SOKS Burns Night 2009

**McMurdo** · 10th August 08, 12:06 PM

I was thinking it is about time we started talking about Burns Night 2009, hopefully Reverend Kevin will see this, am I right in assuming we would like to keep the dinner at the Scottish Rite in Hamilton if possible?

One thing I would like to make clear is that this year I would like to ensure that someone else does the Immortal Memory speech, to that end I would like to announce that I will be reciting Tam O'Shanter I was talking to Peter about it at Fergus and he may do the Immortal Memory, but I'd like to know so that all positions are covered and then of course there are those little parts that are never planned.

So does anyone have any thoughts on this?

**Wompet** · 14th August 08, 09:05 AM

I'll volunteer to do a poem or two.

**The F-H.C.A.G.** · 14th August 08, 08:09 PM

Are you actually going to recite the ENTIRE Tam O'Shanter? Or are you going to recite part of it and read the rest? Isn't it several PAGES long?

I recited 15 stanzas last year (not Tam O'Shanter, rather John Barleycorn) and I feel very proud of myself. I don't think I could do 5 or 6 PAGES (maybe 80 stanzas or so?).

Be well,

**McMurdo** · 15th August 08, 02:12 AM

Well I am going to try and recite it all, I've been trying to read it once a day in preparation, it has been done before.

**Sheep In Wolf's Clothing** · 15th August 08, 05:34 AM

Originally Posted by McMurdo

Well I am going to try and recite it all, I've been trying to read it once a day in preparation, it has been done before.

Now that would be neat to hear!!
Sara

**McMurdo** · 15th August 08, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by Sheep In Wolf's Clothing

Now that would be neat to hear!!
Sara

Perhaps we can record it.

**SexyButler** · 15th August 08, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by McMurdo

Well I am going to try and recite it all, I've been trying to read it once a day in preparation, it has been done before.

If anyone can do it, you can Glen!

**Panache** · 15th August 08, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by McMurdo

Well I am going to try and recite it all, I've been trying to read it once a day in preparation, it has been done before.

Glen,

Check with Todd and some of our other more experienced Burns' Supper veterans, while fuly memorizing Tam O'Shanter is something to be very proud of it might be best to start the poem, do a bit of summation in the middle, and finish with recitiing the exciting conclusion. It is a long poem and you want to keep your audience's attention.

Cheers

Jamie

**McMurdo** · 15th August 08, 09:55 AM

Good idea Jamie, however if Burns does not demand the audiences attention on Burns night then what does? I have not discounted reading it from a book, however I should like to recite it if at all possible.

**macwilkin** · 15th August 08, 11:28 AM

Glen,

A tip o' the bonnet to you for your efforts to learn Tam O'Shanter.

Jamie -- I have to disagree -- when recited from memory, Tam O'Shanter is very impressive and will hold an audience's attention, believe you me. My best friend Mark learned it several years ago, and his dramatization of Tam's wild ride never fails to keep people on the edge of their seats -- Mark, like many who present the program, puts in his own little touches, acting out various scenes, etc., instead of just reciting the poem.

Glen, I'll recommend a DVD to you -- www.robertburnslive.co.uk -- Chris Tait, a noted Burns impersonator, does one heckuva Tam O'Shanter -- I had the pleasure and good fortune to see Chris "live" in 2004 when he visited Springfield, and while the DVD is great, the real thing is impressive.

It's a pity more folks don't memorize poetry -- it used to be that everybody had their "party piece", be it a poem, song, and so forth.

Regards,

Todd