The Tannahill Song with Professor Fred Freeman

This illustrated lecture, drawing musical examples from Freeman’s internationally acclaimed Complete Songs of Robert Tannahill, concentrates on a unique collection of songs – with their Irish melodies and subject matter written in defence of the early 19th-century Irish emigrants to Scotland. A non-sectarian Presbyterian, Tannahill contributed a great deal to changing perceptions of the downtrodden Irish as they settled into their new country; and, at the same time, he left us with a lovely body of Irish song.

After releasing The Complete Songs of Robert Burns (12 vols, Linn Records 1996-2003) Fred turned his attention to a sadly neglected artist: Robert Tannahill of Paisley (1774-1810). Tannahill was a weaver, a song-writer and poet who wrote over 100 songs of a quality comparable to Burns.