Up-tempo treatment worked wonders for ballad

I have been following with interest the exchange of views between George Cooper and John Malcolm (Letters, 27, 28, 29 August) on respectful (or otherwise) treatments of Loch Lomond. Given both gentlemen's admirable knowledge of the tune's history, I was particularly relieved to read George Cooper's endorsement of the Clyde Valley Stompers' Dixieland version. I was clarinettist/leader of the Clydes when we recorded Loch Lomond for producer George Martin (pre-Be

The recording was used as the signature music for BBC Scotland TV's early-evening news programme for a year or two at the time, giving it exposure to a few million viewers nightly, and I don't recall hearing even one complaint about our treatment being in any way offensive.

And I hope the music-listening public will, like John Malcolm, continue to adopt a liberal attitude towards such "adaptations" of old melodies. It all helps to keep the tunes alive. Which inspires a thought – how about a jaunty 2/4 march version of The Rowan Tree for the Scottish national anthem? That'd make the hairs stand on the back o' yer heid, and I'm sure there are plenty of lyric writers out there who could come up with suitably cheery, rousing and forward-looking words.

PETER KERR

PO Box 7

Haddington, East Lothian