Scotland's Music Nr 5

Just watched the penultimate program in Phil Cunningham's "Scotland's Music" TV series.

Episode 5 was about celebration with clips on their website.

Paolo Nutini discussed why he liked Burns' original tune for "Auld Lang Syne". The Peatbog Faeries talked about reading the crowd. There was a retrospective on Jimmy Shand (especially the Bluebell Polka). A battle of the bands between east (Colin Dewar) and west coast (Fergie MacDonald. Heuch. I'm a west-coaster. I prefer this. Toes are tapping, and fingers drumming out the tune). Niel Gow's NE fiddling style, painted by Raeburn, celebrated in festival. Scott Skinner, Queen Victoria's Strathspey King.

A trip back in history through earlier courts to the effect of the Reformation on music. The use of the canntaireachd to pass on pipe music when it seen as illegal after the '45 (though they were never prescribed, an earlier programme said). And ends with Sir Harry Lauder. "Why would we give Harry Lauder a hard time?" Fine, fun tunes like this. Can anyone take The White Heather Club seriously? What is wrong with fun? Fiona Kennedy speaks about Scottish music on television, with her Dad, Calum at the forefront.

This links neatly to the modern scene: Sandi Thom and the Internet; the rise of festivals in Scotland. "The future's going to be incredible", says the presenter, who plays the set at Belladrum with his pal Aly Bain.

Just one more episode in this great series to watch.