The Laird O’Cockpen

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Getting Ready

This weekend we have been rehearsing with Scottish Opera Connect for the coming production of “The Walk From The Garden”. It has been fantastic to practice alongside the string quartet today and the excitement of feeling it all to come together makes it all so worthwhile.

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My Score From Today’s Sitzprobe Rehearsal

Over the last few weeks I have been totally absorbed with several projects; learning the music and lyrics for our Chamber Choir performance on April 17th playing catch up because I’d missed a couple of rehearsals due to Dido, seeing all the aspects of “The Walk From The Garden” take shape and learning the music and dance routines as member of the chorus of “Sir John In Love” I have enjoyed being put through my paces.

For tonight’s post I wanted to leave you with the last of the songs from my album, “The Laird O’Cockpen”. This humorous Scottish folk song was written by Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne ( 1766 – 1845 ). She wrote several beautiful songs which have become thought of as traditional Scottish songs. As the daughter of a staunchly Jacobite family she often wrote in sympathy of the cause, setting her songs to old established tunes.

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The Laird O’Cockpen – A Painting By Watson Gordon

Following her marriage to Major William Murray Naine she moved to Edinburgh becoming Lady Nairne. Whilst in Edinburgh she carried on writing her songs under a pseudonym as it was considered a “queer trade” for a titled Lady. The songs were kept secret from her husband and her work “Lays From Strathearn” was eventually published in her own name in 1946 after her death.

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Carolina Oliphant ( 1766 – 1845 )

The Laird o’ Cockpen

The laird o’ Cockpen, he’s proud an’ he’s great,
His mind is ta’en up wi’ the things o’ the State;
He wanted a wife, a braw house to keep,
But favour wi’ wooin’ was fashious to seek.

By the dyke-side a lady did dwell,
At feast he give he thocht she’d look well,
M’Leish’s ae dochter o’ Clavers-ha’ Lea,
A penniless lass wi’ a lang pedigree.

His wig was weel pouther’d and as gude as new,
His waistcoat was white, his coat it was blue;
He put on a ring, a sword, and cock’d hat,
And wha could refuse the laird wi’ a’ that?

He took his grey mare, and rade cannily,
And rapp’d at the yett o’ Clavers-ha’ Lea;
‘Gae tell Mistress Jean to come speedily ben, –
She’s want to speak with the laird o’ Cockpen.’

Mistress Jean she was makin’ the elderflower wine;
‘An’ what brings the laird at sic a like time?’
She aff her apron, and on her silk goun,
Her mutch wi’ red ribbons, and gaed awa’ doun.

An’ when she cam’ ben, he bowed fu’ low,
An’ what was his errand he soon let her know;
Amazed was the laird when the lady said ‘Na’,
And wi’ a curtsie she turned and awa’.

Dumfounder’d was he, nae sigh did he gie,
He mounted his mare – he rade cannily;
An’ aften he thought, as he gaed through the glen,
She’s daft to refuse the laird o’ Cockpen.
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Over the last couple of months I have been asked a couple of times if I have any CDs for sale rather than having to download the tracks from Amazon or iTunes. I do have about 30 that I have signed so my Dad has added a page to my blog where you can order one from (link).  

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Now Available As A CD To Buy From My Store

61 thoughts on “The Laird O’Cockpen”

  1. I know that Walk From The Garden will be a great success Charlotte, and I am keeping you in my prayers, that this will lead to many opportunities for you, and this will be for the glory of God. May the Lord bless you richly.

    Reply

  2. And anyone would be daft to not enjoy that! I love the way you can be delightfully theatrical without losing your vocal presentation. Brava!

    Reply

  4. Eager to see and hear you next month. Thank you for your detailed each track cd …. Bravo for all the work you do in keeping your smile and your kindness. All the best for You !!

    Reply

    1. Haha 😊 he’s learning as we go along and best of all he does it for love 😍, he made me a website and does all the technical things like videos I’m very lucky.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  7. This song is quite witty, I think, and the lady sorts this vainglorious guy out very well.
    It wasn’t so easy for women composers then, as you say. Fanny Mendelssohn had problems with Felix, as did Amy Beach with Dr Beach, only blossoming when he passed on. Too bad!

    Reply

  8. I cannot wait to see you perform in April, very exciting! Your such a busy lady lately, I don’t know where you get your energy from. I love the Laird o’Cockpen brilliant, see you soon. Xx

    Reply

    1. You can join in with me now 🙂 I need to learn a suitable Welsh folk song to put in my repertoire to have a complete four nations of the UK program.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply
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  15. Very nicely done. I thought you showed great control and precision. Naturally, I appreciated the dialect of my ancestors. 🙂 Apparently, as Robbie Burns might say, a lady’s a lady for a’ that. Too bad about her forlorn hope for the “king across the water.”

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  17. She turned him down, huh? Sad. Let this be a lesson to all gentlemen that strength without humility can make you a lonely man. Besides, she can’t be more daft than Jack Sparrow.

    In this song/video, I see you more as an actress in a musical telling the audience a story. An actress who can sing..yep. It was funny how you sung, “Na.” 🙂 Like..wow, she just dropped him right there didn’t she.

    Reply

    1. I don’t think men should take rejection too badly, its best to ask than not ask and wonder what could have been, she may have just had her eye on someone else :).
      I chose to study in the Performance academy at my High School and took drama for five years up to 18. I try to get to as many plays and performances at school as possible.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  19. Oh my dear! Thank-you so much for the pretty card! I have received your CD and have played it through a couple of times. I love it all but I think my favourites are Rusalka’s Song to the Moon and the beautiful Scots Song by MacMillan. Your voice is really powerful – just right for opera! – but you are also able to sing the gentle Scots Song too. I wish you all the best in your chosen career and hope you are able to save enough money to continue with your training. You work so hard, I really think you deserve to succeed. Clare xx

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  25. What an enjoyment to listen to you performing while having the lyrics of the song in front of me!I think I could feel the intensity of your voice better,Charlotte Dear!
    The story behind the Lady reminded me of “George Eliot” (Mary Ann Evans),in a way …
    What a pity she didn’t see her poems published in her own name while still in life …
    Have a wonderful day filled with joy and sunshine 🙂 , Doda ღ ღ ღ

    Reply

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