Schmaltzin - Music

The Five Members Of Borders Young Fiddles Have Grown Up Steeped In Traditional Music Through Playing With Parents And Membership Of Youth Music Groups Going To Summer Schools And Workshops. Tuition From Superb Borders-Based Musicians Such As Lucy Cowan And Iain Fraser Has Been Particularly Inspirational. The Traditional Music Scene In The Borders Which Has A Long History Has Become Very Active Again In Recent Years. A Number Of Key Musicians Have Had A Great Influence. From Lucy Cowan Exquisite And Renowned Musician And Teacher To The Border Fiddlers Jimmy Nagle And Wattie Robson Drawing For Their Own Experience On The Work Of Tom Hughes And Bob Hobkirk. In Recent Times A Number Of Well-Known Established Musicians Have Also Chosen To Base Themselves In The Borders. Of Those Iain Fraser Has Been Very Influential Through Teaching And A Willingness To Share His Musicianship. Other Locally-Based Musicians Who Have Given Their Time To Work With Young Players Include Ian Lowthian Judith Linton Catriona McDonald Mary Gristwood. Often Young People's Musical And Technical Development Is Supported Through Instruction In School And Taking Part In The Regional Orchestras And Ensembles. Members Of Borders Young Fiddles Have Been Variously Guided And Supported Through Their Formative Years By A Group Of Music Instructors Including - Simon Johnson Barbara Mythen Barbara Mooney David Wilson Ronald Drummond Harris Playfair Sheila Sapkota In Turn Encouraged By Regional Adviser Alistair Salmond. All Musicians Are Open To Influence From All Sorts Of Sources And The Members Of BYF Have Absorbed Much Of What They Have Been Exposed To By Singers Accordionists Flute Players And Other Fiddlers. It Is Necessary To Mention The Work Of Pipers Gordon Mooney And Matt Seattle In Finding Re-Working And Re-Establishing A Borders Repertoire For The Border Pipes And Through Their Own Performances Recordings And Publications Making It More Accessible. Throughout Their Teenage Years The Borders Young Fiddles Members Have Attended Many Workshops And Festivals Which Has Undoubtedly Had A Big Influence On Their Playing. Playing With Family Groups And Other Bands Has Helped To Build Their Repertoires. Now They Are All Involved In Teaching And Passing-On The Tradition In Their Own Right Lori As A Senior Tutor With Glasgow Fiddle Workshop At The Royal Scottish Academy Of Music And Drama Festivals And Privately Shona With Caedmon Folk In Newcastle And At The Selkirk Traditional Music Centre Innes Also With Glasgow Fiddle Workshop And Privately Rachel And Allan Have Also Worked With Pupils On A Private Basis And Within The Youth Groups They Play With. Lori Innes Rachel And Allan Have Been Long Term Members Of The Small Hall Band Which Has Had A Seminal Influence In Providing A Learning And Playing Platform For Traditional Music For A Large Number Of Young Borders Musicians. Lori Was A Founder Member At The Small Hall Band's Formation Back In 1994. Lori Innes And Rachel Have Also Lent Their Skills To Professional Borders Ceilidh Band Clarty Cloot. Shona Has Played Extensively With Her Mum And Dad Barbara On Flute And Bassoon And Gordon Renowned Piper. read less