A message from the Ulster Scots eXperience

We were delighted to be asked by the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland and the Ulster Scots Agency to take part in this educational project.

It was with great pleasure that we renewed our acquaintance with these historical songs – some familiar, some we’d never heard before.  We have tried to musically interpret them as closely as possible to how we felt they would have been sung many years ago.  And we hope that you enjoy listening to them as much as we enjoyed playing them!

Hopefully this will be the first of many such recordings, and will help to preserve this important part of our heritage for future generations.

Message from the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland

The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland are delighted to be associated with this CD, “The Songs My Father Sung”, in partnership with the Ulster-Scots Agency. Most of the music recorded here is from our archive of traditional Orange folk songs held at the headquarters of the Institution, Schomberg House.

The Orange Institution was founded in 1795, and with it grew a proud musical heritage. The famous combination of fife and drum became the melody and rhythm of Ulster. Moments of Orange history and tradition became poem and song. Many of these songs were published in large volumes during the 1800s, complete with full musical notation and lyrics.

However, in some quarters, many of those traditional songs had their original form distorted and their words changed, introducing a sectarian dimension which reflected the tragic realities of life during “The Troubles”. The purity of the original songs was almost lost.

As the largest Protestant organisation in the world, we are proud of our values, our traditions and our cultural identity. However we recognise that we must take the lead in showing this generation that our traditions are about pride in ourselves, and not prejudice towards others.

In the early 1900s, the recordings of traditional Orange folk songs by renowned author and broadcaster Richard Hayward were a significant milestone. We are delighted that the legacy of William of Orange has once again been brought to life, this time by the Ulster Scots Experience.

The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland hopes that this CD will be the first of many as we attempt to educate and inform the community of our rich cultural heritage, through music and song, and place these original songs in the hearts and minds of all those who either cherish their heritage or simply want to learn more of the Orange tradition.

Message from the Ulster Scots Agency

The Ulster-Scots Agency are very pleased to be associated with this project in partnership with the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland and see it as a wonderful opportunity to showcase the skills of Ulster-Scots folk musicians and the variety of their instruments.

Furthermore the arrangement and accompanying information can be used by the Ulster-Scots community and the general public at large, as an educational awareness tool to assist with understanding and learning material through the provision of music, vocals, musical notation, lyrics and historical background to each song.

We anticipate an extremely positive reaction to the publication and feel it can assist in de-mistifying many perceptions of both the Ulster-Scots and Orange musical traditions.