The original handwritten manuscript of arguably the world’s most famous song – Auld Lang Syne – is to go on display in New York as part of the Scotland Week 2008 celebrations.
Written circa 1788 by Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, Auld Lang Syne is a song standard around the world at New Year and will help bolster not only Scotland Week but also the promotional efforts for Homecoming Scotland 2009.
Normally displayed in Glasgow’s Mitchell Library, the priceless Burns manuscript will be on show from March 31 until April 4 at the prestigious Grolier Club on Manhattan’s East 60th Street where the library is open to the public from 10am until 5pm. Then on Sunday, April 6 it will be on show at the New York Public Library to accompany a lecture by the Head of Libraries at Culture & Sport Glasgow entitled “Should auld acquaintance be forgot” Auld Lang Syne and other treasures of The Mitchell Burns Collection.
Auld Lang Syne literally means “old long since”, or colloquially “the good old days” and the song’s five stanzas invite the rekindling of friendships long since past - a sentiment that perfectly sums up the spirit of Scotland’s Homecoming 2009.
To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, 2009 has been designated Scotland’s Homecoming year – celebrating Scotland’s unique position as the home of Burns, golf, whisky, the Enlightenment and innovation. And there is a special invitation to people of Scots descent to return ‘home’ and trace their ancestry.
The manuscript of Auld Lang Syne that will be on display in New York usually resides within the Robert Burns Collection at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, which, at 4,000 exhibits, is the largest collection of its kind in the world.
The manuscript was acquired for the Collection at Christie’s in New York in 1998, and is one of only six remaining in the world scribed by Robert Burns himself.
Homecoming Scotland 2009 aims to motivate people of Scottish descent, as well as those who simply love Scotland, to come home in 2009 and take part in an inspirational celebration of our culture, heritage and the many great contributions Scotland has given to the world.
2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, with the programme's design guided by Scotland's unique position as the home of Burns, golf, whisky, the Enlightenment and innovation, and of course as the ancestral home of millions of people of Scots descent worldwide.
More than 180 funding applications have been received for Homecoming Scotland’s £1 million themed events programme. The budget for Homecoming is £5 million and the target is for an 8 to 1 return on investment i.e. £40 million revenue additionality.
Scotland Week, meanwhile, which runs from 31 March to 6 April, will showcase Scotland’s academic reputation, business expertise and cultural success on the world stage.
Events are taking place in seven cities across North America which will highlight Scotland as a dynamic market with great investment potential, showcase Scotland’s outstanding academic reputation and global cultural success.
Scotland Week is not just about one week of events - it’s about the relationships and interest that will grow throughout the year fostering real prosperity for Scotland
VisitScotland’s activities are an integral part of Scotland Week promoting tourism and profiling Scotland as a must-see, must-visit destination. Homecoming Scotland will be at the heart of all of VisitScotland’s Scotland Week marketing and public relations.
There will also be a range of events taking place in New York such as live performances by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers to cookery demos with Scottish Chef of the Year 2007 Tom Kitchin.
