Burns Night App
In-house publishers, Saraband, have developed a brilliant Burns Night app which has been attracting lots of downloads and fans and interest, 6 Music and The Guardian to name a few… The app is great. Scott Smyth, one of the designers here at Toad’s Caravan created all the visuals for the app. We think they’re just lovely. Have a read of the press release below for more details or simply head on over to iTunes and download the free app to see for yourself!
A New Take on Auld Lang Syne
Burns Night goes digital with new party app from Scottish publisher
Robert Burns was famous for his partying, but not as many people know he was also a big fan of new technology. So the Bard would have loved the idea of a Burns Night app, according to one of Scotland’s leading Burns experts.
Glasgow-based publisher Saraband has released a free smartphones app to bring the traditional Burns birthday party up to date. It features some of his best-known poems and songs and boasts a selection of Scotland’s favourite musicians and actors performing the greatest works by Burns.
“Rabbie Burns would certainly be thrilled with the notion that the latest know-how has brought together all his favourite things: parties, poetry and innovation,” said Nat Edwards, director of the Burns Birthplace Museum.
The app has a rousing performance by Alasdair Macrae, who brings Tam o’ Shanter to life, and the built-in autocue means you can work on your own delivery of Burns’ masterpiece without worrying about forgetting the lines or losing your place. Top singers Karine Polwart, Corrina Hewat and Annie Grace also perform some of their acclaimed a capella Burns arrangements.
The Burns Night app is fully interactive and will help you plan your own Burns Supper celebration. The built-in compass points you to Alloway in Ayrshire, so you can salute his birthplace when raising your glasses to his Immortal Memory.
Sara Hunt, owner of Saraband, said: “We’re really excited to have developed this new app that helps people have fun with the world’s greatest birthday party.
“The app gives tips on how to plan the evening and how to address your haggis, with recipes so you can cook up a storm. It can help you find out what the most famous poems mean and their relevance today. For example, ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is known all over the world and has been translated into countless languages – even Klingon.
“Whether you’re a veteran of Burns Suppers or going to your first one, this app will help you enjoy Burns Night and celebrate the legacy of the Bard himself.”
So if the prospect of a Burns Supper doesn’t float your boat, maybe it’s time to look again. Award-winning folk singer Karine Polwart, who sings on the app, said: “Robert Burns wrote so many songs in so many different styles that his songs have never gone out of fashion. They’re just classic songs that talk about the human condition and people don’t change, so I don’t think Burns is ever going to stop being popular.”
The Burns Night app is available free for Android and iPhone. For more information, please visit: www.saraband.net/arts/275-burns-night-app
Notes for editors:
Saraband publishes books in the arts, environment and history, and is expanding in the digital world of ebooks and smartphone applications.
The app has been developed in partnership with emerging Glasgow digital company Spot Specific.
Media contact:
Sara Hunt, Saraband Tel: 0141 337 2411 (M) 07866 555 194 /Email: sara@saraband.net
