England lays claim to `Auld Lang Syne' tune traced
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.ROBERT BURNS wrote the words to the New Year anthem Auld Lang Syne, but the music was by the 18th century English composer William Shield, according to new evidence.
Shield, who was born in 1748 in Swalwell, south of the Tyne, wrote an operatic piece called Rosina, the story of a country girl. The original score turned up in Gateshead public library, and was passed to a local musical director who found the melody near the end.
Chris Stewart, of the BBC's Look North television programme, who made the discovery, said a letter that Burns wrote in 1788 revealed he had taken his lead for Auld Lang Syne from a "man's singing".
Gateshead council now wants Auld Lang Syne recognised as a local tune in time for the millennium celebrations. Sid Henderson, the council's chairman of libraries and arts, said: "Come New Year's Eve 2000, millions of people across the globe will be singing along to the tune [Shield] wrote."
Mr Stewart said: "It's certainly controversial and could help put Gateshead on the musical map, even though the claim to fame won't go down too well north of the border."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments