In an interview first aired on December 31st, 1991, Robert talks to Hugh McDonald, head of music for BBC Radio Scotland, about the correct pronunciation of the phrase "Auld Lang Syne." McDonald says that the majority of people who will sing that song as the old year passes away will pronounce the word "syne" as "zyne," which is incorrect; the correct pronunciation is "sine" (as in cosine and tangent). We also hear a performance of the song by Irish singer Susan McKeown (muh-KEEN) and bassist Lindsey Horner to a melody different from the one we are used to hearing. They also perform the song on a cassette, "Through the Bitter Frost and Snow."
Copyright 1996 NPR