program notes by composition > O > Old Scottish Melody (Auld Lang Syne)
Old Scottish Melody (Auld Lang Syne)
arr. Charles A. Wiley
Old Scottish Melody (“Auld Lang Syne”) is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns (1759-1796) and set to the tune of a traditional folk song. One of the better-known songs in English-speaking countries, it is often sung at the stroke of midnight before New Year's Day. Like many other frequently sung songs, the melody is better remembered than the words, which are often sung incorrectly, and seldom in full. The title translates into English idiomatically as 'long ago', or 'old times'.
This setting is by Charles A. Wiley, longtime band director at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.
Last updated on March 8, 2020 by Palatine Concert Band