Fidhleirean Eilean An Fhraoich.
Chairman’s Report 2004 AGM.
Firstly I would like to thank those committee members whom have over the year done lots of work regarding the fiddle group.Taransay two was a resounding success in all respects .
The concerts in the Legion to raise funds for the hall were a disaster on both occasions.
The potatoes and herring night in the golf club was a success with good funds being raised.This well worth repeating.Thanks to Isobel Macritchie and Willie Macrae for help there.
Appearances in public included the Church of Scotland fete as well as appearances at the Accordion and Fiddle club where the fiddlers get most exposure.This is a great opportunity where any potential fiddlers can sample what we are about.
There is still a problem in attracting new members and more effort is required to attract new members to the club even if players are at an early stage.
Our independence is being threatened.
I have been approached to become affiliated with an umbrella organisation.There is now so much demand for funding with other organisations after their slice of the action the powers that be are not going to hand out funding to everybody.
Nevertheless the decision will soon have to be taken do we almalgamate,or become affiliated,or stay independent.It is up to you.
Even at this late stage funding for Taransay 3 (CNES) is not forthcoming and even after all this time we are being confused with Accordion and Fiddle club who also apply for funding for tuition.
I would like to thank WIE and CNES for their funding up to this point.Their contribution makes life a bit easier financially.
The hall costs are approx #500-600 per annum.This is a large sun as we never had to pay this kind of money previously.There was a misunderstanding regarding hall access recently.This has now been sorted out and we can use the hall during the week as long as the keyholder is informed.
Keyholders in the fiddle group are,Dolan,Kenny and Woody.
The tune books and cds have been a success with 20 copies of book 1 ,5 copies of cd 1 been sold.
Tune book 2 is now ready and available to order.
All proceeds to club funds.
It is hoped to get Patsy Reid back for a series of tuition weekends.Hopefully these will be starting soon.
It would be nice to find out numbers to see how many are interested bearing in mind at Patsys` last class there were only five fiddlers.
Taransay 3 is just about organised.Tutors are Charlie mackerron,Chris Stout,Alistair White, and Patsy Reid.
Taransay fiddle club has just been voted No1 fiddle camp in the Uk on the Fiddle on magazine.This is good news for the club and I would like to thank everyone for their contribution.
Slow sessions should be every Monday and I thank my esteemed vice-chairperson for spending time doing slow sessions and teaching new tunes throughout the year.If we publicise the slow sessions I reckon we could get more fiddlers out there interested.
The club is also looking for volunteers.There is plenty to do.
We still have an outstanding problem and it is a shame that I have to report the fact that we still have not received the flight case for our mixer from Fonn after two years.
Mr W ood is still negotiating with Mr Eadie but if we are not successful we will be taking legal action against Fonn Music Shop.The outstanding sum is #120.00
There was a recording made of the concert in Tarbert last year after Taransay.It is an excellent concert but the sound is a bit distorted in some parts .If any members would like a copy let the chairman know and he will make a copy.Price #5.00 each for club funds.
A meeting took place in Tarbert last August with Harris Arts and Leisure,CNES and myself.Is is hoped to take some youngsters from Harris over to Taransay this year to give them a taste of Taransay.Mr Duncan Macpherson,Harris has organised another meting in a couple of weeks and it is hoped that any funding that he gets we will be invited to the fiddle tuition in Harris.
Finally I would like to thank all Committee members,members and volunteers for making the club so successful throughout the year.
Chairman,Dolan Morrison
Author: dmorrison
Dolan Morrison is Chairman of Fidhleirean Eilean an Fhraoich and the first point of contact for anybody interested in coming to Taransay Fiddle Camp.
Taransay Traditional Fiddle School 2004.
Taransay Traditional Fiddle School 2004.
19th-23rd July
Third Taransay Fiddle School.
Taransay 2004 finished Friday 24th July with a concert and ceilidh in Tarbert village hall.Both events were sold out with the quality performances by all artists being of the highest quality yet acheived.
