Robert Burns Collection

Robert Burns statue, Kilmarnock Cross


Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is in a “light Scots dialect” of English, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these writings his political or civil commentary is often at its bluntest.

He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement, and after his death he became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism, and a cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish diaspora around the world. Celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature. In 2009 he was chosen as the greatest Scot by the Scottish public in a vote run by Scottish television channel STV.

As well as making original compositions, Burns also collected folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them. His poem (and song) “Auld Lang Syne” is often sung at Hogmanay (the last day of the year), and “Scots Wha Hae” served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem of the country. Other poems and songs of Burns that remain well known across the world today include “A Red, Red Rose”, “A Man’s a Man for A’ That”, “To a Louse”, “To a Mouse”, “The Battle of Sherramuir”, “Tam o’ Shanter” and “Ae Fond Kiss”.



Robert Burns was a founding member of the world famous and culturally significant Bachelors’ Club in Tarbolton, Ayrshire.

If you’d like to know more about Robert Burns



Robert Burns Compositions

You are most welcome to browse, download and play any of the compositions. All compositions remain copyright © John C Grant.

All of these compositions, spanning various printed publications, are related to Ayrshire’s bard - Robert Burns.

You can download all PDFs here

Name Collection
Agnes Broun The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Agnes Burns The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Alexander Brown The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Alison Begbie The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Annabella Burns The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
David Sillar The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Gilbert Burns The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Hugh Reid The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Isabella Burns The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
James Paterson The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
John Burns The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
John Orr The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
John Richard The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
John Wilson The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
John Wilson of Tarbolton The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Johnie Ged The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Johnie Simson The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Lodge Tarbolton Kilwinning St James No 135 The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Manson's Inn The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Mary Campbell The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Matthew Paterson The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Robert Burns The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Saunders Tait The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Tarbolton Mill The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
The Bachelors' Club The Kilmarnock Collection,The Three Six Five Collection,The Tarbolton Collection
The Gregg Fiddle The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Thomas Wright The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Tibbie Stein The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
Walter Mitchell The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
William Burnes The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
William Burns The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
William Gregg The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
William M'Gavin The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection
William Muir The Tarbolton Collection,The Three Six Five Collection

The wicker statue of Tam and Meg, Burns Cottage, Alloway, Ayrshire.


Guide Tracks

All guide tracks for the Robert Burns Collection.

Holding Robert Burns' 'Gregg Fiddle'