Lure o the Leid
By Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland
A new podcast by Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland featuring stories told in the Scots language by some of the best storytellers in Scotland.
Music - 'Our Story' by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
All content copyright of Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland 2022
Lure o the LeidApr 19, 2023
Lure o the Leid Episode 4 - James Spence
Welcome tae oor podcast, Lure o the Leid, featurin stories telt in the Scots leid by some ae Scotland's best spinners o yarns. This episode, we hae a story fae the Borders, telt by James Spence.
This is the story o Thomas Learmonth, Thomas the Rhymer, whae fancies hissel as a bit o a wandrin minstrel. Smitten bae a kiss, hae lands up gaun oan a journey ferr ferther than hae bargained fur. A journey that, in the hinnerend, turns him intae a legend.
This is the story of Thomas Learmonth, Thomas the Rhymer, who fancied himself as a bit of a wandering minstrel. Captivated by a kiss, he ends up going on a journey far further than he bargained for. A journey that, in the end, turns him into a legend.
James grew up in Jethart [Jedburgh], an last year, efter bein away in Edinburgh fur 40 year, he went back hame tae the pliss that inspires yit. His fither wus a great storyteller, but nivver wud’ve referred tae hissel as sich. Hae yissed tae huv iz fair away wi it wi stories aboot local cherecters. Whin James first stertit tellin heez stories, yince hae’d gotten furgetfu, he wud hear heez voice in ma heid, teachin iz the soond an timin. He still lairns frae storytellers in this wey, whither they’re alive or deid. Later oan, James became a student o the great traiveller storyteller, Stanley Robertson, getherin monie o heez stories an a bit o heez wisdom along the wey. As weel as writin a raiglar storytellin column fur the local paper, he also rins a monthly storytellin night in Jethart. He leads wurkshops oan how tae finnd an set loose yer ain stories. He wrote Scottish Borders Folk Tales a pickle year back.
James grew up in Jedburgh, and last year, after being away in Edinburgh for 40 years, he moved back home to the place that inspires him. His father was a great storyteller, but never would have referred to himself as such. He used to take him far away with his telling of stories about local characters. When James first started telling stories, once his father has grown forgetful, he would hear his father's voice in his head, teaching him the sound and timing of the stories. James still learns from storytellers in this way, whether they're alive or dead. Later on, James became a student of the great traveller storyteller, Stanley Robertson, gathering many of his stories and a bit of his wisdom along the way. As well as writing a regular storytelling column for the local paper, James also runs a monthly storytelling night in Jedburgh. He leads workshops on how to find and set loose your own stories. He wrote Scottish Borders Folk Tales for the History Press a few years ago.
Find oot mair aboot James here - https://tracscotland.org/storytellers/james-spence/ & https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/scottish-borders-folk-tales/9780750961387/
Funded, recorded and produced by Airts an Tradeetions Scotland/Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland © TRACS 2022
Lure o the Leid Episode 3 - Tom Muir
Welcome to oor podcast, Lure o the Leid, featurin stories telt in the Scots leid by some ae Scotland's best spinners o yarns. This episode, we hae a story frae Orkney, telt bi Tom Muir.
The White Horse o Clumly is a ghost story frae near Sandwick in Orkney aboot twa freens wha fall oot wi een anither ower a young lady and thi terrible events that follow.
Tom Muir was born by the sea in the Orkney Islands and has spent most of his life resurrecting Orkney's forgotten folk tales so that they can be told again. Find oot mair aboot Tom here - https://www.orkneyology.com/ & https://tracscotland.org/storytellers/tom-muir/
Funded, recorded and produced by Airts an Tradeetions Scotland/ Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland © TRACS 2022
Lure o the Leid Episode 2 - Sheila Kinninmonth
Welcome to oor new podcast, Lure o the Leid, featurin stories telt in the Scots leid by some ae Scotland's best spinners o yarns. This episode, we hae twa stories frae Fife, telt bi Sheila Kinninmonth.
The first story is Three Heids in the Well. Its wan o the first stories A mind ma granny tellin me. A teepical tradeetional fairy tale wi kings, queens, princesses an wickit stepmithers and a trip tae the well. A've been telt it comes frae Fife but A've heard tell o versions frae either countries tae.
