ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces some of the key performance contexts to try and answer the when of Scottish traditional music, and explains the social contexts that often still mark out important ritual, musical, or just fun spaces in people's lives. It also examines Scottish traditional music in a variety of contexts moving from intimate to organised, from the family to mass-mediated performance. Scottish traditional music has been an intimate part of family life in Scotland since before it was even given a name. Bothy ballads were most popular in North East Scotland between 1840 and 1880, when they were part of the social life of farm labourers. In Scottish traditional music there are many lullabies and dandling songs. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Radio Scotland has almost always provided one dedicated programme for the piping tradition, and one or two other radio programmes dedicated to Scottish traditional dance music in its wider contexts.
