Hamish Henderson Tribute Vol 2 (CD)

Release Date: 12/10/21

Volume Two of the critically acclaimed 'Hamish Henderson Tribute Album' - 'A' The Bairns O Adam' series.

Dr Hamish Henderson was a , poet, singer/songwriter, folklorist and cultural and political activist (11/11/1919 to 03/09/2002). In 1951, after service in the British Army during the Second World War, Hamish became an honorary research fellow at the newly founded School of Scottish Studies at Edinburgh University and in 1954 he was offered a permanent post there. He remained at The School of Scottish Studies until his retirement. Although he was a very fine poet, and arguably one of the most significant voices of the Second World War, it was his songs and the ballads that were to attract him both as a writer and collector. The material he collected on his 'field' trips, now safely archived at The School of Scottish Studies, and some of which have been released on The Scottish Tradition Series of recordings by Greentrax, is now legendary and many of the songs he wrote, including 'The Freedom Come All Ye', suggested by many as a contender for the Scottish National Anthem, have become 'folk' standards.

After Hamish's death, Dr Fred Freeman and Ian Green M.D. of Greentrax Recordings, set about the task of releasing an album of songs and poems of Hamish Henderson and in 2003 the 'Hamish Henderson Tribute Album' - 'A' The Bairns O Adam' (CDTRAX244) was released to wide critical acclaim.

The first album comprised mainly existing recorded material, by such stalwarts as Alison McMorland, Dick Gaughan and The Laggan, plus a track from The School archives of 'traveller' Jeannie Robertson, recognised as Hamish's 'discovery', 'Volume 2' consists of mainly newly recorded songs and poems. The singers are Fiona Hunter (of Malinky), John Morran (of Deaf Shepherd), young singer Cameron Nixon (who can be heard on Malinky's 'Handsel' album), Stuart MacGregor & Hamish Henderson. They share the songs, while Fred Freeman reads two of Hamish's poems. Fred and Hamish were good friends and Fred has an amazing knowledge of Hamish's huge volume of work. Fred gave 100% to this album.