[At the Fife Traditional Singing Weekend 2003] v7.10
Friday - Sunday 11, 12, 13 May 2007
at the
A celebration of traditional singing, the songs and the bothy ballads
- for singers and enthusiasts!
Monday 14 May at 7.30pm
at
THIS IS our fifth Fife Traditional Singing Weekend - a unique opportunity to meet, hear and talk with a selection of the finest exponents of Scottish traditional singing to be found today - and, of course, to participate in the singing.
The weekend will include:
Concerts ~ featuring the guest singers.
Singarounds and Sessions ~ where all who wish can participate.
Workshops/Talks ~ on topics related to traditional song and culture.
We welcome again Elizabeth Stewart (Friday to Sunday) from Mintlaw many of whose songs came to her from her family the Fetterangus Stewarts and in particular from her aunt Lucy the noted traditional singer. For the first time we welcome Gordeanna McCulloch (Friday to Sunday) who was first inspired to sing the ballads after hearing Jeannie Robertson in the 1960s. We will also be joined again by Ron Bissett (Friday to Monday) of Falkland the well known local bothy ballad singer and we welcome back our local, world renowned singer and storyteller Duncan Williamson (Saturday & Sunday). We again welcome Gordon Easton (Friday to Sunday) singer, fiddle player and raconteur from Tyrie in Aberdeenshire. For the first time as guest we will be joined by Henry Douglas (Saturday & Sunday) from Hawick with a repertoire of songs from the borders. Several other guest singers may join us for part of the weekend.
Elizabeth Stewart from Mintlaw has been singing the old songs and ballads since childhood, inheriting a rich traditional repertoire from her family, the Fetterangus Stewarts - in particular from her aunt Lucy Stewart who became widely recognised after the release of recordings of her singing made in 1960 by the American collector Kenneth Goldstein. Website.
Ron Bissett of Falkland was Born in Kincardineshire and came to Fife with his family when his father came as head shepherd to Kippo at Kingsbarns. Ron took his first job at Letham in 1950 - driving a pair of horse and living in the bothy. He learned some songs in the bothy and others from his mother and he was a member of the Fife Yokels bothy group when they competed in the Grampian TV Bothy Nichts competitions in the 1960s.
Gordon Easton (b.1923) is from the Blackhills of Tyrie near Fraserburgh, where his family has crofted for generations. He learned many of his old songs from his mother and grandmother and is well-known for his fiddle, jewÕs harp and ÔmoothieÕ playing, not to mention his considerable skills as a ÔdiddlerÕ. He has competed and sung at TMSA festivals for over twenty years and has won regularly in many categories and is an honorary life member of the TMSA. Website.
Duncan Williamson was born in a bow tent on the shores of Loch Fyne in 1928, the seventh of sixteen children. At fifteen he began a travellerÕs life working alongside dry-stane dykers and thatchers, learning the craft of a horsieman and earning his way in the scrap metal trade. His traditional tales and ballads, transcribed for publication by his second wife Linda, have brought him widespread fame with invitations from far and wide. He has lived many years in Fife and, now retired, lives in Ladybank. Website.
Gordeanna McCulloch began her singing in Norman BuchanÕs famous Ballads Club in the 60s where she heard and was inspired by the great Aberdeen ballad singer Jeannie Robertson. She went on to sing with Glasgow folk band The Clutha, travelling extensively at home and abroad singing powerfully and mainly traditional songs and recording several albums with the Topic label. She now sings solo and with the Glasgow based Eurydice Choir. Website.
Henry Douglas was born in the Yarrow Valley and has farmed all his life, mainly at Howahill near Bonchester Bridge. He is an enthusiast for BordersÕ poetry and song and has won the Traditional Singing competition at Newcastleton - most recently in August 2006. Very active in the Border common ridings he was Official Hawick Common Riding Song Singer from 1985 - 2000. He cites the late Willie Scott as his great friend and mentor. Website.
Note: the presenters names are linked to further website information.
Saturday morning ~ Timothy Neat: Hamish Henderson ~ the man. Tom McKean: The archive collection of songs and ballads recorded by James Madison Carpenter in the 1930s.
Sunday morning ~ Adam McNaughtan: Glasgow music hall tradition. Henry Douglas: My border traditions - songs from the Common Ridings and other songs from Hawick and the Borders.
Timothy Neat lives in Wormit, Fife. He is author of several books on folklore - The Summer Walkers:Travelling People and Pearl-Fishers in the Highlands of Scotland and The HorsemanÕs Word: Blacksmiths and Horsemanship in Twentieth-Century Scotland - two of five published by Birlinn. He has also covered some of the same subjects as a film maker, has been a lecturer at Duncan of Jordonstone College in Dundee and is currently working to complete a biography of Hamish Henderson the first volume of which is due for publication later in 2007. Website.
