Afton water - sung by Ken McKellar

[louisa1832]

Oh, my goodness, how lovely.

[ianblue100]

There are at least two melodies for this song and I think this is by far the best.

Does anyone know who the composer was??

[DROOCHITDUG1]

does anyone know if Kennith lived in Lenzie

[shriner62]

My father won the title of "Golden Voice of Scotland" in 1946 at the age of 13. One of the prizes was for him to be taught by Kenneth's vocal coach. My dad has sinced taught me to bea great singer, or at least great enough to learn how great I'll never be, and one lesson he paased on to me was to ALWAYS keep one's eyes open to your audience. Interesting, coming from a blind man......."

[saltburner2]

McKellar was a very fine tenor who, if he had wanted, could have become the finest Handel and Mozart tenor of his day. But he chose not to pursue an operatic career.

The voice is very light in this early recording, and I can't help wondering if it is not perhaps running a bit on the fast side?

[Lisnageeragh]

@saltburner2 Agree a little fast for the mood ..but he rises like the mountains...he is a loss ...one of the last voices perhaps for bringing us into that space

[saltburner2]

@Lisnageeragh

I didn't mean that he was singing it too fast, but rather that the record was perhaps being played faster than it should be [i.e., not quite at thecorrect pitch].

I agree he is a sad loss - a voice in a million, and used with taste and skill.

[Lisnageeragh]

@saltburner2 

[VoceVersatile]

Sheila - Kenneth McKellar is a favourite of mine and a was good role model for an aspiring tenor. He was also an outstanding Handelian. Thanks for posting - regards David.

[sheilamaclean]

Yes, I agree, McKellar had a very fine voice, and yes very much under-rated; I think he may become one of those voices that will be more and more recognised as years go by. Am a bit older now and 'grew up' with McKellar and his contemporaries but appreciate the quality and beauty of his songs more than ever now.

[saltburner2]

@sheilamaclean

Sheila, you are right!

In my next presentation to a local Recorded Music Society, I am including 3 records by Ken: 1. Silent Worship, by Handel. 2. Down by the Sally Gardens, arranged by Britten, and, to end: 3. God be in my Head, made at Paisley Abbey.

[CrustyoMeatoWad]

My name is Afton lol

[Donnyhiab]

Just heard that Kenneth McKellar has died.

This is the voice from my childhood, while others listened to Cliff and the Beatles...I was jammed in beside the Radiogram to listen to the soaring voice of Kenneth singing all my Scottish favourites.

When on a walk or a long journey, I still accompany myself with a song that I learnt from him....The Hiking Song.

My thanks to him on behalf of my parents and myself for many happy memories.

[rodericstephens]

I just remastered Songs of Ireland to CD; it's one of my favorite LPs. The string sound is to die for not to mention the dear Kenneth lad.

[dkj07]

lol im named after this song...afton :)

[lorgain2]

Franco this version of Afton Water is one of my all time favourites, and I go back a long way, Thank you.

[francovance1]

One of the finest tenors of the twentieth century.

[Nettie253]

I agree Real Scottish.

[lorgain2]

Karen , Wee Hughie was recited at many a school in the north of Ireland, I will be waiting for those songs, Thanks for the comment.

[lorgain2]

Karen, I was always a fan of Kenneth McKellar, I listened to his Radio Programmes away back in the early 1950s, and also his BBC TV programmes, as many have said on this Thread a very under rated singer. If you do come across the LP I would be pleased to hear the songs again. Thanks for the comment.

[chintzgirl]

I have the LP, just need to get it transferred to a

CD or something. The whole LP is just wonderful with such songs as Trottin' to the Fair, and

Wee Hughie (never fails to make me cry)

My Dad got the LP when I was 12 and I would listen to it, along with the Beach Boys and the

Beatles, I'm sure my friends thought me mad VBG

cheers,

Karen

[chintzgirl]

Hi,

I managed to upload My Lagan Love. Please

check it out.

Karen

[chintzgirl]

I love this man's voice. Thanks for posting! If ever

I can get my Dad's LP Kenneth McKeller Sings Songs of Ireland transfered I would love to post

the most beautiful versions of She Moved Through the Fair and My Lagan Love you're ever

likely to hear. Thanks again for this one.

Karen

[lorgain2]

ramqen951, If you listen to John MacCormacks recording on You Tube you will hear the definitive version, this MacCormack rendering of The snowy breasted pearl is unsurpassed.

