Far Far from Ypres is a Double CD featuring world war 1 music and songs. A tribute to all the soldiers from the home countries, their Commonwealth brothers in arms from across of the globe who together fought, suffered and in so many cases died in the Great War. There is also a Scottish perspective to Far Far from Ypres, more probably than any of previous world war 1 music recordings. When one considers that Scotland suffered the most soldiers killed (per head of population) of any nation that fought in the conflict, such an album is greatly overdue. It is likely that the songs, poems and music of WW1 have never before been covered in such depth.
CD1: Soldiers’ trench and marching songs, music hall favourites of the time, Harry Lauder's wonderful anthem 'Keep Right on to the end of the Road', a pipe band track consisting of tunes associated with Scottish regiments, the poignant Flowers of The Forest and The Last Post. Twenty-seven soldiers’ songs and six music hall songs (recorded and produced by Ian McCalman).
CD2: Comprises a pipe band track of tunes named after some of the major battles of world war 1, world war 1 songs, or strongly connected with that war, by such songwriters as Judy Small, Alan Bell, Eric Bogle, Dick Gaughan, Jim Malcolm, and the late Davy Steele. The BBC Radio Scotland presenter Iain Anderson reads three poems. Some of the writers perform their own songs on the album but there are also contributions from The Corries, The McCalmans, Malinky, Sheena Wellington and Karine Polwart, Steven Palmer, Robin Laing and Gaelic singer Donny MacLeod.
The pipers and drummers on both Far Far from Ypres CDs are from The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming.
The excellent sleeve notes are by Des Brogan and Jim Paris. Des is Managing Director of Mercat Tours International, who specialise in tours of both WW1 and WW2 cemeteries and battlefields. Jim Paris is a Mercat Tours Battlefield Guide.
Media Reviews
The Scotsman
THIS thoughtfully constructed but rather specialised double CD set documents songs, poems and pipe music from the First World War. It is intended as a tribute to soldiers of the UK and Commonwealth who fought and died in the battlefields of Europe, with a strong but not exclusively Scottish slant. Disc one features The Scottish Pals Singers (essentially the McCalmans and friends) performing songs sung by the troops and music hall pieces. Disc two draws on songs about the war by the likes of Eric Bogle, Dick Gaughan and The McCalmans....Kenny Mathieson.. http://www.scotsman.com
Scotland on Sunday
This labour of love and respect organised by Greentrax boss Ian Green and his wife brings a double CD of more than 50 tracks of song, spoken word and pipe music all originating in, or derived from, the colossal calamity of the Great War. CD1 has the 'Scottish Pals' singers and musicians collective, who run through dozens of soldiers' trench songs and music hall pieces to powerful, understated effect, while the less successful CD2 has tracks already extant on albums by the likes of Eric Bogle, the Corries, Jim Malcolm and Malinky, with a Gaelic contribution by Donny MacLeod. The stand-out track is an original, a cappella-over-drones song by emerging Scots writer Steven Palmer....Norman Cahlmers http://www.scotsman.com
Lest we forget
..The overall strength of this CD lies in its variety and the content is delivered with skill and sensitivity, by as talented a crew as you could hope for..Geordie McIntyre.
Customer Reviews
Far, far from Ypres Morag
Containing powerful, poignant and entertaining performances, these CDs are a valuable collection of WW1 music. Excellent sleeve notes educate and set the scene. The enthusiasm of all contributors and performers shines through. One to enjoy with a glass of one of our national drinks, perhaps.
Far far from Ypres Alister
I was completely blown away by the sincerity and feeling in this double CD. Simply a magnificent tribute to the men and women of two generations ago who gave so much. The songs of the time translate so well to the present day that they seem to bring those dark days of 1914-18 so close to our time Congratulations to everyone involved in its compilation