Post by Traditional Music Forum on Mar 27, 2021 18:03:48 GMT
A weekly two minute catch-up for members from the
TMF Director's desk
These are some of the things that have caught my attention this week.
The week started off with a powerful statement, endorsed by the TMF, from the BIT Collective calling out sexual abuse and harrassment in our community, and calling for a change in the culture that pays lip service to equality but is often found wanting in practice. The week ended with an article by Rona Wilkie in Bella Caledonia which gives a personal account of what she has experienced and witnessed as a woman working in the trad scene.
Congratulations to Steve Byrne, who started a crowdfunder to buy 'for the nation' the bouzouki used by Roy Williamson of The Corries when Flower of Scotland was first heard on television. The money was raised in double-quick time, helped by a large, anonymous donation. The instrument, currently in private ownership, will go to Edinburgh University's Museum of Musical Instruments.
I mentioned last week that we're working with colleagues on plans for a programme of social media training for trad musicians. First stage is finding out some detail of where people are in their relationship with social media. Survey time again! Please pass this on to musicians in your own networks. The survey will be open until Friday 28 August.
We are delighted to celebrate the success of the mentors in our TradMentor programme, who have now received the Professional Practice Award in Mentoring through the Scottish Mentoring Network. TradMentor has just completed its first year, and will be advertising soon for new mentees. If you would like to know more, please contact our mentoring coordinator, Jo Miller
Our best wishes go to Linda Fabiani MSP, who is retiring from Holyrood at the next election. Linda has been a consistent ally of our music, not least during her time as Cabinet Secretary for Culture when she commissioned the Traditional Arts Working Group, which reported back in 2010.
A warm welcome to recently joined TMF members, Magnus Turpie, Chloe Bryce, and the Wrigley Sisters.
I've been invited to be a nominator for the Scottish Album of the Year, a delightful but daunting task. Trying to listen to as many as I can on Bandcamp, and not on Spotify unless that's the only source.
That man Steve Byrne again pointed us to a wonderful website called Folkstreams, where all kinds of archive film is on view. The site features mostly American material, but in there is a fantastic film titled 'Gypsies Sing Long Ballads'. The title is a wee bit deceptive as the film is about Scotland, where 'Travellers' is the preferred term these days. It features not only songs from the Stewarts of Blair among others, but dancing, storytelling, and an insight into Traveller life at the time it was made (1982).
Grace Notes latest publication is a collection of the hilarious daily posts made by Allan and Rosemary MacMillan during the first three months of lockdown. The book was launched this week with an online ceilidh hosted by Margaret Bennett. Lovely to see and hear so many great singers in one place. Proceeds from the book go to the Paddy Bort Fund, currently being deployed to help out musicians who are struggling a bit in the present environment.
Fiddler Lauren MacColl has been experimenting a lot with recording her instrument unadorned in various settings including the village hall at Abriachan by Loch Ness, where she made her album Landskein. This was made last month in the East Church in Cromarty.
All the best
DF
David Francis is Director of the Traditional Music Forum
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