Welcome to the home of John C Grant, Scottish traditional composer from Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Dè a ’phuing a th’ ann?
Charlie Grant of Onthank, Kilmarnock - Scots and Gaelic speaker
We owe it to ourselves, our predecessors and to our successors, to nurture our own cultures - to push their boundaries and keep them relevant, before passing them on for others to cherish. As an Ayrshireman, I have this obligation, and so, I compose music for these lands and these people that I know - oor weel kent fowks.
The music is arranged into collections and published when completed - detailing the background to every piece of music, however, the music is available alongside Soundcloud guide tracks for anyone to use. The Kilmarnock Collections contain compositions relating to both the local area and it’s welcoming hand, outstretched to the world. Other collections are more specific so, for example, the Tarbolton Collection recounts the cultural importance of the village during Robert Burns’ time whilst demonstrating the present dynamism and the vital continuation of the Scots language within the area.
Welcome to Ayrshire, Scotland
John C Grant
Mu dhèidhinn
Traditional fiddler player, John C Grant, is one of Ayrshire’s most accomplished composers of Scottish traditional music.
John has dedicated his entire adult life to a personal journey, capturing contemporary life within Ayrshire, through the medium of traditional music.
“Life is short - it has to be.
It is every spark that illuminates our skies -
gone, all too quickly, sometimes without warning -
and leaving constellations of darkness within our souls.
This book is a scliff of life, a moment from Kilmarnock, a point in time that will never again return.” - The Kilmarnock Collection (2018)
“Mr and Mrs P Markac” from the Kilmarnock Collection.
A solitary journey to capture those moments in time - the people, the events and Ayrshire streets, before they are lost forever.
John is also the fiddle player and dance instructor with the Borland Ceilidh Band.
He has played with numerous bands throughout the years, over a range of musical styles all over Europe, and has recorded for many bands during this time. Additionally, John has tutored at the Fèis Chill’ Mheàrnaig for several years.
Ceòl
The Complete Collection
Select the title for manuscript, Soundcloud guide track and downloadable PDF of the composition.
All 267 compositions are copyright (c) John C Grant.
Name | Collection |
---|---|
66 Woodlands Road | The Kilmarnock Collection |
A Scottish Memory | The Kilmarnock Collection |
A Tribute to Provost Jim Todd and Depute Provost Claire Leitch | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
A Trip to Ardrossan | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Adam Barry | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Adam Smith of Bonnyton | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Alan Brown MP | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Alan Thomas | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Alasdair MacKay | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Aleksei Voronin | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Alex Main | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Alexander Cassidy | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Alison McDonald | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Alistair McCulloch | The Tarbolton Collection |
Ally McNeill | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Alton Avenue | The Tarbolton Collection |
Alton Burn | The Tarbolton Collection |
Andrea Gadd | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Andrew Ross | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Ann & Hugh's Golden Wedding | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Ann McCusker | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Ashley Murray | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Aurora Clifford | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Back Street | The Tarbolton Collection |
Bank Street | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Bard Drive | The Tarbolton Collection |
Beechwood Road | The Tarbolton Collection |
Between the Sunset and the Sea | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Biffy Clyro | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Bruce Fummey | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Bruce Kennedy | The Tarbolton Collection |
Burns Street | The Tarbolton Collection |
Calum John Grant | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Cammy Hill | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Campbell Baird Brown Warnock | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Catherine Rodger | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Centrestage Music Theatre | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Chris Waddell | The Tarbolton Collection |
Claire Amos | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Claire Leitch | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Claire Robertson | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Claire Walker of South Uist | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Clark Mains | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Clark Sorley | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Colin Hunter | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Craig McAvoy | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Croft Street | The Tarbolton Collection |
Cromadh Beinn Tarsuinn | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Cumnock Tartan Army | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Dan Sealey | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Danny Coffey | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Danny Martin | The Kilmarnock Collection |
David Brodie | The Kilmarnock Collection |
David Burns | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
David Hopes | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Dawn Rankin | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Denise MacColl | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Derek McLean and Edward Dennehy | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Douglas Brown | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Douglas Grierson | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Douglas Reid | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Dr Philippa Whitford MP | The Tarbolton Collection |
Dr Tim Adams | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Duncan Roxburgh | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Eddie Platt | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Edie Jane Rowan | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Edith Casey | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Elena Whitham | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Elizabeth Lambert | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Elizabeth Lydia Rowe | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Elizabeth Young | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Emrie Mayon Hamilton | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Erik Holst | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Ewan and Sheila Coventry (Reel) | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Ewan and Sheila Coventry (Strathspey) | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Ewin Murray | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Eòghann Mac Colla | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Fail Avenue | The Tarbolton Collection |
