canasg choral music publishing - Cauld Blaws The Wind

SG1005

Cauld blaws the wind

based on a poem by Robert Burns (1759-1796)

set to music by Sheena Phillips
for soprano, alto, tenor and bass chorus

SATB performance time approx 2m 40s

Composer's note

This is a setting of a poem by Robert Burns (1759-1796), probably Scotland's most widely known poet. It's a good piece for the start of a winter programme - brisk and energetic and quite short, with a folk feel. Other tunes exist; this one is original and has won a prize in a tune-writing competition.

Alto, tenor and bass parts play the part of the wind, setting the wintry tone of the piece from the very beginning. The phrase 'cauld blaws the wind' can be sung quite breathily - as if shivering - and the wind can also be portrayed through the hummed effect of the long 'n' in the word 'wind' wherever it occurs. The soprano line takes the tune, and needs to be strong enough to carry across the wind!

The choruses build up quite naturally through the addition of the different voice parts to the phrase 'I'm sure it's winter fairly'. To fill the piece out a little, I would recommend repeating the final chorus (pianissimo e morendo). The whole piece should swing. It's not hard, though the cross-rhythms between S and A/T/B in the verses take a little getting used to.

Music

See a sample of the music

You need Acrobat Reader on your computer to see music pages. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, go to our 'links' page to find out how to get it free of charge. (You'll have to go back to the catalogue page first).

Hear a MIDI file of the song

Words

verse 1
Cauld blaws the wind frae east to wast,

[wast ~ west]
The drift is driving sairly;

[drift ~ wind-driven snow]
Sae loud and shrill's I hear the blast,
I'm sure it's winter fairly.

chorus
Up in the morning's no' for me,
Up in the morning early;
When a' the hills are covered wi' snaw, [a' ~ all, wi' snaw ~ with snow]
I'm sure it's winter fairly.

verse 2
The birds sit chittering in the thorn, [chittering ~ shivering]
A' day they fare but sparely;
And lang's the night frae e'en to morn, [frae ~ from]
I'm sure it's winter fairly.

Robert Burns (1759-1796)
(often published under the title 'Up in the morning')

Price per copy Ł1.30 ($2.00)

Note: This price is for the first 20 licensed copies of the song, further copies cost only 25% of this price.

Companion pieces

Browse the Scots and Gaelic section of the Canasg catalogue for more songs like this one. To go there now, click on the 'catalogue' box to the right.

Canasg Music