[Dixielandjazz] Auld Lang Syne

Mike Woitowicz banjomusic at charter.net
Tue Nov 24 12:14:57 PST 2009


Listmates,

Here's some of the ideas I use for New Year's eve performances at Senior Facilities. I've been doing them for a number of years now, and find that these concepts work pretty well for afternoon shows for seniors.

First of all, I read a short background to the song which I researched. Most audiences don't understand the background of the song and find the information interesting. I've had some good feedback to this idea from audiences. Here's the background I read to the audience:

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"....Auld Lang Syne means ``old long since'' and is adapted from a traditional Scottish folk tune. The basic words date to at least 1711, though some scholars say it was mentioned as early as 1677. Scottish poet Robert Burns is credited with first publishing it, in the mid-1790s, and, researchers say, smoothing out some of the verses and changing the melody.

 

The song recalls the days gone by and says we will always remember them. ``Should auld acquaintance be forgot?'' it asks. No, the chorus replies: ``For auld lang syne (for times gone by), we'll take (drink) a cup o' kindness yet.''

 

It wasn't Burns, however, who turned this misty-eyed tune into a New Year's tradition. That would be Guy Lombardo, who first heard the song in his youth from Scottish immigrants in his hometown of London, Ontario.

 

When Lombardo formed an orchestra with his brother in 1919, they arranged the piece and made it part of their repertoire. For nearly 50 years after that, Guy Lombardo and his orchestra played New Year's Eve radio, and later, television specials from the Waldorf Astoria...."



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Secondly, I print up small handouts (large, bold print) of the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne as follows:

Auld Lang Syne


(Verse One)
Should Auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind ? 
Should Auld acquaintance be forgot, 
For Auld Lang Syne ? 

 

(Chorus)

For Auld Lang Syne, my dear
For Auld Lang Syne, 
We'll take a cup o kindness yet, 
For Auld Lang Syne!

 

(Verse Two)

And here's my hand my trusty friend, 
And where's the hand o' thine 
And we'll take a drink and have a toast, 
For Auld Lang Syne

(Repeat Chorus)





You can print these up 4 to a page and cut them to a small size for handouts. People like to keep them as souvenirs, and now I'm finding they're bringing them back to subsequent New Year's gigs. I put my phone number and website info on the bottom of the page. 



We play it real slow, in the key of F which seems to work for us. 



The beauty of this technique is that you don't have to be a strong lead singer. Just get them started and they will sing off of the song sheet.



Just a couple of ideas. Hope this helps.



 

Mike Woitowicz
The Banjo Barons Ragtime Band
The Dixie Barons Dixieland Band
Solo Banjo Shows
www.banjomusic.biz


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