Tonight is Burns Night, a celebration of Scotland’s National Poet, Robert Burns. Though he died in 1796, his work is still recited and sung by the everyday people of Scotland, over 220 years later. Now that’s a legacy!

Here I share two Burns songs on zither, “Ye Banks and Braes” and the original tune of
“Auld Lang Syne.”

They are not happy tunes, and the lyrics of “Ye Banks and Braes” lament a false love. However, that one is my favorite Burns melody. While I didn’t like the original tune of “Auld Lang Syne” the first time I heard it, it has grown on me now, and I enjoyed arranging it for zither.

Click the links below to download the mp3’s.
“Ye Banks and Braes”

“Auld Lang Syne” Original Tune

Slàinte mhath! (Slanj-uh va!) Good health to ye!