Auld lang syne

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First line:

Should old acquaintance be forgot

composer

Anonymous - traditional

traditional Scottish

arranger

Desmond Earley (b1974)

author of text

Robert Burns (1759-1796)

Introduction
English

For decades, on these islands, the passage from the old to the new year at midnight has been celebrated by singing Robert Burns’ poem. This was first printed in 1788 although the author himself acknowledged that its origins lie in an earlier Scots-language ballad printed in 1711 by James Wilson. In this graceful arrangement, we hear the standard English version of the text set to a traditional Scottish melody. Sopranos and altos predominate in the four verses, sometimes in unison and, at times, underpinned by a Scottish-sounding drone. In contrast, the chorus is richly sung by the full complement of voices.

Recordings

Be all merry

University College Dublin Choral Scholars, Desmond Earley (conductor)

Studio Master: SIGCD643Download onlyStudio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

Fourteen gloriously over-the-top arrangements from this most versatile of choirs, some with effervescent accompaniment from the Irish Chamber Orchestra.» More