Scottish Heritage USA will host a Tartan Day celebration Tuesday, April 6, featuring Alex Beaton, at the Pinehurst Country Club.

Marking the Declaration of Arbroath, which was signed on April 6, 1320, Scottish communities across North America use the date to celebrate their Scottish history and heritage. Two things make the Declaration of Arbroath the most important document in Scottish history:

First, it set the will and the wishes of the people above the king. Though they were bound to him “both by law and by his merits,” it was so that their freedom might be maintained. If he betrayed them, he would be removed and replaced. This remarkable obligation placed upon a feudal monarch by his feudal subjects may be explained in part by the fact that Bruce was still a heather king to many of them, still a wild claimant ruling upon sufferance and success. But the roots of his kingship were Celtic, and a Celtic tradition was here invoked, the memory of the Seven Earls, the Seven Sons of Cruithne the Pict in whom, it was believed, had rested the ancient right of tanistry (Celtic law of succession), the elevation of kings by selection. This unique relationship of king and people would influence their history henceforward, and would reach its climax in the Reformation and the century following, when a people’s Church would declare and maintain its superiority over earthly crowns, and;

Second, tt affirmed the nation’s independence in a way no battle could, and justified it with a truth that is beyond nation and race. Man has a right to freedom and a duty to defend it with his life. The natural qualifications put upon this by a medieval baron are irrelevant, as are the reservations which slave-owning Americans placed upon their Declaration of Independence. The truth once spoken cannot be checked, the seed once planted controls its own growth, and the liberty which men secure for themselves must be given by them to others, or it will be taken as they took it. Freedom is a hardy plant and must flower in equality and brotherhood.

Alex Beaton’s performance promises to be an entertaining and informative concert. Beaton, already a successful entertainer in the 1970s, recognized a desire among American audiences for traditional Celtic music.  He knew that the natural outlet for his music was the Highland Games that take place nearly every weekend of the year all across the continent. After organizing Glenfinnan Music, he began focusing on establishing a market for the traditional singer in a venue long dominated by heavy athletics, pipers and pipe bands.  Now, due in large part to Beaton’s efforts, the folk singer is there along with the athlete and the piper.

His musical talents, awareness of Scottish history and his ability to connect with his audience combine to create the Alex Beaton experience rather than just a concert.  

The 2007 release of Alex Beaton’s CD “The Songs of Robert Burns” is the latest offering from North America’s most popular and beloved Scottish folk singer. His impressive musical career spans four decades and includes the creation of Glenfinnan Music, which offers a collection of 19 albums dedicated to traditional Scottish music and a triple feature DVD, “Alex Beaton’s Scotland: A Musical Travelogue of Scotland.”

Beaton’s talent is showcased by a body of music ranging from ballads such as “The Loch Tay Boat Song,” to rousing anthems like “Flower of Scotland,” to his classic children’s favorite, “Coulter’s Candy.”  

During a performance, Beaton may share some fascinating bit of Scottish history to bring the music to life, or he may sarcastically acknowledge the audience’s obvious appreciation of good music as they burst out in laughter when he sings a selection from his album “Daft Ditties.”

The afternoon event will include a luncheon and a performance by Beaton. Scottish Heritage tartan merchandise will be available for purchase as well as Beaton’s CDs and books and information on Scots and their Celtic heritage.

Tickets are $25 each.

“Please join Scottish Heritage USA and Alex for a fun-filled and informational afternoon,” says a spokesman.

For information, call (910) 295-4448.