Fanny Henriksson | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Fiona Longmuir | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Fiona Mackenzie | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Fr Michael MacDonald | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Frank Beattie | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Frank Egan | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Fraser Rowan | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Gallowhill Avenue | The Tarbolton Collection |
Garden Street | The Tarbolton Collection |
Gary Elliot | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Gerard McNamara | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Gillian Mairi Wright | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Gillian Ramsay | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Graham Barton | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Grant Forsyth | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Greg and Dianne Niven | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Gregg Brown | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Gregor Keachie | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Göran Hallmarken | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Hannes Oljelund | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Harry McNamara | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Heather Brown | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Hilary McArthur | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Hill Street | The Tarbolton Collection |
Iain McKie | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Iain Pope | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Iain and Janice Shand | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Inset Nightscape | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Isla Louise Grant | The Kilmarnock Collection |
James Arthur Steele MacColl | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
James Fulton | The Kilmarnock Collection |
James Street | The Tarbolton Collection |
Jason Stirling | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Jean Elizabeth Southworth | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Jim Brown | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Jim Gouck | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Jim and Magdalena Kennedy | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Joel Bremer | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Johan Holst | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
John Campbell | The Kilmarnock Collection |
John Davidson | The Kilmarnock Collection |
John Dickie Street | The Kilmarnock Collection |
John Finnie Street | The Kilmarnock Collection |
John Paterson | The Kilmarnock Collection |
John Stevenson | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
John Wilson | The Tarbolton Collection |
Jolyn Crawford | The Tarbolton Collection |
Joseph Togher | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Josh Molloy | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Juan Christian Kuffner | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Julie Wales | The Kilmarnock Collection |
June Crawford | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Kate Higgins | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Katherine Derbyshire | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Kay Park | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Kenneth Mclntosh of Brevag | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Kenneth Mitchell | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Kevin Brown | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Kevin Longmuir | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Kieran Grant | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Kilmarnock | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Kilmarnock Amateur Operatic Society | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Kilmarnock Cross | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Kilmarnock Train Station | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Kirkport | The Tarbolton Collection |
Klas W. Af Edholm | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Lodge Tarbolton Kilwinning St James No 135 | The Tarbolton Collection |
Lorna Love | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Lorna Reid | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Loudoun Branch SNP | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Louise Fletcher | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Louise and Carrie Grant | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Lynda Verrill | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Madog ap Llywelyn | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Magnus Smedman | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Mairi aig Mairi Dhomhnall | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Malin Hedström | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Mansefield Road | The Tarbolton Collection |
Manson's Inn | The Tarbolton Collection |
Marco Sinforiani | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Marelle's Birthday Waltz | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Margaret Brown | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Margaret Sloan Place | The Tarbolton Collection |
Marie Macklin CBE | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Mark Fletcher | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Mark Hoey | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Martin Dow | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Martin Swan | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Martin Trainer | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Matilda Lilja | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Matilda Sevelin | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Matthew Scott | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Melita Špeh Pavlič | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Mikey Lennon | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Miron Stratan | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Mo Mhire mo Mhùirn | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Montgomerie Street | The Tarbolton Collection |
Mr & Mrs A Kerr | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Mr & Mrs C Roberts | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Mr & Mrs D Meldrum | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Mr & Mrs J Chaplin-Brice | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Mr & Mrs J Hornsby | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Mr and Mrs P Markac | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Mrs Grant of Onthank | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Neal Ingram | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Nelly and Jason's Waltz | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Niall Murphy | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Nicki Teager | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Nicola Sturgeon | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Norman Wilson | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Owen Griffin | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Park Road | The Tarbolton Collection |
