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2009. The content included many references to Robert Burns, to both his works and his collection of songs.
The Massed Pipes and Drums played The Immortal Memory, Duncan Gray, There was a Lad, Scots Wha Hae, Green Grow the Rashes and a Man’s a Man, stirring stuff to begin the show. The Burns Vocal Vignette included Ye Banks and Braes, Green Grow the Rashes Oh and Ae Fond Kiss.
Soloists Elysia Leech and Christopher Nairne were backed by the Calgary Burns Club Singers. The Mass Highland Dancers entertained with a display depicting Tam O’ Shanter. A whirlwind of colour as the scene at Kirk Alloway was re-enacted right up to the chase with Meg losing her tale.
The finale included Coming Through The Rye and the Star of Robbie Burns before the National Anthem and concluded with Auld Lang Syne.
Symbolically the Lone Piper played a tune titled "Gratefu Prayer."
The content and quality of these poems and songs along with the dancers and the Calgary Burns Club Singers made this years Edinburgh Military Tattoo much more emotional than in years before.
While attending the last night show, Bridgeton Burns Club Director Andy McArthur met with some of the Calgary Burns Club Singers to compliment their performance and to pass on greetings from The Bridgeton Burns Club.
The Calgary Burns Club President Jim Hutchens said, "It was a privilege to be invited to appear at the 2009 Edinburgh Military Tattoo. We were representing Burns Clubs world wide and so very proud to do so."
The picture of the CBC Singers was taken at the Robert the Bruce Statue located near the Jubilee Auditorium in Alberta, a fitting back drop for such a fine group of men who share the common aim of celebrating the life and works of Robert Burns.
To learn more about the Edinburgh Tattoo follow the link to the official website www.edinburgh-tattoo.co.uk/index.html
Burns singers Scotland bound.
Terence Leung, For NeighboursPublished: Thursday, April 23, 2009
On a wispy and snowy Saturday morning, a boisterous cannon of song bellows from the second floor of a downtown tavern.
It's the sound of about 30 members from the Calgary Burns Club preparing for a performance in the world-renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland.
The club was invited to the affair to sing selected music this August from Scottish poet Robert Burns and considering last year's celebration was broadcast to about 100 million people around the globe there is much practice to be done.
The Tattoo, which refers to an 18th century military tradition and not permanent skin art, has been celebrated in Edinburgh since 1950 as part of the Edinburgh Arts Festival and is a deeply rooted tradition in Scottish culture.
"We're the only group that's appearing from Canada this year so not only are we representing Burns clubs from around the world, we're representing the city of Calgary and the country of Canada," says Derek Larg, president of the Calgary Burns Club.
"2009 is the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns' birth. There's a big push to get the expats arount the world back to Scotland for the tattoo, and this has come together as one big festival. It's a huge thing."
Twenty-four out of the 30 members in the singing group are native Scots and the thought of performing in Burns' birthplace, in front of Edinburgh Castle and a live audience of over 220,000 have them doing their best to ensure they are pitch perfect.
For more information contact Derek Larg at 403-271-4368 or [email protected].
© The Calgary Herald 2009
Terence Leung, For NeighboursPublished: Thursday, April 23, 2009
On a wispy and snowy Saturday morning, a boisterous cannon of song bellows from the second floor of a downtown tavern.
It's the sound of about 30 members from the Calgary Burns Club preparing for a performance in the world-renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland.
The club was invited to the affair to sing selected music this August from Scottish poet Robert Burns and considering last year's celebration was broadcast to about 100 million people around the globe there is much practice to be done.
The Tattoo, which refers to an 18th century military tradition and not permanent skin art, has been celebrated in Edinburgh since 1950 as part of the Edinburgh Arts Festival and is a deeply rooted tradition in Scottish culture.
"We're the only group that's appearing from Canada this year so not only are we representing Burns clubs from around the world, we're representing the city of Calgary and the country of Canada," says Derek Larg, president of the Calgary Burns Club.
"2009 is the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns' birth. There's a big push to get the expats arount the world back to Scotland for the tattoo, and this has come together as one big festival. It's a huge thing."
Twenty-four out of the 30 members in the singing group are native Scots and the thought of performing in Burns' birthplace, in front of Edinburgh Castle and a live audience of over 220,000 have them doing their best to ensure they are pitch perfect.
