The Carrying Stream

This episode’s guest is Robert Crawford, Emeritus Professor at the University of St Andrews and a distinguished poet.We discuss his work, which since the 1980s has played an important role in reshaping our understanding of Scottish literature in more multilingual and multicultural terms. We also speak about his engagement with Robert Burns and T. S. Eliot, as well as his interests in fields as varied as philosophy, computing, and the Japanese haiku. The result is a wide-ranging conversation on literature, influence, and the many directions Scottish writing and scholaship can take.02.20 - Robert's origin story as a scholar of Scottish and English Literatures09.30 - Crawford vs TS Eliot on Scotland's literary tradition15.00 - Scottish literature, multilingualism and pluralism27.30 - Robert's most influential essay: 'Devolving English Literature' (1992)42.00 - Robert's work as an anthologist of Scottish verse and prose 50.45 - Robert answers some of his critics1.01.00 - Robert's biographies of Robert Burns and TS Eliot1.20.00 - Robert's forthcoming book on the Japanese haiku

This episode's guest is Kirsteen McCue, Professor of Scottish Literature and Song Culture at the University of Glasgow. We discuss the origins and history of Scottish folk music, and place particular emphasis on the Romantic era, when songs collected by figures such as Robert Burns became instrumental raw materials in the formation of modern music — from Haydn and Beethoven to the folk revival of the 1960s.2.00 — Kirsteen's upbringing in one of Scotland's most distinguished musical families.11.54 — Song collection in eighteenth-century Scotland (the example of George Thomson) 16.00 — The relationship between Robert Burns and Thomson22.00 — The origins of Scottish folk music28.00 — Scottish music and Enlightenment culture34.50 — Musical Extract: 'O Poortith Cauld' arranged by Weber 38.00 — Scottish music and democratic culture44.00 — Burns, Thomson, Haydn and Beethoven54.00 — Musical Extract: "The Lovely Lass of Inverness", arranged by Beethoven58.00 — The long-term influence of Scottish folk on Romantic and Modern music. 1.06.00 — From Beethoven to Bob Dylan1.15.00 — Kirsteen's current and forthcoming research work. 1.22.00 — A final musical recommendation

This episode's guest is Billy Kay, the Scottish writer, broadcaster and lifelong advocate for the Scots language and the status of its speakers. Our conversation is, of course, in and about Scots, but we also journey further afield from the deep ties between Scotland and France to broader questions of Scotland's global identity. 03:30 – Billy Kay's upbringing as a Scots speaker and his inspiration for his best-selling book, The Mither Tongue. 11:47 – The linguistics and politics of Scots.22:10 – Scots and social class. 35:17 – Billy Kay on his book, The Scottish World. 43:20 – The "Auld Alliance" and the wine trade. 53:09 – Billy Kay's view of the future and poetry reading.

In this introductory episode, Dr Paul Malgrati presents his vision for The Carrying Stream and explains why he is launching a podcast devoted to Scottish words and ideas.Episode 0 sets out the ethos of the project and the kind of long-form conversations the podcast aims to make space for.