A Scots Quair is a trilogy by the Scottish writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon, describing the life of Chris Guthrie, a woman from the north east of Scotland during the early 20th century.
It consists of three novels: Sunset Song (1932), Cloud Howe (1933), and Grey Granite (1934). The first is widely regarded as an important classic (voted Scotland's favourite book in a 2005 poll supported by the Scottish Book Trust and other organisations) but opinions are more varied about the other two.
Sunset Song
The central character is a young woman, Chris Guthrie, growing up in a farming family in the fictional Estate of Kinraddie in The Mearns (Kincardineshire) in north-east Scotland at the start of the 20th century. Life is hard, and her family is dysfunctional. She marries a farmer, Ewan Tavendale, who dies in World War I.
Cloud Howe
Cloud Howe continues the story of Chris Guthrie. She marries for a second time to Robert Colquhoun, a Church of Scotland minister. At the end of the novel, he dies in the pulpit while delivering a sermon.
Dougie MacLean, OBE (born 27 September 1954 in Dunblane) is a Scottish singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. Described by critic Craig Harris in AllMusic as "one of Scotland's premier singer-songwriters", MacLean's most famous pieces include "The Gael", from his 1990 album The Search, which was adapted by Trevor Jones as the main theme to The Last of the Mohicans (1992); and "Caledonia", from his first album. The latter has been covered by numerous popular singers and groups, and called Scotland's unofficial national anthem.
Origins
To support himself in the 1970s, MacLean was a driver for Doc Watson and Merle Watson during their tour around Europe. He maintained a friendship afterward and has appeared at Merlefest.
His career started with a traditional band, The Tannahill Weavers, in 1976. In the early 1980s, he was briefly part of Silly Wizard.
Solo career
His solo career started in 1981 and since then he has recorded numerous albums. He plays multiple instruments, including guitar, violin, mandola, viola, bouzouki, banjo and bass as well as being a singer and composer.
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Tribute
by: Dougie MacleanIs there for honest poverty
That hangs his head and a' that
The coward slave we pass him by
We dare be poor for a' that
For a' that and a' that
Our toils obscure and a' that
The rank is but the guinea's stamp
The man's the gowd for a' that
What though on hamely fare we dine
Wear hodden grey and a' that?
Gie fools their silks and knaves their wine
A man's a man for a' that
For a' that and a' that
Their tinsel show and a' that
The honest man though e'er sae poor
Is king o' men for a' that
Ye see yon birkie ca'd a lord
Wha struts and stares and a' that
Though hundreds worship at his word
He's but a cuif for a' that
For a' that and a' that
His riband star and a' that
The man o' independent mind
He looks and laughs at a' that
A prince can mak a belted knight
A marquis duke and a' that
But an honest man's aboon his might
Gude faith he mauna fa' that
For a' that and a' that
Their dignities and a' that
The pith o' sense and pride o' worth
Are higher ranks than a' that
Then let us pray that come it may
As come it will for a' that
That sense and worth o'er a' the earth
May bear the gree and a' that
For a' that and a' that
It's coming yet for a' that
That man to man the world o'er
Shall brothers be for a' that