Artists included ,Ian Copeland from Peatbog Fairies,Charlie Mackerron of Caper ceille and Session A9, Chris Stout from Shetland who plays with Fiddlers Bid amongst others,Patsy Reid,Lochaber,Alison Macleod,Inverness,Nancy and Dave Carmaechal from Arizona who entertained us all with amazing bluegrass fiddle tunes.Accompaniement on keyboards was by Andy Thorburn of the popular band Blazin` Fiddles.Sarah Naylor from Breakish in Skye entertained also this year.Sarah is a wonderful traditional fiddle player and we hope to have her teaching in Stornoway in the near future.Our very own Alsitair White (Battlefield Band)contributed enormously to the event and is developing into a very respescted tutor.Ewan Macpherson from Uist taught mandolin all week and his class was busy .
All the students both advanced and intermediate performed at the concert .The quality of the tutoring was evident by the exceptional performances by the students.
Forty students from as far afeild as Arizona,USA and Melbourne, Australia London,Belfast,etc attended the fiddle course which this year had additional lessons in keyboard accompaniment,piping masterclass,stepdancing. and mandolin.
A first this year at the school was a tune writing competition.This was won by joint winners Robbie Leask from Shetland and David Mackay from Belfast.The standard of composition was of an extremely high standard in the competition.The tune writing competition was also interesting as it was judged by a ‘Pop Idol” type of panel with “Fergie Maconald,Anne Lorne Gilles,and Simon Powell etc”This was extremely hilarious and went down well with the audience.
Another first was the Taransay gaelic choir with all students participating .The gaelic was supervised by Sandra Mackay from Point,Lewis and the musical arrangements were by Andy Thorburn of Blazin` Fiddles.
Three part harmony was the order of the day and it turned out to be a professional performance.
The gaelic choir performed to rapturous applause at the ceilidh in Tarbert.This was the first time many of the students were exposed to the gaelic language and gaelic singing and they all enjoyed the experience.
Again this year Highlight of the week was the thursday night traditional ceildh in the marquee when we had fourteen Heareach visitors sail over from Harris.They were entertained by the students and also the beautifull Gaelic singing of a young girl Catriona Watt from Stornoway as well as the Gaelic Choir.
This year it was particulary pleasing to have so many youngsters at taransay and they will surely benefit from being in the company of such talented and gifted tutors.
The fiddle school is gaining in popularity and is definately now one of the annual fiddle schools that fiddlers wish to attend nationally.Having won the Fiddle school of the year award this year Taransay Fiddle school is definately on the map.
Patsy Reid was her wonderfull self teaching Cape Breton tunes .Patsy is a wonderfull teacher when it comes to ornamentation and has proved to be one of our favourites.Her percussion class”on the fiddle” proved very popular again this year.Patsys` new CD was sold out at the camp.
Alsion Macleod taught stepdancing all week and had a large class to contend with.As demonstrated at the concert they all perfomed very well with their new steps.
Mr Andy Thorburn was a busy man teaching keyboard and accordion.Many students took an alternative subject on the fourth period of the day so Andy was kept busy teaching both disciplines.
Alan Henderson of the band Blazin` Fiddles was also at the camp in an advisory capacity and also taught some piping ,music reading,and assisted in nautical duties during the week.Alan has now been at Taransay fiddle school for three years and is an important member of the staff.
The unique experience of being on Taransay for a week really is something special with the visitors commenting on its natural beauty and also on the importance of nurturing and promoting fiddle music in the Outer Hebrides.Taransay fiddle school is a uniquely different fiddle school experience where a community environment is encouraged, with a hands on approach being the order of the day.As Taransay is uninhabited the students are confronted with isolation and unspoilt beauty and a bond is developed by the students as they work together on the island for a week.It also puts the students into the type of environment where fiddle music would have been played in the past.The younger students also become part of the team spirit and are extremely loyal and supportive to the cause.At the fiddle school all the young students are a credit to their generation.
Taransay fiddle school is run by local volunteers from Fidhleirean Eilean an Fhraoich in Stornoway who are commited to the development and re-establishment of traditional fiddle music in Lewis and Harris.
The school is partly public funded by CNES and Wie.According to a recent poll in the Glasgow Herald Traditional music was more worthy of public subsidy than any other type of music .Thirty six percent voted for traditional music out of five art forms.This is particulary encouraging but more must be done to enable the young local players access Scottish traditional music in all its different guises.
Finally the Fidhleirean Eilean an Fhraoich would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody concerned with the running of Taransay Fiddle School and hope to see you all again next year .
