THE SONGS OF SCOTLAND.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 129, 1 June 1907, Page 4

THE SONGS OF SCOTLAND.

LECTURE BY MPv. GEORGE HART. Under anspicei of the Wellington Caledonian Society , a Ic.tareon'-S oitisb. Song ' was given in the concert chamber of tho Town Hall last night by Mr. Georgo Hart, a well-known Chri3t.' church pressman. Tho Hon. T K. Macdoaaid, M.L.0., chairman of tho socioty, made a fey/ introductory remarks, after which the lecturer said it might cecm strange to his hearers to hear one- with c;i Knglish tongue addressing them on such a subject, but ho wished them to icmember* that he was Scott::]! on his mother's side, and thai therefore Uo ,vas Scottish fov the best part of him. Mr. Hart said that tho songs of Scotland had always been ono of iho most powerful influences in moulding tho Scottish character. There vas a personal tone in tliesc songs ; they were the outpouring of Scottish j hearts and tho anguish of their very j souk. By sonic the Scots v/cro looked j upon as a hard-vended, unemotional I vaco, but that wus not so. Tha i Celtic character was many-sided, and , nona had greater appicciation than they : of romance and pecivy and r.enlimcnfc and heroism. Aflei- a reforenco to tho poems of Osi-iau, Mr. ffari went on to Robert Barns, remarking that it v/a3 notcwoiUry U-.at in the long lapse of years between tlio two no poet, of eminoncc appeared in Scotland. Strong , j appreciation of the y™ offoits of. J Burns was expressed by Mr. Hart, j whoso opinion was that no Scottish song writer savo I'arqnalira- approached him «n^ fineness of quality. Tho manysidedness of Burns as a, soag writer was also dwelt upon, his Jacobito song "Charlie io My Darling," his humorous | song, "Tho Dcil's Awa Wit he lixcisc- | maa ; " his pathetic songs "To Mary in 1 Hosicn,'' and ij "Afton Water," and J his martial song "Sects Wba Hae," were quoted to &how the diversity of his j pro-ominenco as a lyrist. In point of , pathos and i^rong omotionnl feeling , tibore was no . song to. equal Burns "s composition entitled "Ye Banks and Braes," except Lady Nairn's "Land o' tho Leal," which tho lecturer seemed to consider as its peer. In speaking of Scottish humour in soag ho quoted "Last May a Braw Wcor" as possessing a pawky vein which it was hard for j anyone not to the manner born to appreciate. An excellent exaninle of t;cott:sh humour was contained in the song "Comin 1 Thro' the Rye," and in thi.i connection il was worthy of I notice that an impression p;evailcd that tho rye referred to was a field of corn. Old illustrations of the song J depicted this, but tho fact was that the rye referred to jn the song was a smalt burn or stream of water, and j which wr.s crossed on stepping stones, i and that the ftc demanded by the swains for .carrying the lasces across dry shod was a kiss. The anonymous 1 Scots sang •'There's Nr.o Luck About the House" was also spoken of in tennis of appreciation, and Burns's commenda- ' , tion of il >vas quoted. The ballad of '"Auld Eobin Gray' 1 was briotJy referred to, r.r.d tho niinplo pathes of tho' beani tiful air end words was sympathetically interpreted by Mrs. Snaddon. I Several of tho songs referred to by Mr. j Halt were cuug during the evening, tho singeis Heing Miso Oaldcnv, Mra. Sncddon, and Messis. Burrows and Martin, Mr. F. Hcndry acting as accompanist. In concluding his lecture Mr. Hait referred to' "Auld Lang Syne"' r.s a fine old song, tho ovigin of which was "lost in the mists |of antiquity,' 1 end oxprcrsed himself that in all probability it was snag by tbo boon companions of Ocsian as they diainod lhair drinking horns. This song had clono mere to unite Scotsmen in one patriotic band than any other songs to which ho had referred that evening. At the conclusion of the lecture tho Hon. T. K. Macdonnld referred in appreciativo tai'mr. to tho success of tho lecture, and said the Caledonian Society was indebted to Mr. Hart for corning a!l the way from Christchurch, and providing such en entertaining evening. On the chairmen's invit-tion hearty votes cf thanks v.eio accorded Mr. Hart aad the vocalists.