As we’ve been performing it recently, Amy and I thought we’d share a recording we made back at the end of January of my arrangement of ‘Afton Water.’

The original poem by Robert Burns was set to music by American composer, Jonathan E. Spilman in 1837. Burns begins by praising the river Afton, before turning our attention to Mary, his muse, who has fallen asleep upon its banks. In the second verse, the noise of wild birds threaten to disturb Mary’s sleep, before the lights dims in the third verse, and the haze of sunset colours the scene. The poem, and the music, finally return to the atmosphere of the opening.

(Thankfully the camera was able to capture potentially the most clumsy / dramatic page turn of my life in the second verse!)

Recorded live at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Ledger Recital Room). On Burns' Night, 25th of January, 2022.