Celebrating the “cultural jewel box” of the School of Scottish Studies Archives in their 70th year (1951-2021) ‘Sunday 8 August will see two concerts marking the anniversary with cross-generational line-ups. A Folk Song Sharing features the veteran Caithness singer, songwriter and storyteller Nancy Nicolson, Gaelic singer Arthur Cormack OBE and a rising young singer-songwriter in […]

Opportunity   Dr Lori Watson is looking for a research assistant to contribute to a pilot project developing a new collection/archive of music composed by traditional musicians in Scotland. The post is for 56 hours during July-August 2021 paid at the UoE Grade 6.1 £15.52 p/h plus holiday pay and is funded by the Creative […]

A digital TradFest We were delighted to present our first annual Rebellious Truth lecture in association with Edinburgh TradFest on 10th May 2021. After postponing last year’s festival, which always brings together a wide variety of live folk music performances, the 2021 festival was entirely digital. The podcast series is live for a year on […]

By Sarah Scott, MSc by Research Celtic Studies Gàidhlig Chaidh ‘An Ubhal as Àirde’, cruinneachadh ùr de litreachas Gàidhlig, a chur air bhog air Diardaoin 14 Samhain aig an Oilthigh.  Tha an leabhar na phàirt de shreath leabhraichean a sheallas farsaingeachd litreachas nam mion-chànan Eòrpach, agus tha e a’ toirt àrd-shealladh air a’ Ghàidhlig agus […]

By Sophie Hutton, MSc by Research Scottish Ethnology A strong legacy As a School of Scottish Studies graduate and a current MScR in Scottish Ethnology student, I was first introduced to the legacy of Hamish Henderson in 2015 and quickly came to regard him as a multi-faceted individual – a folklorist, songwriter, lecturer and fieldworker. […]

Join us on Friday 6th December 2019 for a special night of song, music and poetry to celebrate Hamish Henderson, champion of Scotland’s rich oral tradition. Voice of the People brings together contemporary voices inspired by Henderson’s life and work, featuring prominent tradition bearers and material from the School of Scottish Studies archives. Poet, song-maker, […]

“Last of the native scholars”   In May 2019, John MacInnes, acknowledged as the “last of the native scholars”, died in Edinburgh. A memorial took place that overflowed with tributes in speech, poetry, narrative and song, a celebration of a generous and intelligent scholar.   Even as a teenager, I could tell we were in […]

Celtic & Scottish Studies celebrates World Play A Strathspey Day – 15th May A few strathspeys (rhythmic Scottish tunes and songs) from our Scottish Ethnology team. https://youtu.be/uiThEhDgUek In the film Dr Lori Watson, Lecturer in Scottish Ethnology, sings the first verse of ‘Song of the Gillie More’ by Hamish Henderson set to traditional strathspey ‘Whistle […]