Thank You
Dolan Morrison
Number one Fiddle Camp in the UK
The annual Taransay Fiddle Camp off the Island of Harris,Scotland. has been
voted number one Fiddle Camp in the UK .
A straw poll in Spring 2004 edition of Fiddleon magazine gave Taransay
Fiddle Camp 40% of the vote.
Blazin` in Beauly fiddle school came second in the poll ahead of strong
competition from Edinburgh,Witney,Brigg a six other venues.
Taransay fiddle school is gaining in popularity and is definately now one
of the annual fiddle schools that fiddlers worldwide wish to attend .
Students from as far afield as USA, and Australia attend the fiddle course
which last year had additional lessons in keyboard accompaniment,piping
masterclass,and stepdancing
Past tutors have included Buddy Macmaster,Alan Henderson,Pete Cooper,Patsy
Reid,Aly White,Ronan Martin,Alison Macleod
As well as music workshops there are a golf
championship,football,stepdancing,historic walks,hillwalking,swimming,piano
tuition,fiddle composition classes,fiddle rythym classes,highland piping,as
well as lots of informal sessions,ceilidhs and concerts.
Fidhleirean Eilean an Fhraoich chairman Dolan Morrison paid tribute to all
committee members, local fiddlers,sponsors and volunteers who work extremely
hard every year for free to ensure that the fiddle camp is a success.
Dolan Morrison also confirmed the line up for this years camp which runs
from July19th-23rd,2004
These include Charlie Mackerron of Caperceille,Chris Stout from Shetland who
plays with Fiddlers Bid our very own Alistair White from the Battlefeild
Band and Patsy Reid ex Scottish Fiddle champion from Perth.
This an exceptionally strong line up with the emphasis on traditional
Scottish fiddle music.
Potato and Herring Traditional Music Event. (Bunta`ta angus Sgadan)
Potato and HerringTraditional Music Event. (Bunta`ta angus Sgadan)
Fiddlers of the Heather Isles on the Island of Lewis held a very traditional evening on the 28th November 2003.
Salted herrings and mackerels were served up during the ceilidh with boiled potatoes(roosters),butter and fresh milk.This was the staple diet on the islands up until not very long ago.Salting was the system of preseving the fish over the winter periods in days gone by before refrigeration.The fish were gutted and then layered in buckets and salted.This could then be eaten within a matter of weeks when boiled.
Fingers were used to eat the fish in the old days but it was noted that most guests used a knife and fork to eat the fish this time.
One of the benefits of eating salted fish of course is the tremendous thirst that develops after a while.
On the musical side of things performing at the ceilidh were Dougie Kane on the pipes,Catriona Watt gaelic singing,Sticks and Drones a local bagpipe and drums group,Heather isle fiddlers the local fiddle organisation,Campbell Maclean on accordion,the Kane brothers and star of the show “Tiene”which translates to Fire,Lynsday Macritchie(Keyboards),Judy Morrison(Clarsadh),and Catriona on low “D”whistle.The highlight of the Tiene performance was a beautiful version of Phil Cunninghams` Youngest Ancient mariner`.
The finale of the evening was all the fiddlers on stage playing a series of 6/8`s ,Nell Flahertys` Drake,Ness Bochan,Wee tod,Kenny Gilles of Portnalong to an Orcadian Strip the Willow.
Then followed a gaelic waltz to the tunes
MorunGeal Dileas,Cailuin mo Ruansa and Morag of Dunvegan.
It is refreshing to report that the majority of the musicians donating thier talents on the evening were teenagers.Every one of them are serious players in their own disciplines.It bodes well for the future of traditional music in the hebrides.
Dolan Morrison
Chairman
Fiddlers of the Heather Isles.
Taransay Fiddle School 2003. T2
Taransay Fiddle School 2003.
T2
Taransay 2003 finished Friday 25th July with a concert and ceilidh in Tarbert village hall.Both events were sold out with the quality performances by all artists being of the highest quality yet acheived.
Artists included Alan Henderson from Blazin` Fiddles,Pete Cooper ,London,Alistair White ,Battlefeild Band,Patsy Reid,Lochaber,Alsion Macleod,Inverness and all participating students,
Thirty three students from as far afeild as Pittsburg,USA and Melbourne Australia attended the fiddle course which this year had additional lessons in keyboard accompaniment,piping masterclass,stepdancing.
