The Complete Burns
Esme Kennedy catches up with The Complete Burns project as it crosses the halfway mark, including a stirring range of poetry readings, alongside several engaging documentaries.
In January 2009, Scotland celebrated the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. Marking this occasion Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Scotland launched The Complete Burns, a major online project in which Scotland's leading actors will record every single Burns poem. In this edition of the Culture Zone Esme Kennedy catches up with The Complete Burns project and looks forward to its culmination. Includes a stirring range of poetry readings, alongside several engaging documentaries.
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Chapters
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The Complete Burns
Janice Forsyth talks to those who devised and started the project, discovering their passion for the poems and the challenges of recording them.
Duration: 27:53
Burns Poems Set One: Politics
This collection, which includes readings from Brian Cox and Robbie Coltrane deals with politics and ideas and reveals Burns’ deep concern with social justice and equality and his love for his country.
Duration: 25:51
The Linguistic Legacy of Robert Burns
Billy Kay heads to Dundee to find out what's left of the Bard’s Scots tongue.
Duration: 27:52
Robert Burns Poems Set Two: Humour
This collection, which includes readings from Robert Carlyle and Alan Cumming, shows off Burns' talent for the comic and the bawdy and reveals his acerbic humour and penchant for rude and lewd topics.
Duration: 25:29
The Essay: Elephant in the Poetry Reading 4
Poet Kathleen Jamie visits the Falls of Bruar, to explore the controversial assertion that Burns changed himself into whatever his audience required of him.
Duration: 14:06
Robert Burns Poems Set Three: Beliefs
This collection, including readings from Richard Wilson and Gary Lewis, deals with religion and belief and displays Burns' mistrust of organised religion and his fascination with the supernatural.
Duration: 42:00
The Essay: Elephant in the Poetry Reading 2
Poet Liz Lochhead discusses the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, and recollects her schoolgirl memories of the bicentenary celebrations in 1959.
Duration: 14:19
Robert Burns Poems Set Four: Relationships
This collection, which includes readings by Jonathan Watson and Clare Grogan deals with relationships, Burns' attitudes and approaches to friendship and brotherhood, fatherhood and marriage.
Duration: 21:36
The Essay: Elephant in the Poetry Reading 3
Poet and acclaimed Robert Burns biographer, Robert Crawford, discusses his use of the Bard's works as a touchstone for the humanity of his own poetry.
Duration: 14:43
Robert Burns Poems Set Five: Romance
This collection, which includes readings by Karen Dunbar and Daniela Nardini, deals with the Bard's amorous affairs. It reveals his fascination with seduction and his beguiling gift for love poetry.
Duration: 24:43
The Essay: Elephant in the Poetry Reading 1
Poet David Kinloch discusses his attitude to Robert Burns' womanising.
Duration: 14:26
Robert Burns Poems Set Six: Reflection
This collection, which includes readings by Midge Ure and Elaine C Smith, covers the Bard’s reflective works and reveals Burns' capacity for capturing the anguish of regret.
Duration: 21:27
The Essay: Elephant in the Poetry Reading 5
Douglas Dunn discusses how Robert Burns' influence changed during the 20th Century.
Duration: 14:07
Robert Burns Poems Set Seven: Nature
This collection, which includes readings by HRH The Prince of Wales and Hannah Gordon covers the natural world and displays Burns's deep passion for Scottish landscapes.
Duration: 27:02
Broadcasts
- Fri 22 Jan 2010 00:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Scotland Extra
- Fri 28 Jan 2011 00:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Scotland
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