History Zone - Robert Burns

Liz Lochhead introduces a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national bard. RUNNING ORDER: Timings given are approximate and are given in hours and minutes from the start of the zone. 00:01 Songlines - Ae Fond Kiss: Lifting the lid on possibly the saddest song ever written by Robert Burns. 00:29 Imagined Lives: Writer Janice Galloway sets out to discover more about Catherine Carswell's controversial 1930 biography of Robert Burns. 00:56 Robert Burns and the Scots Musical Museum: Assessing Burns's contribution to the seminal collection, with presenter Hugh Taylor. 01:11 The Tree of Life: Presenter John Purser brings together artists and musicians for a rich celebration of the life of Robert Burns. 01:56 The Linguistic Legacy of Robert Burns: Does anyone still speak the Scots of Robert Burns's day? Billy Kay investigates. 02:24 Robert Burns and the Scots Musical Museum: Recalling Burns's tour of the Highlands where he met fiddler Neil Gow. 02:38 Songlines - Red Red Rose: Eddi Reader and Sheena Wellington share their love of this classic Burns song. 03:06 The Jean Armour Supper: Ruth Wishart delivers the Immortal Memory of Jean Armour. 03:15 The History of the Burns Supper: Billy Kay discovers celebrations the world over. 03:43 The Jean Armour Supper: Lynn Ferguson toasts the lassies and the late Donald Dewar replies. 04:02 Robert Burns and the Scots Musical Museum: Contemporary performers talk to presenter Hugh Taylor about how Burns informs their work. 04:17 In Bed with Burns: Edi Stark questions Burns's womanising ways. 04:37 Songlines - A Man's A Man: Stories about the song of liberty and freedom in which Burns attacks the then ruling class. 05:04 Robert Burns and the Scots Musical Museum: Hugh Taylor visits the Dumfrieshire haunts of the poet, including the Globe Inn. 05:19 Holy Willlie's Prayer: Performed by Liz Lochhead