This double CD, selling for the price of a single album, is a companion to The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry and is released at the request of Dr Gordon Prestoungrange, who commissioned the tapestry.

The Tapestry was designed by the quite remarkable artist Andrew Crummy and stitched by numerous volunteers. The album consists of 39 tracks selected from the Greentrax back-catalogue, others licensed from various record companies around the world and several recorded specially for this compilation.

Scotland’s diaspora across the world was predominantly created by warriors, traders, missionaries, medical experts and farmers. And of course there were also large groups that were driven off the Highlands by landlords or by the rigours of unemployment to seek jobs and new homes. Their descendants today number 30 million and more, not counting England where the impact has been enormous. This eclectic mix results in a quite unique collection.

The tracks are as diverse as: the Canadian song Scarborough Settler’s Lament by the late, great Stan Rogers</b>; an Australian aboriginal recording of Waltzing Matilda (titled ‘Waljim Bat Matilda’, sung in Kriol); a Bengali version of Auld Lang Syne (a song which has been translated into numerous languages) plus the Scots recording by The Cast of this popular Robert Burns’ song which was part of the soundtrack of Sex And The City</i>; The Corby Song (written by an unemployed Scotsman who followed employment to the steelworks in Corby) and sung by George Galbraith</b>; a specially composed and recorded piece, Le Campagne di Barga (The Bells of Barga) played by Hamish Moore on the Scottish smallpipes, accompanied by the choirs of Barga (Italy) and Sangstreem</b>; and the Dominic Behan song Connolly Was There, specially recorded by Dick Gaughan.

Other newly recorded tracks include River Of Steel by Siobhan Miller, General Tam Dalyell by Robin Laing, three contributions by Margaret Stewart, My Last Farewell To Stirling by Ian Bruce & Ian Walker, and a new version of The Rovin’ Dies Hard by Brian McNeill. In addition there are previously recorded songs from Jean Redpath MBE, Natalie MacMaster, Margaret Stewart, Fiona J Mackenzie, Mairi MacInnes, Cathy-Ann MacPhee, Coreen Scott, The McCalmans, Rua, Dick Gaughan, Donnie Munro, Robin Laing, the late Alan Mills (Canada) and more.

A large amount of relevant material was initially drawn up by Ian Green for the project and, from a pared-down shortlist of some sixty tracks, the final selection was made. Much blood and sweat (thankfully no tears) went into this compilation so we hope you approve of the final selection. It was a difficult choice.

Previously, Greentrax released The Battle of Prestonpans 1745 album as a companion to the Prestonpans Tapestry which is currently on exhibition alongside the Bayeux Tapestry in France, and The Music and Song of The Great Tapestry of Scotland in association with The Great Tapestry of Scotland Trust.

“Greentrax was asked to bring together a fine collection of music and song from the diaspora to listen to both in its own right and as a complement to the tapestry itself. As ever Greentrax has excelled and the collection here does the diaspora proud…” (Dr Gordon Prestoungrange)