Questions:

• Do you recognise any of the songs? Try to find out their origins.
• Why do you think these songs survived for so long?
• Most of the people in film are poor. Do they appear to feel sorry for themselves?
• What atmosphere does the music create and how (think about lyrics, instruments, tempo, key etc.)?
• What different instruments can you hear?
• Do you know any traditional songs which are still sung to babies and children?
• How many different forms of children's entertainment can you see? How many are still common today?

Activities:

Media Studies / Music: Import the film into editing software and remove the sound. Create a new soundtrack and/or voiceover which changes the atmosphere of the film.

History / Music / English: Find out about the traditional ballad forms. Write a ballad about life in modern Scotland.

Music: Find out more about modern artists who use traditional Scottish elements in their music and lyrics (e.g. Proclaimers, Idlewild, Eddie Reader, Malcolm Middleton, Karine Polwart).

Record details

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