Cornkister facts for kids
A cornkister is a special type of song from Northeast Scotland. These songs are usually funny and were written in the late 1800s or early 1900s. They are a bit like bothy ballads, which are also traditional Scottish farm songs.
The name "cornkister" comes from the Scots word cornkist, which means a large wooden chest used to store oats. Farmers would measure out oats from this chest to feed their plough horses. People used to think that singers would sit on top of the cornkist while singing these songs and kick their heels against it to the beat!
Today, many cornkisters are known because they were recorded by famous entertainers in the 1920s and 1930s. Singers like Willie Kemp and G. S. Morris helped make these songs popular. Later, artists like Andy Stewart also sang them.
What is a Cornkister?
Cornkisters are songs written in the Doric dialect, which is a form of the Scots language spoken in Northeast Scotland. These songs often tell stories about farm life, just like bothy ballads. However, cornkisters were often created to be performed in places like the music hall (a type of theatre for variety shows) or specifically for recording. The Beltona record company, for example, recorded many of these songs.
Songs from the Farm
Many cornkisters share themes with bothy ballads. They both often talk about daily life on farms in Northeast Scotland. Singers who knew one type of song would usually know the other too. They both capture the spirit and humor of rural life.
Famous Cornkister Songs
Some of the most well-known cornkisters include:
- McGinty's Meal an Ale by George Bruce Thomson
- MacFarlane o the Sprotts o Burnieboosie by George Bruce Thomson
- A Pair o Nicky Tams by G. S. Morris
There are many other cornkister songs that tell funny and interesting stories about Scottish farm life and culture.
See also
