UNIT 5
LET'S GO TO PLAY ________________________________________________________________________________________

LESSON ONE

Flower of Scotland
by The Corries

 

This song was originally written by Roy Williamson in the 1960' in the Scottish Band The Corries and has been considered as the unofficial Scottish National Anthem. It commemorates the Scottish Army victory of the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Robert I (the Bruce) King of the Scots defeated Edward II, King of England ending with the English rule of Scotland.

Tale. There are different versions about how the thistle became Scotland's symbol. The most popular story is around 1263 when the King of Norway decided to carry on a campaing againts the Scots. There were some battles.

The Scots knew the highlands very well so they dedided to have a rest in a field surrounded by thistles. The Norsemen, wanted to attack the Scots by night and in order not to make noise, they took off their boots. Then they stepped into the field of the prickly flower with their barefeet. They cried out in pain. The Scots were alerted to the invaders and were able to defeat them. After that, the thistle became the symbol of Scotland.

Activity 1

Follow these instructions:

1. Read once the lyrics and try to guess the meaning of the whole text
2. Look for those words you don't know in the dictionary
3. Write the translation in the box on the right
4. Compare with your partner.

FLOWER OF SCOTLAND 1. O Flower of Scotland, When will we see your like again That fought and died for Your wee bit hill and glen 2. And stood against him, Proud Edward's army And sent him homeward To think again. 3. The hills are bare now, And autumn leaves lie thick and still O'er land that is lost now, Which those so dearly held 4. That stood against him, Proud Edward's army And sent him homeward To think again. 5. Those days are past now And in the past they must remain But we can still rise now And be the nation again. 6. That stood against him Proud Edward's army And sent him homeward To think again.

Activity 2

Now, read again the lyrics and try to answer these questions:

             a. What part of the text do you think is more emotive and why?
             b. What resources would you use, from the box below, to emphasize that part of the                  text and where?

Pianissimo	Piano	Forte	Fortissimo	Instruments
Crescendo	Diminuendo	Contrast	Accelerando	A capella

c. Compare with your partner, using this pattern:

ENGLISH PATTERN

I would put a Fortissimo in each chorus I would put a Crescendo a the end of the second verse I would use instruments I would sing this song A Capella

 

 d.  Listen to this version and compare with you had thought
Teachers' guide

 e. Listen to these different versions. Which of them do you like the most?

 

Activity 3

Listen to the song again and place the chords in the right place. These are the chords used in this piece.
Teachers' guide

 

verse: G G D D G G (C) G G D G (D)

chorus: G G (C) G G (C) G G (F) G G

First of all, underline the syllables accented and afterwards place the chords. The three first accented syllables are done for you. They are in bold.

 

FLOWER OF SCOTLAND
1. O Flower of Scotland, When will we see your like again That fought and died for Your wee bit hill and glen 2. The hills are bare now, And autumn leaves lie thick and still O'er land that is lost now, Which those so dearly held 3. Those days are past now And in the past they must remain But we can still rise now And be the nation again.	CHORUS And stood against him, Proud Edward's army And sent him homeward To think again.

 

Let's go to play this song

Activity 4

Write the words you are able to remember with no help.

 

Music words	Translation		Non music words	Translation