For more information contact Derek Larg at 403-271-4368 or [email protected].
© The Calgary Herald 2009
Musical Medley Group, 1998
Front row, left to right: Terry Lauder, Jim McLaughlin, Ron Budd, Bob Ferrier, Tom Miller, Sandy Paterson.
Back row, left to right: Ken McTavish, Trevor Ramage, John Goldie, Stuart Crichton, Bob Young.
Back row, left to right: Ken McTavish, Trevor Ramage, John Goldie, Stuart Crichton, Bob Young.
A group of Calgary Burns Club Singers after performing " 'Twas the Scots...."
Left to right: Wally Hunter, Tom Miller, Terry Lauder, Ron Budd, Sandy Paterson, Jim McLaughlin, Bob Ferrier.
A motley crew of Singers.
Left to right: Bob Young, Duncan McLeod, Bill Robinson, Allan MacRae, Jim Hope-Ross, Bill Laing, Bob Ferrier, Ron Budd, Jim McLaughlin, Alex Cathcart, Ian Denness, Trevor Ramage, Ron Pratt.
Burns Club Singers posing for a cover shot for their first CD - " 'Twas the Scots". October, 2000
Left to right: Bill Gardner, Ron Pratt, Bill Robinson, Jim McLaughlin, Duncan McLeod, Tom Miller, John Goldie, Bill Laing, Ron Budd, Trevor Ramage, Scotland, Bob Young
Another pose by the Singers for the cover of " 'Twas the Scots" CD. Taken on the front steps of Calgary's Old City Hall - October, 2000
Front row, left to right: Bill Gardner, Tom Miller, Bill Laing, Jim McLaughlin, Ron Budd.
Middle row, left to right: Bill Robinson, John Goldie, Duncan McLeod.
Top Row, left to right: Bob Young, Ron Pratt, Trevor Ramage, Jack Scotland.
Middle row, left to right: Bill Robinson, John Goldie, Duncan McLeod.
Top Row, left to right: Bob Young, Ron Pratt, Trevor Ramage, Jack Scotland.
Calgary Burns Club Singers, 2001
From left to right: Ron Budd, Bill Robinson, Tom Miller, Bob Young, Bob Ferrier, Allan MacRae, Jack Scotland, Bill Laing, John Goldie, Ron Pratt.
A Group of Calgary Burns Club Singers at the Water Valley annual Summer Folk Festival, 2004.
Left to right: Doug Forrest, Ron Pratt, Bill Laing, Ron Budd, John Goldie, Alex Cathcart, Duncan McLeod, Jim Hutchens, Jim McLaughlin, Bob Ferrier, Jim Hope-Ross, Bill Robinson, Trevor Ramage, Colin Pinkerton, Bob Young.
The Calgary Burns Club Singers performing at Spruce Meadows - November, 2004
From left to right: Bill Robinson, Duncan McLeod, Jim Hutchens, Bill Laing, Ron Pratt, Alex Cathcart, Jim McLaughlin, Bob Young, John Goldie and Ron Budd (conducting).
Recording the third CD in 2004 - Ron Buddon left, Bob Ferrier on right.
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Calgary Burns Club Singers pose for the cover for their third CD - "Bring on the Whisky" - 2004
From left to right: Ron Pratt, Duncan McLeod, Hugh McFadzean, Doug Forrest, Bob Ferrier, Ian Denness, Jim Hutchens, Alex Cathcart, Tony Grace, Colin Pinkerton, Bill Robinson, Trevor Ramage, Bill Lawson, Jim McLaughlin, Geoff Martin, John Goldie, Bob Young, Jim Hope-Ross, Ron Budd, Bill Laing.
Another pose for the "Bring on the whisky" CD cover
Left to right: Bill Robinson, Duncan McLeod, Ron Pratt, Ian Dunness, Tony Grace, Doug Forrest, Jim Hutchens, Elex Cathcart, Bill Lawson, Bob Ferrier, Hugh McFadzean, Jim Hope-Ross, Ron Budd, Trevor Ramage, Colin Pinkerton, Jim McLaughlin, Bob Young, John Goldie, Geoff Martin, Bill Laing.