Post by Traditional Music Forum on Mar 27, 2021 15:56:35 GMT
TMF Director's desk
These are some of the things that have caught my attention this week.
Congratulations to TMF Vice-Chair, Carol Main, who has been appointed to the board of Creative Scotland. With a review of CS's funding structures and new demands on funds coming post-Covid (among other things) coming down the turnpike there will be plenty of challenges. I'm sure we all wish Carol well.
While doing some research recently I came across a streaming platform called Sonstream, a valiant attempt at a musician-friendly alternative to the big guns. On looking at their 'folk' section, though, I was reminded of nothing so much as those record shops in times gone by that would have a 'folk' section tucked away in a corner of the shop - usually half a bin consisting of pan pipes, Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits, and something vaguely Irish with green writing and a photo of some fields on the front cover.
Make Music Day (21st June) is coming round again. It would be great to have lots of TMF members involved in this. You can get in touch with Making Music's Alison Reeves to talk through any plans you have for an event on the day and for any guidance or support you need. Alison will be hosting online meet-ups from 13 April to help you plan your event.
Highland Cathedral is a tune that evokes different responses, but there's no doubt it has become established as part of the piping repertoire. Now one of the composers of the original, Michael Korb, has produced a new tune in a similar vein, Highland Nocturne. It'll be interesting to see if it has the same impact.
An excellent little book came through my letter-box this week, Pete Castle's 'Folk Tales of Song and Dance' - 'The Phantom Piper of Kincardine', 'The Fiddler and the Bearded Lady', 'Dagda's Harp' and lots more including some of the old ballads like 'Johnny Faa' in story form.
I've been wrestling with Paypal this week. They've blocked our account asking for additional information, which they keep rejecting. I know Edinburgh Folk Club has had problems with them. Anyone else? One of the issues seems to be our Scottish charity number.
Still on financial matters, we're looking to change our bank to one of the more ethical options. The current front-runner is CAF Bank, but we'd be glad to hear from anyone who has experience of them.
Welcome to new TMF members, music services company, The Bothy Society, working with Whyte, Heisk, and Eabhal among others.
Meetings this week have included the European Folk Network, with Soundhouse's new chair, Ros Rigby, and with Creative Scotland. Contracts have been exchanged for the new Social Folk project, which we are working on in partnership with Scottish Music Centre, Showcase Scotland and Hands up for Trad. More on that soon.
News came in yesterday that Jock Duncan had died at the age of 95. Jock spent his early years working in the ferm touns of North East Scotland before working in forestry in Perthshire. During his time in both those occupations, and starting when he was still in his teens, he interviewed a number of World War 1 veterans about their experiences, coaxed from them by one of their own. Jock then painstakingly transcribed the recordings, many of them in the contributors' original Scots. These were edited and compiled by Gary West as 'Jock's Jocks', a fascinating and moving account of some terrible times. Some of the book was dramatised by Gary in a theatre piece of the same name. Jock was the most gracious of men, a splendid singer and entertainer. Anyone who saw his 'Tradesmen's Ploughin Match at Hogmanay' wouldn't forget it. They really don't make them like that any more.
All the best
DF
David Francis is Director of the Traditional Music Forum
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These are some of the things that have caught my attention this week.
Congratulations to TMF Vice-Chair, Carol Main, who has been appointed to the board of Creative Scotland. With a review of CS's funding structures and new demands on funds coming post-Covid (among other things) coming down the turnpike there will be plenty of challenges. I'm sure we all wish Carol well.
While doing some research recently I came across a streaming platform called Sonstream, a valiant attempt at a musician-friendly alternative to the big guns. On looking at their 'folk' section, though, I was reminded of nothing so much as those record shops in times gone by that would have a 'folk' section tucked away in a corner of the shop - usually half a bin consisting of pan pipes, Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits, and something vaguely Irish with green writing and a photo of some fields on the front cover.
Make Music Day (21st June) is coming round again. It would be great to have lots of TMF members involved in this. You can get in touch with Making Music's Alison Reeves to talk through any plans you have for an event on the day and for any guidance or support you need. Alison will be hosting online meet-ups from 13 April to help you plan your event.
Highland Cathedral is a tune that evokes different responses, but there's no doubt it has become established as part of the piping repertoire. Now one of the composers of the original, Michael Korb, has produced a new tune in a similar vein, Highland Nocturne. It'll be interesting to see if it has the same impact.
An excellent little book came through my letter-box this week, Pete Castle's 'Folk Tales of Song and Dance' - 'The Phantom Piper of Kincardine', 'The Fiddler and the Bearded Lady', 'Dagda's Harp' and lots more including some of the old ballads like 'Johnny Faa' in story form.
I've been wrestling with Paypal this week. They've blocked our account asking for additional information, which they keep rejecting. I know Edinburgh Folk Club has had problems with them. Anyone else? One of the issues seems to be our Scottish charity number.
Still on financial matters, we're looking to change our bank to one of the more ethical options. The current front-runner is CAF Bank, but we'd be glad to hear from anyone who has experience of them.
Welcome to new TMF members, music services company, The Bothy Society, working with Whyte, Heisk, and Eabhal among others.
Meetings this week have included the European Folk Network, with Soundhouse's new chair, Ros Rigby, and with Creative Scotland. Contracts have been exchanged for the new Social Folk project, which we are working on in partnership with Scottish Music Centre, Showcase Scotland and Hands up for Trad. More on that soon.
News came in yesterday that Jock Duncan had died at the age of 95. Jock spent his early years working in the ferm touns of North East Scotland before working in forestry in Perthshire. During his time in both those occupations, and starting when he was still in his teens, he interviewed a number of World War 1 veterans about their experiences, coaxed from them by one of their own. Jock then painstakingly transcribed the recordings, many of them in the contributors' original Scots. These were edited and compiled by Gary West as 'Jock's Jocks', a fascinating and moving account of some terrible times. Some of the book was dramatised by Gary in a theatre piece of the same name. Jock was the most gracious of men, a splendid singer and entertainer. Anyone who saw his 'Tradesmen's Ploughin Match at Hogmanay' wouldn't forget it. They really don't make them like that any more.
All the best
DF
David Francis is Director of the Traditional Music Forum
Copyright © 2021 Traditional Music Forum, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email as a member of Traditional Music Forum
Our mailing address is:
Traditional Music Forum
c/o Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High St
Edinburgh, Scotland EHI15 2AU
United Kingdom
Add us to your address book
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
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