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Mark visits Wigtown - known as Scotland’s National Book Town.

In this place which celebrates stories, rhymes and ballads, Mark meets Ailie Robertson to discuss the role of the harp in Scottish traditional music - since one of the very first functions of the harp was as an accompanying instrument for ballads and poems…

She tells him that there’s evidence of the harp being used in Scotland, right back to the 8th century and how it used to be Scotland’s national instrument before being replaced by the bagpipes.

Ailie herself plays the cláirseach (folk-harp) and Mark accompanies her as she plays one of her own tunes, ‘Swerving for Bunnies’.

Ailie points out that a huge wealth of music has been shared and particularly the music of Northern Ireland, has many similarities to the music of the west of Scotland. (Broadcast: 12th Oct 2011)