Old Songs & Bothy BalladsFor Friendship and for Harmony |
The Singers Joe Aitken: Joe is one of the finest exponents of north-east bothy style. He is a haulage contractor from Kirriemuir, one-time berry farmer and a favourite singer at festivals throughout Scotland from Auchtermuchty to Keith and, of course, his own local Kirriemuir Festival. He picked up his songs from some of the great traditional singers including Jimmy McBeath. In January 2004 he was winner of the Champion of Champions Bothy Ballad competition in Elgin. Here he sings the great northeast bothy ballad Hairst o Rettie (track 1), a version of Bogie’s Bonnie Belle (track 9) and Ellon Feeing Market (track 15). Jock Duncan: Now living in Pitlochry, Jock was brought up in the ballad-rich farming country around New Deer and Fyvie in Aberdeenshire where he developed his love of traditional ballads and songs. Fiddle, melodeon and bothy ballads were the staple diet at the musical gatherings in the family home. He has won numerous traditional singing and bothy ballad competitions and is acknowledged as one of the foremost traditional singers - a ‘national treasure’. He is a mine of knowledge of songs and ballads and of a farming way of life now long past. Here Jock sings a local north-east love song Ythanside (track 4) and the magnificent bothy ballad Guise o Tough (track 12). Norman Kennedy: Norman grew up in the city of Aberdeen just along the street from the great ballad singer Jeannie Robertson. From her and other traditional singers he quickly developed a way with the old songs and, in the folksong revival of 1960s, he was soon acknowledged as one of the finest traditional ballad singers. When Mike Seeger heard him in Aberdeen in 1964 he invited him to sing at the Newport Folk Festival of 1965. Norman was made very welcome and was quick to make his home in the USA - teaching ballads, telling the old tales, spinning and handloom weaving. When he heard of the Fife Traditional Singing Weekend he flew across specially to join in. Here he sings the ballad Binnorie (track 8), a version of one of the most widely known of the international ballads (in Francis James Child’s The English and Scottish Popular Ballads as The Twa Sisters) and a ranting version of Aberdeen’s notorious and still popularly sung The Castlegate (track 17). Louis Killen: Born and raised in Tyneside in a musical family of Irish/Scottish extraction, Louis was a founder member of the Newcastle Folk Club in 1958 and an original member of the High Level Ranters. He recorded several seminal albums with Topic in the 1960s and then emigrated to the USA where he continued a career in folk music, joining the Clancy Brothers between 1971 and 1976. Now back on home ground, Louis is recognised as one of the most knowledgeable singers and influential voices of the folk revival, noted in particular for his knowledge of shanties and maritime songs. Here he sings Bold Princess Royal (track 5), a famous song of piracy on the high seas, and a fine convivial song When Fortune Turns the Wheel (track 13), a line from which provides the title to this album. John Malcolm: John is originally from Forfar and now lives in Bannockburn. At one time he was a member of the Sair Heidies bothy group from Lossiemouth and the song Ferretin’ (track 10) that he sings here is an old poem that was set as a song by members of the group. Chris Miles: From Kirkcaldy in Fife, Chris is an enthusiast for the old songs. She was involved for many years in the Kirkcaldy Folk Club, is a member of Palaver and at one time sang with Flash Company. Here she sings I am Wearin Awa John (track 6). Stanley Robertson: Ballad singer, storyteller and piper, Stanley was brought up in the traditions of his extended family many of whom were musicians and singers. His father’s sister was Jeannie Robertson, the renowned Aberdeen ballad singer, and Lizzie Higgins, her daughter, was his cousin. Stanley is author of several books of traditional tales and reminiscences of traveller life and his time in the fish trade. For several years he worked with the Cultural Traditions of Scottish Travellers Project at the Elphinstone Institute in Aberdeen. Here Stanley sings When I Wis New but Sweet Sixteen (track 2) and Up a Wild and Lonely Glen (track 7). Elizabeth Stewart: Elizabeth is recognised as one of Scotland’s foremost ballad singers. She has been singing traditional songs and ballads of the north-east since childhood, learning her art from her family, especially her aunt Lucy Stewart of Fetterangus who became internationally known through her 1960s recordings made by the American collector Kenneth Goldstein. Here she sings The Butcher Boy (track 3), The Cruel Mother (track 11) and Yowie wi the Crookit Horn (track 16). Sheila Stewart: Sheila inherited her rich repertoire of song, ballad and story traditions through her Blairgowrie family The Stewarts of Blair - ballad singing mother Belle and piper and storytelling father Alex. It was during the 1950s when the family had their own berry farm that Belle composed her famous song The Berryfields of Blair. Here Sheila sings a song Lakes of Shillin (track 14) from her sister Cathie’s repertoire. Credits: Thanks are due to Fife Council for their generous support, to Jim & Edna at the Birnie Centre, Collessie for hosting the event and to all the artistes who have freely given their permission for the inclusion of their songs on this CD. All proceeds from sale of the CD will go towards supporting the aims of the East of Scotland Traditional Song Group. Recorded at the 3rd Fife Traditional Singing Weekend in May 2005 by Tom Spiers and Ian Russell. Mastered by Tom Spiers. Design by Peter Shepheard. Sleeve photo: Sheila Stewart & Elizabeth Stewart by Graham Brotherston. Copyright in song arrangements reserved to the individual artistes while copyright in the recordings is reserved to the East of Scotland Traditional Song Group and Autumn Harvest Recordings. |