Dr Tom McKean is an enthusiast for Scotlands traditional songs. Born in the USA, a student of English literature, Gaelic and Scots and now Deputy Director of the Elphinstone Institute at Aberdeen University, he is one of a team working on the Carpenter Collection - an archive of cylinder recordings and texts of songs and ballads recorded in north-east Scotland by the American collector James Madison Carpenter during the 1930s. Website.
Adam McNaughtan has been collecting, writing and singing songs for three decades and has become one of GlasgowÕs best-loved characters. Many of his own songs have stood the test of time including such classics as Where is The Glasgow That I Used To Know, The Jeely Piece Song, The Yellow on The Broom and the hilarious Oor Hamlet, his reduced version of the Shakespeare play. He has researched and published on the PoetÕs Box song sheets, he was one of the editors of the Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection. During his time as a teacher he came to know many childrenÕs street and playground songs and he has taken an interest in GlasgowÕs music hall tradition - the subject of his workshop presentation. Website.
Shepheard, Spiers & Watson: The singing weekend is organised and hosted by a committee of Peter Shepheard, Tom Spiers and Arthur Watson who also sing together as Shepheard, Spiers & Watson. All three are enthusiasts for traditional song. Pete is a singer, musician and folk song collector and runs the Scottish music label Springthyme from his home in Balmalcolm. Tom lives in Auchtermuchty, sings and plays fiddle and was for many years a member of the Aberdeen based group The Gaugers. Arthur sings and plays whistle, was also in The Gaugers, founded the renowned Peacock Print Makers in Aberdeen and is now Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at the University of Dundee. Their recently released CD: They Smiled as We Cam In has been enthusiastically reviewed. Website.
Download programme & pdf order form: FifeSing2007.pdf
[If the pdf file does not download but does open on your screen - SaveAs and this will save the pdf file on your computer. Then open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have that programme you can download it Free from Adobe]
Friday 11th May
Evening Concert: 8.00pm - 10.30pm
The opening concert with songs and ballads from the guest artistes and participants.
Singaround: 10.30pm - 12.30am
An opportunity for all to join in a singaround with a song from their own repertoire.
Saturday 12th May
Illustrated Talk: 10.00am - 11.00am
Timothy Neat: Hamish Henderson ~ the man.
Illustrated Talk: 11.30am - 12.30pm
Tom McKean: The archive collection of songs and ballads recorded by James Madison Carpenter in the 1930s.
Ballad Concert: 2.00pm - 5.00pm
The guests and participants with traditional ballads from their repertoire. The classic big ballads - the muckle sangs.
Evening Concert: 7.30pm - 10.30pm
Songs from near and far: Guest artistes present their song and ballad traditions.
Singaround: 10.30pm - 12.30am
Another chance for all to join in a singaround with a song from their own repertoire.
Sunday 13th May
Illustrated Talk: 10.30am - 11.30am
Henry Douglas: My border traditions - songs from the Common Ridings and other songs from Hawick and the Borders.
Illustrated Talk: 11.45am - 12.45pm
Adam McNaughtan: Glasgow music-hall tradition.
Farewell Session: 2.00pm - 5.00pm
The guest artistes lead a farewell concert and singaround with songs from all who still have a good song to sing and a voice left to sing it!
Weekend ticket £24 (concession £20)
Friday Evening Concert £7 (£5)
All Day Saturday & Evening Concert £16 (£14)
Saturday Evening Concert £8 (£6)
All Day Sunday £8 (£6)
Full Programme & Order Form - Download pdf: FifeSing2007.pdf
For phone booking contact us at:
Peter Shepheard, Balmalcolm House, Balmalcolm, Cupar, Fife KY15 7TJ
tel: 01337 830773
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FifeSing1: Old Songs & Bothy Ballads
Here's a Health to The Company
Autumn Harvest AH002
Songs from the annual gathering - the Fife Traditional Singing Weekend of 2003 & 2004. Singers include Gordon Easton, Duncan Williamson, Sheila Stewart, Jock Duncan and Elizabeth Stewart.
details >
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FifeSing2: Old Songs & Bothy Ballads
For Friendship and for Harmony
Autumn Harvest AH003
A second volume of songs from the annual gathering - the Fife Traditional Singing Weekend of 2005. Singers include Joe Aitken, Norman Kennedy, Sheila Stewart, Louis Killen, Stanley Robertson and Elizabeth Stewart.
details >
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FifeSing3: Old Songs & Bothy Ballads
'Some Rants o Fun'
Autumn Harvest AH004 (To be on sale at FifeSing2007)
Another superb collection of old songs and bothy ballads recorded at the Fife Traditional Singing Weekend of 2006. Singers include Gordon Easton, Anita Best, Duncan Williamson, Geordie Murison, Ellen Mitchell and Maureen Jelks.
details >
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The FifeSing events are run by
The East of Scotland Traditional Song Group
Contact us at:
Peter Shepheard, Balmalcolm House, Balmalcolm, Cupar, Fife KY15 7TJ
tel: 00 44 (0)1337 830773
email: peter shepheard
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