Resources and information on Robert Burns and on Irvine, grouped under the
five menus below
Welcome to Wellwood
Burns Centre and Museum
- the home of Irvine Burns Club, established 1826, Scottish
Charity No. SC018485
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Irvine Burns Club Master Class series - view them here!
The Songs ...... The
Music ...... The Poetry
....... The Guid Scots Tongue
In spring
1996, Irvine Burns Club invited four leading exponents of their craft
to present Master Classes at 'Wellwood' to mark the bicentenary of
the Bard's death.
Recorded on VHS tape (by Jim Willetts, of Seamill), and converted for
DVDs in 2008 (by Club member John Matthews), they were converted for YouTube
in 2016 (by the Club webmaster) for all to access. If you enjoy them,
tell us on Facebook.
'The
Songs of Robert Burns'
Bill McCue,
OBE, (1934-1999), for many years a regular with Scottish
Opera, never missing a production, and famous as Scotland's Fiddler on the
Roof, was also a favourite with Irvine audiences. An OBE, he was awarded
an Associateship of the Royal Academy of Music, he was still involved in
the training of students at RSAMD, and was an honorary member of the Saltire
Society. In this Master Class, he worked with six local singers, demonstrating
a range of songs by Burns.
Watch
on YouTube
'The
Music of Burns'
John Mason,
MBE, well-known through the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra,
was founder of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, and received an MBE for
his contribution to Scottish music for charitable purposes. Orcadian
by birth, he was a solicitor in Troon, but travelled all over the world
playing, composing and arranging fiddle music. His Class took the form
of a talk on the history of fiddle music in relation to Burns, followed
by a demonstration. John (1940-2011) was also an Honorary Member of
Irvine Burns Club.
Watch
on YouTube
'The
Poetry of Robert Burns'
Sam K Gaw,
a Past President of Irvine Burns Club and a Past President of the Robert
Burns Federation, Sam became internationally known as an expert on the
poet's life and works, giving spirited renditions at events and on television.
Sam is also an Honorary Member of Irvine Burns Club.
Watch
on YouTube
'The
Guid Scots Tongue the Day'
Dr George
Philp (1931-2012) had a passionate interest in ensuring
that Scots language, literature, music and song became more widely known
and available to everyone. Over 25 years, he, with others, founded the
Scots Language Society, the cassette series 'Scotsoun', and The Robert
Henryson Society. In 1995 he was awarded The Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun
Award for his services to Scotland. Sharing the Master Class evening
with him was Mrs Frances Hendrie,
who taught Scots to her primary pupils at Lennoxtown.
Watch
on YouTube