The Melbourne Scots win grant to publish their Songbook

The ESU congratulates The Melbourne Scots, winner of the March 2021 round of the Minor Project Grant. The Melbourne Scots’ crest proclaims their commitment to the Scottish heritage shared by many Victorians. The grant of $2,000 will support the publication of a revised edition of The Melbourne Scots Songbook.

The Songbook contains 55 traditional songs written in English or Lallans (i.e. the lowland Scots dialect of English). Multiple copies of the Songbook are made available at events organised by The Melbourne Scots, assisting ‘members and guests alike to participate with great gusto’.

For this new edition, the contents have been thoroughly revised. Scottish-born Vivien Hamilton, a distinguished singer, accompanist and educator, has completed in-depth research into the history and development of Scottish songs in print, including the addition of notes on selected songs and their accompanying music. For the first time, The Melbourne Scots Songbook will also include their melodies in music notation, expertly typeset by Kenneth Howden. Their input will add value to the Songbook’s status as an important and useful document for The Melbourne Scots.

The ESU’s grant will support design and printing costs so that the revised edition of The Melbourne Scots Songbook will continue to promote the literary and musical traditions of Scotland and will enable participation in song and story by all attendees at The Melbourne Scots’ events.

To download a PDF of the ESU's Media Release about this grant, click HERE.

Logo supplied by The Melbourne Scots. To visit their website, click HERE.

To learn about other recent winners of ESU awards, click HERE.

Page posted on 30 May 2021.