Hamish Henderson, Burns & Music
Illustrated talk by Professor Fred Freeman
Friday 17 April 6-7pm
FREE
An exploration of two great sangsters, Hamish Henderson and Robert Burns, both of whom redefined Scottish culture. They provided, against all odds, a national and international vision of the country – bringing together all the vital Scots, Gaelic and Norse cultural strands and rejecting all the empty arguments of those who insisted that Scotland was, at best, a mere fragmented nation lacking social and cultural wholeness. Both artists recreated the nation – especially through their song-writing.
A multimedia presentation drawing upon Professor Freeman’s recordings and graphic illustrations that highlight the central points of his thesis.
Freeman is currently Visiting Professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He is the producer of the internationally acclaimed The Complete Songs of Robert Burns (12 vols, Linn Records); two Tribute albums on Hamish Henderson (Greentrax Recordings); the author of extensive chapters on Hamish Henderson and Burns in a new book, Hamish Henderson : A Conversation Piece; one of the central figures featured in the new documentary on Hamish we showing this evening.
There will be tea and coffee refreshments after the talk between 7 – 7.30pm.
Hamish Henderson: An Artist’s Inspiration
Friday 17 April 7.30pm
Michael Lloyd | UK 2025
What drove Charles Nasmyth to paint a portrait of a man he never met, and had barely heard of?
The Fife-based artist became inspired by the life and work of Hamish Henderson, after meeting Katzel, his widow. He spent a year learning from Hamish’s former friends and colleagues about his achievements.
Well known for his folk song collecting and support for Scottish self-determination, Charles discovered that there was much more to admire in Hamish’s life story. In particular, his own poetry and song-writing, his remarkable war-service in the British Army and his inspirational teaching at Edinburgh University.
Henderson’s folk-song collecting, Charles discovered, was motivated not just by his Perthshire roots, but the influence of Italian philosopher, Antonio Gramsci, whose respect for the ‘culture of the people’ he deeply admired.
And he was determined that the ‘carrying stream’ of Scottish culture, expressed in the songs, ballads and stories he collected, should not be swamped by outside influences. Especially that the Scots language should thrive as a living expression of Scotland’s identity and culture.
In this film, Charles revisits the people who taught him Hamish’s life-story. And explains why he was inspired to paint his portrait.
We are delighted to welcome director Michael Lloyd, and presenter and artist Charles Nasmyth for a post film discussion, as well as Professor Fred Freeman, now at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, who studied under Hamish at the School of Scottish Studies and was a close friend.
Links
Talk at 6pm https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/robert-burns-centre-film-theatre/t-lddmlox
Film plus Q&A at 7.30pm https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/robert-burns-centre-film-theatre/t-oeepxmn