Parliament Close | The Tarbolton Collection |
Patrick Joseph Togher | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Patrik Howe | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Paul Gough | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Pauline Oubari | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Peter Svennson | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Princes Street | The Tarbolton Collection |
Provost Jim Todd | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Rab Wilson | The Tarbolton Collection |
Richard Icker Vicker | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Robert Reid | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Robert Sheerins | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Ros na Carraig | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Ross and Catriona Morris | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Sandbed Street | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Sandgate Street | The Tarbolton Collection |
Sandy Benson | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Sara Vikström Olsson | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Saunders Tait | The Tarbolton Collection |
Save Johnnie Walker | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Savina and Vladimir Čolić | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
School Avenue | The Tarbolton Collection |
Scott Ballantyne | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Scott Bowden | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Sean Maddocks | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Sharon Thomson | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Sloth Unwin | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Smithfield Crescent | The Tarbolton Collection |
Sorcha mo Ghraidh | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Springfield Road | The Tarbolton Collection |
Spud and Taz Murphy | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Stephen Grant | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Stephen Merrick | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Stevie Smith | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Stewart Sinclair | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Strand Street | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Strath Lumsden | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Stuart Carnegie | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Susi and Gavin McGilvray | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Tarbolton Cross | The Tarbolton Collection |
Tarbolton Gospel Hall | The Tarbolton Collection |
Tarbolton Library | The Tarbolton Collection |
Tarbolton Nursery School | The Tarbolton Collection |
Tarbolton Parish Church | The Tarbolton Collection |
Tarbolton Primary School | The Tarbolton Collection |
Taylor Buntain | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Tha Dithis Brathair Agam | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Ayrshire Weightlifter | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Bachelors' Club | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Black Bull | The Tarbolton Collection |
The Borland Ceilidh Band | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Camerons of Galston | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Comic Artist's Slide | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Forum Cafe | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Hill | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Kings House Hotel | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The McNamaras of Galston | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Nyah Fearties | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Tackety Bit | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Uninvited Guests | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Walkers of South Uist | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Women of Hareshaw Gardens | The Kilmarnock Collection |
The Woodstock Arms | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Tibbie Stein | The Tarbolton Collection |
Titchfield Street | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Tom Edwards | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Tommy Sheridan | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Tracy O'Neil | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Valerie Hamilton | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Vilborg Vif Gudmundsdottir | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Water of Fail | The Tarbolton Collection |
Well Street | The Tarbolton Collection |
Westport | The Tarbolton Collection |
William Gregg | The Tarbolton Collection |
Willie Coffey | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Yes East Ayrshire | The Kilmarnock Collection |
Örjan Hallnäs | The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II |
Sgrìobhaichean chiùil
The Kilmarnock Collection
15 years in the making, John’s first major published edition is the Kilmarnock Collection with cover by award winning Scottish artist Eòghann MacColl.
The book contains 164 compositions, based around life, both in Kilmarnock, and it’s outstretched connections throughout the world. The idea was to capture the humanity, the sights, smells, characters, streets and establishments that is the Kilmarnock we know - a snapshot of a moment in time.
All music manuscripts are available within Ceòl and guide tracks available from Stiùireadh.
The Kilmarnock Collection is available from Amazon and other major book outlets.
“Danny Coffey” from the Kilmarnock Collection.
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The Tarbolton Collection
Due for release mid 2022, The Tarbolton Collection is a unique publication of compositions written for the Ayrshire town of Tarbolton.
In a first, every street within the town is immortalised in composition, along with local dignitaries, famous sons and daughters, and of course, relevant Robert Burns historical figures from the area.
The Tarbolton Collection recounts the cultural importance of the village during Robert Burns’ time whilst demonstrating the present dynamism and the vital continuation of the Scots language within the area.
You can view some of the composed locations within the map: -
All music manuscripts are available within Ceòl and guide tracks available from Stiùireadh.
The Kilmarnock Collection (Volume II)
The second volume of compositions in the series, entitled the Kilmarnock Collection (Volume II) is scheduled for publication early 2023.
All music manuscripts are available within Ceòl and guide tracks available from Stiùireadh.
Mapaichean
Music Map of Kilmarnock
All compositions written for locations within Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Click on the locations within the map to view the music composed for the area. Music is opened in a new tab.
Music Map of Tarbolton
All compositions written for locations within Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland.
Click on the locations within the map to view the music composed for the area. Music is opened in a new tab.
Stiùireadh
The Kilmarnock Collection (Guides)
All guide tracks for the Kilmarnock Collection.
The Tarbolton Collection (Guides)
All guide tracks for the Tarbolton Collection.
The Kilmarnock Collection Volume II (Guides)
All guide tracks for the Kilmarnock Collection Volume II.
Fios
You can also contact me on Twitter.
Tapadh leibh caraid!