Yes, Kenneth`s version is also i excellent, listen and compare.

[ramqen951]

If you have him singing "The snowy breasted pearl" i would love to hear it again, it's so seldom you hear it sung so well in this version.

[lorgain2]

David of the White Rock a lovely Welsh language song,jcriedijk thanks for your comment.

[jcriedijk]

ps.Mostly the wellknown songs are mentioned but the real surprises are the unknown treisu

res such as "Island Moon","Land of hearts desire","David of the white rock","The twa corbies"etc.He sang also with famous Irish ladysingers Mary O'Hara & Patricia Cahill,but also with worldfamous sopranos JoanSutherland and Grace Bumbry in his early classical days(The Messiah)He sang so easy and warm and at the same time at an enormous high level.He deserves being mentioned in the dictionary of music.

[jcriedijk]

Hello Scotland!the Netherlands here!10 votes (out of 10!)Read all the reactions with interest.Agree fully,"your"(and my!)Kenneth was one of the greatest if not THE greatest singer Scotland produced.Make it the whole UK

as with the same spirit he sang Irish,Welsh& British folksongs.Strange someone didn't know him(yet),I collect his records ever since 1964(I am 58 now)and consider his album Songs of the Hebrides(with wavesounds)as a highlight Every song is a vocal gem

Kenneth,love from Holland!

[lorgain2]

Thanks Annette, I agree pleasure to listen to.

[annetteparsons]

Best ever rendition of "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton". But then that's not surprising as,in my opinion, Keneth McKellar is the BEST EVER singer of Scottish (and Irish) songs. One of his versions of "Danny Boy" sounds like an angel singing a prayer.

[lorgain2]

It is on YT, jeka.

[lorgain2]

Thanks for the comments, MiyuXi and whispperson,

[whispperson]

Bravo

[MiyuXi]

superb

[lorgain2]

itriana, I can only comment on what I have heard, granted you have likely heard better, and yes, I have also heard this song performed well unaccompanied, and no, McKellar`s version is by far the best I have ever heard.

[lorgain2]

Thanks for the comment griffcats, as you say a great Tenor.

[griffcats]

Beautiful and masterfully done, first time I heard this great voice, thanks for posting

[lorgain2]

Thanks Irisher, you are right regarding Kenneth McKellar a great tenor, thanks for the rating.

[lorgain2]

Aftonlad, This recording is about 40 years old, you are right no one sings this song like McKellar, after all he is a Scot who specialised in Burns songs.

[theirisher]

Actually, this recording is from c. 1955, so it is well over 50 years old now. McKellar was absolutely the finest Scottish tenor on records and untouchable in the folk songs of his native land. Joseph Hislop was a fine operatic tenor, but he could not sing folk songs with the warmth and naturalness that was McKellar's. Thanks for posting this early recording of Ken's; he deserves to be remembered, and for the younger ones, discovered, too. Five stars!

[patthecatman]

@theirisher this irish-american agrees whole-heartedly. i'll take mckellar any day of the week over frank patterson. the latter was a mere "pretender to the throne" of john mccormack. kenneth mckellar had a beautiful tenor voice and could do practically any song, serious and light-hearted.

[Aftonlad]

I totally agree lorgain2, this is my favourite air too. Nowadays the folk singers have adopted this lovely song but their version just does not sound like a gently flowing stream.

[lorgain2]

David, Kenneth McKellar is now posted singing `Red red rose`.

[lorgain2]

David you are right, I must have a look through my collection and post it.

[lorgain2]

Dobbiemann, Away back in the early to mid 1950s Kenneth McKellar had a programme on Radio Scotland it came in loud and clear here in the north of Ireland, Ken was very popular in those days, later he had his own TV Series, happy memories of a great singer.

[lorgain2]

Thanks Ardmacha and Machree, as you say an under-rated Tenor.

[Ardmacha2]

had almost forgotten about this man.I enjoyed his singing many years ago,but I appreciate it more. A beautiful song magnificently sung by amuch underrated tenor

[machree01]

That was lovely, Ken was brilliant at singing Afton water, thanks

[lorgain2]

This version of Afton water is my favourite I much prefer this air than the others associated with this Burns song.

Kenneth McKellar`s rendition cannot be surpassed, his decorative endings are brilliant.