The weather was overall not too bad with rain for two days only.Bill Lawson from Norhton gave us a historic walk and talk on Thursday with many students taking the oppurtunity to take the four hour walk.
Highlight of the week was the thursday night traditional candlelight ceildh in the steading when we had fourteen Heareach visitors sail over from Harris.They were entertained by the students and also the beautifull Gaelic singing of Catriona Watt from Stornoway who was in Taransay for the first time..Unsurprisingly Catriona won the talent competition that evening against stern competition..Catriona is also a wonderful fiddler as are the youger members of the group including Donna,Lindsy and William.
The commitee of the Fidhlearein Eilean an Fhreaoich would like to thank the following,Brownie,Tarbert,Mackays of Horgabost,Melinda,Gus,Tammy,Catherine and Isobel,Willie Macrae,Fish farm boys,Ardhasaig,,Scone,Angus John,Robert and the Tarbert hall commitee,Macleods Motel ,Alex Murray Diving Co,Rod Huckbody,Lewis and Harris Pipe Band,Woodys` Express Parcels,Carpet World,CNES,WIE,and all others who gave us their assistance.
The fiddle school is gaining in popularity and is definatly now one of the annual fiddle schools that fiddlers wish to attend nationally.Whilst trying to maintain quality, numbers have to be minimised.Hopefully this can be addressed in the future to allow even more musicians to visit Harris .Daily visits to and from mainland Harris are envisaged in the future.
Also it is envisaged that the yougsters in Harris can get tuition from these excellent world class fiddle tutors in the future.Fidhleirean Eilean an Fhraoich are in discussion with Harris Arts and Leisure regarding this proposal.
Pete Cooper from London was very popular with his selection of material including American ragtime,Bulgarian and Bosnian music.This was a welcome break from continuous scottish music .All
the students appreciated the three Kopanistas from Bulgaria,and the Bessarabian (Moldovian)wedding dance.The american Pikes` Peak and East Tennesse Blues and also the ragtime tunes were especially popular.
Alistair White taught one of his own compositions “Amys` Extreme Snooker”,Seanamac Tube Station,some strathpeys and a scottische.He also demonstrated taught a Norwegian tune.We are quite proud of Alistair as he is home grown and has a future as a fiddle tutor.Also thanks to Alistair for his help on the boat on the wettest of days.
Patsy Reid was her wonderfull self teaching Cape Breton tunes Sandy Macyntyres trip to Boston and Stelles` trip to Kamloops.Patsy is a wonderfull teacher when it comes to ornamentation and has proved to be one of our favourites.Her percussion class”on the fiddle” proved very popular again this year.Patsys` new CD was sold out at the camp.
Alsion Macleod taught stepdancing all week and had a large class to contend with.As demonstrated at the concert they all perfomed very well with their new steps.
Mr Andy Thorburn was a busy man teaching keyboard and thanks also to Keith Morrison for helping Andy.Many students took an alternative subject on the fourth period of the day so Andy was kept busy teaching keyboards.
Finally the man himself Mr Alan Henderson.Not only did he give a piping masterclass but he stepped into the breach Wednesday morning to help Willie with the boat to take all the visitors across on the open day.In Alans` fiddle class he taught his own tune Kyle to Strathcarron as well as the two four march Duncan Henderson,and told many “yarns”
The original concept of Taransay was to involve as many local young fiddlers as possible to introduce them to “workshops”,”fiddle camps”,”tutors”.So far this has been successful as our young fiddlers are now comfortable with the concept.This has been achieved by introducing the youngsters to world class tutors like,Buddy Macmaster,Alan Henderson,Pete Cooper,Patsy Reid,Aly White,Ronan Martin,Alison Macleod.
The unique experience of being on Taransay for a week overshadowed the rather inclement weather.
The fabulous menus set up by Isobel and Catherine were a joy.As for Taransay itself may i quote Mr Allan Macleod,Inverness”The island is so interesting from the historical, flora and fauna etc point
of view that you could spend a week there with no music at all.”
Thanks also to Rod Huckbody,Maggie Macinnes,Ali Abassi,Calum Watt etc etc who came over to visit us on our open day.
The chairman would like to take this opportunity to thank all the backroom staff for doing a sterling job which included the logistical difficulties of transporting students and equipment safely to and from Taransay .
Thank You
Dolan Morrison