Introduction to the Anthem - April 2021
Dear Fellow Clansmen, Clanswomen, and Clanspeople,
Last April I received the following email and an accompanying video from
British Columbia member Rick Galbraith. I thought it was great and asked if
I could post it to our website, to which he agreed. I could imagine the
accompaniment of pipes, drums, and/or fiddle in the background - a vision
Rick also shared. I didn't post it at the time because it had also been
forwarded to John Galbraith, who produced our Calling of the Clans video
segment for the 2000 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and he was going to
use it in the "How do you say our name?" video for the 2021
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games roll call. Rick wrote:
"Hello, Len. You may recall me saying I felt inspired after watching John Galbraith's
display of bravado and stirring words in your banner video. I can't remember whether
I also told you I had been thinking that the Clan deserved its own song - a chant -
no... an anthem! I started thinking about that back in 2016 when the gathering was in
Vancouver and I was hosting a karaoke night. The joyful singing by everyone then was
what instilled in me an itch to do something. I forgot to scratch it when life brought
dozens of interruptions and tasks. And then John's video sparked my enthusiasm once
again and I've finally finished one verse of our story, covering what John said, plus
a little more. President Paul says he loves it. I wanted to share it with you just to
show you I finally took the inspiration we talked about and did something with it!
Mind you, I'm not proud of my performance in the video, but the melody and lyrics of
the anthem are there. Perhaps it will be made into a music score, with more verses,
some day. But not today. I couldn't find an e-mail for John. Would you kindly pass
along my praise and thanks?
Best regards, and stay safe,
Rick Galbraith"
So, here's Rick's video anthem:
That's pretty good Rick! Maybe we have other musically-inclined Clan members?
Rick chimed in with:
... And your thinking is dead on with mine - maybe it will continue inspiration. I'd love
it if members embraced the idea and added a verse or two. Or sang it. Or learned from
it. As a side note, though, I did offer to Paul that I would arrange musical
accompaniment and add some verses if he could pay a hundred bucks (which I'd give to
my two musician friends as a token thank you to them). I don't want anything for it
and, if I were any kind of a musician, I'd have already done that myself. With that
one caveat in mind, the as is version is free for CGS members to use personally and/or
enhance among themselves, so publish away and may the pride continue to flow!
A Potential Next Verse - August 2021
Well, a few months have passed. John's video is out there (see the home page)
and I've just received this from Rick:
I just read Angus Galbraith's poem of the 1977 gathering [see the August 2021
Red Tower]. He summarizes so well some of our history but, better, he wrote the
ending I failed to come up with for the Clan Galbraith Anthem. I
racked my brain for a couple of weeks before giving up; he, though,
succinctly describes the Galbraith spirit of today (and tomorrow, and
1977). He offers a genuine and timeless characteristic I've found in
pretty much every Galbraith I've met.
With the blessing of any one of you, along with an assurance that it
would be okay to copy and massage it oh so slightly, I will use his
last verse as the last verse of the anthem. One thing - I'd like
feedback on whether to make more neutral the line implying our
Christian beliefs. I personally don't think it's necessary to omit it
but, well, you know.
So, if it's a go, I'll do that, then we would just need a little more
input from members (including more of what Angus said) to complete our
general history (without making an anthem that is 30 minutes long),
and I would work on having a drafted version for us to sing next May.
Let me know.
Cheers,
Rick Galbraith
So, what do you say guys? Are there any members out there who have a flair
for the verse or are musically adept and want to contribute to this wonderful
endeavor? I can put you in contact with Rick to collaborate. Email me at
Final Anthem and Music Sample - January 2022
Rick has been collaborating with a few musically inclined members and other musicians
and has issued a final music sheet and sample music. Good job Rick! We'll definitely
have to do a group sing at our next gathering!
-Len Galbraith Everson
* * * * * * *
To: Paul Galbraith, President, Clan Galbraith Society
Hello Paul. I hope this finds you well.
With the provocative feedback and able assistance of Bruce Galbraith and John Galbraith,
members and contributors extraordinaire, and the joyous cheering and encouragement from
Len Everson (see https://www.clangalbraith.org/ClanAnthem/clananthem.htm), Joan Willson
(Red Tower Editor) and our illustrious president (that would be yourself), our executive
artists supreme and, finally, far more than least, the immeasurable assistance of my local
musicians and friends Terry Marshall and David Cheatley, my authoring of the Clan Galbraith
Anthem is finished. It is attached as a pdf showing the complete score with lyrics. Any
previous versions should be deleted. Also attached is a MIDI mp3 which crudely samples
the melody for the curious listener.
I'd be honoured if the executive were to circulate it to membership, delighted if Len and Joan
were to publish it in their respective media, and over the top thrilled if the general
membership were to adopt it, to any degree, individually or wholly. It is copyrighted,
but Clan Galbraith Society may use it freely in any Galbraith Clan related manner, including
personal use by its members and families worldwide (especially that). Any commercial use or
use by a non member requires special licensing from me.
I would be delighted to sing it with any individual or group of members, any time.
Sincere best wishes to all for this new year and, to all and above all, stay safe,
- Rick Galbraith, member 1235