The second story, the Guidwife O Auchtermuchty, is a story taen frae a poem or ballad frae the 16th century. Naebody kens wha screived it. It''s aboot a fairmer wha thinks his wife haes an easier time so decides tae swap places wi her. She gets oan braw at the plooin, but he disnae dae sae weel and concludes that wimin's wark is nae fer him.
Three Heads in the Well is one of the first stories I remember my granny telling me. It's a typical traditional fairy tale with kings, queens, princesses, a wicked stepmother and trip to the well. I've been told it comes from Fife, but I've heard versions from other countries too.
The second story, The Goodwife of Auchtermuchty, is a story based on a poem or ballad dating from the 16th century. No-one knows who wrote it. It's about a farmer who thinks his wife has an easier life and so persuades her to swap places with him. She has a successful day at the ploughing but he doesn't get on so well and decides woman's work isn't for him.
Sheila wis born, brocht up and still bides in Fife. She retired ten years syne efter wirkin wi bairns in nurseries for thirty years. Her faimly telt stories and she foond hersel telling stories naitural in wark, afore findin the Storytelling Centre which alloued her tae tak her tellin tae anither level and a bigger audience, adults as weel as bairns. Sheila's pairt o Blether Tay-gither, the Dundee Storytelling group and the Fife group, Lang Spoon Tales. Sheila parteecularly like tellin Scottish tales, in the Scots leid if she can. Wirkin on the History Press' Fife Folk Tales unlocked a passion fer digging up local tales and sharin them wi local folk and keepin them gaun.
Sheila was born, brought up and still stays in Fife. She retired 10 years ago after working with children in nurseries for 30 years. Her family told stories and she found herself telling stories quite naturally at work before discovering the Storytelling Centre which allowed her to take her storytelling to another level and a wider audience, telling stories to adults as well as children. Sheila's involved with Blether Tay-gither, the Dundee storytelling group and the Fife group, Lang Spoon Tales. Sheila particularly likes telling Scottish tales in Scots if she can. Working on the History Press' Fife Folk Tales unlocked a passion for digging up local stories and sharing them with local people to keep them alive.
Find oot mair aboot Sheila here - https://tracscotland.org/storytellers/sheila-kinninmonth/ & Hame Spun Tales website & Hame Spun Tales Facebook page
Funded, recorded and produced by Airts an Tradeetions Scotland/ Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland © TRACS 2022
Lure o the Leid Episode 1 - Jackie Ross
Welcome to oor new podcast, Lure o the Leid, featurin stories telt in the Scots leid by some ae Scotland's best spinners o yarns. This episode, we hae twa stories in the Doric, telt bi Jackie Ross.
E Kinker Kelpie is a gye speecial tale aboot a kelpie cos it turns oot different fae ither kelpie tales - sae I winna spyle e endin bi tellin ye ower muckle aboot it! Bit it's a wee story aboot e day e boatman fae Kinker met a kelpie. E story o e Blelack Faeries tells fou e wee folk were cast oot o Logie Coildstone an fit happened tae e men fae daed e deed.
The Kinker Kelpie is a very special tale about a kelpie because it ends differently from most kelpie tales - but I won't spoil it by telling you too much about it! Simply, it's a small story about the day the boatman at Kincardine O' Neil met a water spirit. The story of the Blelack faeries tells how the Little People were cast out of Logie Coldstone and what happened to the men who did the deed.
Jackie likes tae tell stories in her mither tongue (Doric), eesepcially local tales aboot e wee folk or giants or fou things cam tae be e wye they are. She likes tae tell in aa kines o places; fae wids tae castles, fae skweels tae care hames, an tae aa ages; fae bairns tae grunnies an grandas an aabdy inatween!
Jackie likes to tell stories in her mother language (North-east Scots), especially local tales about the little people or giants or how things came to be the way they are. She likes to tall in all sorts of places; from woods to castles, from schools to care homes and to all ages; from children to grandmothers and grandfathers and everybody in between!
Find oot mair aboot Jackie here - https://www.facebook.com/jackietales3 & https://tracscotland.org/storytellers/jackie-ross/
Funded, recorded and produced by Airts an Tradeetions Scotland/ Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland © TRACS 2022