The Herald today announces details of a major international competition to find a new Song for Scotland.
After the huge response to our national anthem telephone poll in January we are today inviting composers, songwriters, schools, and anyone else interested to take part in a contest to mark the millennium and the establishment of the first Scottish Parliament in almost three centuries.
A prize of #5000 and a special trophy produced by Caithness Glass's finest craftsmen will go to the winner. Schools participation is being encouraged and pupils and/or their schools and teachers will also qualify for #1000 in vouchers.
The closing date for entries will be St Andrew's Day, November 30. There will be special performances of leading entries in the New Year and the winner will be announced on Burns Night, January 25, 1999. The competition is backed by Scotland the Brand, which is endorsed by many leading Scottish businesses.
The Herald's survey of public opinion earlier this year provoked the biggest response to any subject in years beyond the question of the Scottish Parliament itself. Reaction, almost all of it positive, filled the correspondence columns for weeks and drew 6000 callers to a hotline offering a choice of existing favourite songs as an anthem plus the chance to vote for a new song entirely. Plainly, the question of a national song or anthem is a topic that continues to generate passion in Scotland. Readers sent in letters, tapes, compact discs, sheet music, and verse. There were also E-mail messages from around the world where the phone-in was followed on the Internet, while some of the more eager serenaded Herald staff on the telephone with suggestions. (Those who have already sent cassettes, discs, and sheet music will have them considered although it would help their cause to follow the guidelines
published today for acquiring a registration number for entries.) The result of our poll suggested that Flower of Scotland by the late Roy Williamson of the Corries was the nation's favourite, but only 39% approved of giving it official status as a national anthem. Almost as many wanted a brand new song. In the absence of clear majority support for an existing song The Herald is now keeping its promise to commission a new work. The winner's future status will be for public opinion to decide. Rules are explained inside but the basic idea is simple: the song should be original work lasting about three to three-and-a-half minutes (and no longer than five). Judges will favour songs suitable for the pipes (which Flower of Scotland is not). The work should be capable of being sung solo and unaccompanied in Scots, English, or Gaelic. It should reflect the spirit of renewal in Scotland as the Parliament
and the millennium beckon.
The Editor will appoint a panel of judges and there will be an option to involve the public at a later stage. Details on The Herald's website at
www.theherald.co.uk
Entry coupon - page 6
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