Westlin Weavers News -- 2004 Archive
January 1, 2004 -- The Westlin Weavers rang in the New Year with a free download as a Hogmanay/New Year's gift to friends of Scotland and Scots independence.
"The Free Soil of Scotland" was written in honor of Tartan Day, an event that takes place every April 6th in commemoration of the signing in 1320 of Scotland's own declaration of independence, the Declaration of Arbroath. The song is available free of charge as a 1.6 MB mp3 download.
Singer/songwriter Jeanne McDougall wrote the song, inspired both by Arbroath and by the "voices of freedom" that continue to ring from Scotland across the miles and ages. Her hope is that the song will add to the dialogue about Scots self-determination, and encourage others to write from their experiences.
More information about the song, the story behind it, the Declaration of Arbroath, and the download itself is available at www.westlinweavers.com/music.freesoil.htm
Joining Jeanne on the recording are fellow Westlin Weavers Patric Petrie on fiddle and Alex McDougall on bodhran. Two other guest musicians appear on the recording: Eli Fugate, San Diego's own world champion Scots snare drummer who has appear in performance with the band, and local musician and studio owner Pete Harrison on bass.
The download and its accompanying sheet music are intended to be available free of charge indefinitely, data transfer limitations permitting, and any proceeds that derive from commercial uses of the song will be donated to a Scottish not-for-profit to be determined at the time that funds are generated. Jeanne welcomes suggestions!
The Westlin Weavers are: Jeanne McDougall on guitar, recorders, dulcimers and vocals; Patric Petrie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals; and Alex McDougall on percussion and vocals.