Post by Traditional Music Forum on Mar 27, 2021 18:15:25 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.
Worrying discussions over the last couple of weeks with colleagues about the Youth Music Initiative (YMI), which has been key in developing awareness of traditional music in young people, often a first step to further involvement in the music, and an important source of work for many trad music freelancers. It was established as a £10m fund in 2003, and stayed at that level until a 10% cut was applied two or three years back. Disappointed to see that it's been cut again, both what's called the Formula Fund for work in schools (£1m cut) and the Strengthening Youth Music fund (£1.3m cut - the irony is not lost). This means that a source of funding for youth music which stood at £10m only three years ago is now standing at £6.7m - cut by a third, and more in real terms when inflation is taken into account.
Extremely concerning is this blog from a young woman who writes of being abused by male folk musicians in a position of responsibility at unnamed summer schools. I don't think she is talking about experiences in Scotland (although you can't be sure), but the issues she raises need to be addressed by organisers and tutors, perhaps with training and tighter guidelines. And maybe more attention to pastoral care, especially in residential situations?
I sat in on a seminar organised under the auspices of UNESCO this week, on the effect of Covid on festivals world-wide. The discussion was mostly concerned with big-city festivals (the speakers were from Adelaide, Edinburgh, Krakow and Singapore) and, it being a UNESCO event, high-sounding phrase-making was very much the order of the day. I didn't take that much away that was useful for our community, but I liked Pavel Potoroczyn from Krakow though, and his assertion that 'festivals were as old as culture itself' and his notion that festivals were like a giant brain, 'ideas at work, networks and synapses'. Useful too to be reminded of this, UNESCO's Recommendations on the Status of the Artist.
Frank Turner is a big draw down south, headlining a lot of festivals last summer. He took part in an experimental, socially distanced gig at the Clapham Grand in London this week. Not a great success apparently, either as an experience or at the box office.
I voted for TMF members, Drake Music Scotland in the Persimmon Homes Building Futures fund. Only takes a few seconds if you'd like to add your vote.
Nominations for the Scottish Album of the Year award close later today (Friday). Folk albums have usually figured in the final twenty, but have yet to feature among the winners. Could this be the year?
TRACS/ The Scottish Storytelling Centre has been doing a monthly Ceilidh House, bringing together online music, storytelling and dance, until such time as we can do it in three dimensions again. This month's edition features fiddle music from Robbie Greig, one of Stanley Robertson's 'Jack' tales (told in Scots) by Jackie Ross, and some step dancing from Kae Sakurai.
You may have seen that Taylor Swift released (I can't bring myself to write 'dropped') an album titled 'folklore' last week. The long-established #FolkloreThursday hashtag on Twitter, normally used to exchange interesting snippets of folkloric information, got bombed by Taylor fans who had unwittingly picked it up to share their enthusiasm. The American Folklore Society got in on the act, using the opportunity to spread the word to those who might have been unsure about the term, 'folklore'. A couple of blogs, by folklorists Jeana Jorgensen and The Carterhaugh School make some excellent points (including some relevant to the second item above) about the whole affair. The music? Try this
I've been enjoying JP Bean's 'Singing from the Floor', a history of British folk clubs, a reminder of the energy and enthusiasm around the early days of the folk club scene in the words of the people who were there. Several people make the point that it was driven by audiences, and such was the enthusiasm that at one time there were more clubs than performers available to play in them. Singer Fraser Bruce has been working on a book about the scene in Scotland in the sixties. Looking forward to seeing that when it appears.
RIP Tommy 'Tucker' Johnston, master drummer, and a much loved part of the pipe band scene.
All the best
DF
David Francis is Director of the Traditional Music Forum
Copyright © 2020 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.
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp