Box and Fiddle
Year 03 No 03
November 1979
Price 15p
8 pages
8 month subscription £2
Editor - Ian Smith, 50 Mount Vernon Road, Stranraer
Editorial
This has been quite a month, first the Perth Festival and the success of the Black family from Stanley, then there was the Will Starr Memorial Concert in the Civic Centre, Motherwell with its final for the Memorial Shield, won for the first time by Ian Horsburgh. Langholm held their Festival too and Dermot O’Brien is on a tour of the Clubs.
Subscription rates have had to be increased. I have held off as long as possible but the new postal rates are having their effect. Clubs please take note, the postal rates also affect Club papers, but these rules cannot be altered until passed at an AGM. There seem to be more increases planned by the GPO, do they never consider their customers?
Derek has started a new column based on the ‘Take the Floor’ series on BBC Radio. Bye the bye, I hope you are writing in and supporting the programme and don’t forget to mention you want Robbie Shepherd’s programme back ‘Strap on the Box’.
‘Accordions Galore’ pay tribute to Will Starr
by Ian Smith
This concert was a variety show to pay tribute to the late Will Starr and the proceeds were to go to Cancer Research. Twelve hundred people filled the Motherwell Civic Centre on Sunday, 21st October 1979 and at the end they all went home enthralled by accordion music of the finest quality. It was a knock out.
The organiser and live wire was one Peter Paterson from Bellshill. Along with the concert there were the three finalists for the Will Starr Memorial Shield. Previous to these three finalists the field was narrowed by adjudicator George Stirrat.
It was George and his Band who got the concert off to a bouncy start. Their music lifted the audience 12 inches off the floor and they didn’t come down till the last note of the concert disappeared into the misty heights of the hall.
The second act started with George and the band still on the stage and a bevy of bonnie lassies dancing with grace and agility – they were the Johnston Highland dancers.
There was a change for the third act, Country and Western singer Roy Dane, then again another change, young Janice Graham, a pupil of James McEwan (more of James later) on electric organ.
Yet again another change with a sentimental moment as the Croy Miners’ Choir took the stage. Their fine singing was a treat to listen to and they got a special clap when they finished their spot.
The final act of the first half ended with a stirring stream of music from Walter Perrie. Walter’s no’ big, but by the great Lord Harry he can handle that box. Before Walter we heard the new Scottish Junior Champion Accordionist and this whetted the appetite for the three finalists.
The second half started off again at the gallop with the Highland Dancers and they were followed by a young accordion group, The Jays with Lynn MacIntyre. They had, as the programme said, great versatility.
Another sentimental moment – Will Starr’s accordion was then shown, and this was followed by a wee lad, no more than three, who played a few notes. Then Peter Paterson himself, resplendent in Highland dress and kilt, delighted the audience in song including his own composition in tribute ‘The Starr has Gone’.
It was now time for the three finalists for the Shield. They were John Morgan, Slamannan, Bob Foster from Nantwich, Cheshire and Ian Horsburgh. Each did a five minute programme. The adjudicators for this were Walter Perrie and myself. The winner was Ian Horsburgh, closely followed by John Morgan and Bob Foster.
After this the audience were treated to a display of button box playing, reminiscent of Will, by Billy McGuire. Billy was at his best and it was great to listen to.
After the presentations were made and bouquets presented to Will’s sisters, Walter came back on stage and really went to town. Still this show wasn’t over. Walter called for Billy and a stramash was the order of the night. This audience wouldn’t go home. They shouted for more and more again. It was just like a club night.
It was noted that there were quite a number of Club members in the audience. “So what?” as one, Willie Wilson of Beith said, “Where there’s accordion music I’ll be there” – and so say all of us.
Peter Paterson announced that steps were being taken to form an accordion orchestra to be known as the Strathclyde Accordion Orchestra and that anyone interested should contact himself.
As Peter said, the fiddlers have their Golden Fiddle Awards and Strathspey and Rells Societies so it is time we had our orchestra, not to compete against the fiddlers but to compliment them. It can do nothing but good.
Langholm Festival full of Interest
Langholm, the ‘Muckle Toon o’ the Borders’ nestling under the brooding hills, was the scene of the Accordion and Fiddle Festival. A better place for a festival could not be got ; a picturesque town and full of interesting places to see.
The hall itself has great acoustics and this brought out to the full the sounds of the musicians as they vied to get among the awards. Competition is the spice of life and this was spicy. This is not only and accordion and fiddle festival, the whole show goes on for a fortnight. Mini pipe band contests, art exhibition (which our cartoonist has a hand in), slide shows, Scottish Country dancing, brass band contests and a play presented by the Sunday School and supported by the Langholm Orchestra.
Saturday, 6th October ’79, was reserved for the accordionists and fiddlers. Contestants came from as far afield as Inverness and Carlisle.
Here then are the fiddle winners :-
Juniors : Bow or Music Stand
1) Dan Jenkins (Jedburgh)
2) Edith Cowan (Langholm)
3) Carol Dobson (Langholm)
Seniors : Challenge Cup
1) Gregor Borland (Inverness)
2) Angus Rogerson (Jedburgh)
Open : E & L Advertiser Cup
1) Hugh Boreland (Inverness)
2) Frank Robb (Dundee)
3) Albie Tedham (Langholm)
Border S&R Society : Olive Waugh Trophy
1) Albie Tedham (Langholm)
2) Watt Robson (Denholm)
3) John Cowan (Langholm)
Quartets : Border S&R Society Trophy
1) The Chamber Pot (Langholm)
2) Cyril Robb Quartet (Forfar)
3) Gartocharn Quartet (Livingstone Village)
Accordions
Junior Challenge Cup
1) Gary Donaldson (Glenrothes)
2) Heather Plunkett (Stranraer)
3) Fiona Stewart (Carlisle)
Intermediate : Robert Graham Challenge Cup
1) Ann Plunkett (Stranraer)
2) Heather Plunkett (Stranraer)
3) Janice Gray (Beeswing)
Open : George Bell Memorial Trophy
1) Gary Blair (Glasgow)
2) Gary Donaldson (Glenrothes)
3) Tommy Pringle (Selkirk)
Trios
1) Tommy Pringle (Selkirk)
2) Willie Duff (Langholm)
3) P. McKay
The day’s proceedings ended with a concert. Taking part were all the finalists of the whole Festival.
The presentations were made by Mrs Andrew Jeffrey, wife of the Chairman of the Festival Committee.
A Black Day at Perth Festival
Bill Wilkie, Mr Mac Musicman of Perth has done it once again. Under his leadership, his staff worked non-stop all day and the result was another smash hit. This was the 30th Festival and it surely must rank as the best ever.
There was, as one comes to expect, competitors from all over the country, each of outstanding ability, technique and youth that one became bemused and slightly overawed the way the fiddlers flew over the strings and the blur of young fingers forging such music out of those squeeze boxes.
There was the fairyland of the colourful display of accordions in the main hall and the sheet music stand.
There was also, as a bonus, not one concert but two. Concert is a tame word for such an event. These concerts that Bill puts together are ‘Best Sellers’ in the best sense of the words.
They produced everything that was the finest in musicianship. Accordion orchestras, singers, comedy, not one, but two of Scotland’s best Scottish Dance bands Ian Holmes and Bobby Crowe and to cap it all, the suave, sophisticated Peppino Principe. But to me the highlight was once again with the youth, the Irene Gunn girls and their ‘Can Can’. This beats everything, young girls from three years to twelve doing everything that Can Can girls do with such enthusiasm. This was both hilarious and delightful.
Once again the finals of the Championship were decided and it must be said that adjudicator Jimmy Blue did a most difficult job, in as fair and unbiased a way as one could expect.
The Concert on the Sunday was, I believe, a repeat of the Saturday one. The dance bands were replaced by the John Ellis SDB and an additional attraction was that celebrated female accordionist Pearl Fawcett.
As most people will know by now the Senior Accordion was won by Robert Black of Crawbutts, Stanley, Perth. This was Robert’s first attempt at the seniors after winning the Junior’s three years in a row and to give his father a day to relish for years to come Robert’s younger brother Duncan won the Juniors.
Robert is taught by John Huband of Dundee and Duncan by Peter Bruce of Wilkie’s School of Music.
Here are some of the winners :
Senior Accordion – Robert Black
Junior Accordion – Duncan Black
Higher Intermediate Free Bass – Colin Johnstone
Intermediate Free Bass – Martha Wilson
Elementary Free Bass – Craig Munnoch
Preparatory Band – Joe Bruce Accordion Band
Elementary Band – Dundee Accordion Band
Under 14 – Edward Galley
Elementary Duet – May & Margo Taylor
Bell Trophy – Hugh Galletly
Junior Area – James Crabb
Intermediate Duet – Shona Leitch & Shona Maitland
Higher Intermediate – Richard Ross
Area Advanced champion – Garry MacLaughlan
Under 12 – Ian Skinner
Under 10 – Lynn Mathieson
Under 8 – David Hendren
Prepatory Solo – Grant Leslie
Junior Girls – Carol Farquhar
Own composition – 1) Willie Lawrie 2) George Bell 3) Graeme Mitchell
Trios – 1) Duncan Black (77) 2) George Bell (69) 3) Robert Black (66)
Fiddles – 1) Gillian Yellop 2) David Morrice 3) Kathleen Smith
Space is not available to give all the results.
The Reel Radio
by Derek Hamilton
1979 has been a good year for regular listeners to BBC Radio Scotland.
First there was the new format for Scottish Dance Music. It has retained its long-loved character, but has brought new bands and encouraged new music in new styles. The introduction of ‘Bandleader’s Choice’ has broadened the scope of the performing bands – a scope for so many years stifled by rigid traditionalism.
There was also ‘Strap on the Box’ an armchair Accordion and Fiddle Club presented by Robbie Shepherd. This gave a much more ‘in depth’ look at many aspects of the music we all love. The idea is great. It’s just a bit of a pity that the programmes were recorded so far in advance of broadcasting. Some of the impact of listeners comments were lost. That apart, another series must surely be planned.
‘Intermezzo’ allowed at least one of its programmes to be devoted to our kind of music. Douglas Muir, the maestro of John Ellis’s front line, gave a superb performance of his choice of music on the accordion. The BBC even repeated this just after the dance music recently.
Plans are in the pipeline for more changes in programmes. Changes for the better I hasten to add.
It strikes us in the ‘Box and Fiddle’ that as well as record reviews we should run a regular feature on radio programmes that feature our kind of music. Our first review appears elsewhere in this edition. Your comments will be much appreciated.
‘Take the Floor’
The new series of ‘Take the Floor’ got off to a flying start on Saturday, 29th Sept ’79 , at 6.15pm on Radio Scotland. The Wallochmore Ceilidh Band, led by Freeland Barbour and Sandy Coghill, were in fine form when they visited the island of Mull. This was the first of two broadcasts recorded on the island for the series. The other features young Robert MacLeod ( son of the famous father) and will be heard later in the series.
Before an enthusiastic audience the ‘Wallochs’ played their usual high standard with a fine mixture of music. Accent’ of course, was on the pipe stuff they do so well.
Week two of the series had David Findlay introducing the Lothian Scottish Dance Band led by George Meikle. The Kelso audience rose to the occasion. The Lothian’ like the Wallochs, is one of the newer broadcasting bands. They paly with attach that is lacking in some modern bands. Their modern harmonies can be attractive, but sometimes overdone. All in all, they produce a good, modern sound which is both lively and progressive. Vick Laidlaw, drummer with the band, used to broadcast with Bobby Jack. The Lothian have two LPs to their credit, both of which are still available in most shops. The Wallochmore Band, of course, have an LP out too on the Lapwing label called ‘Looking for a Partner’.
Already ‘in the can’ for the series are a whole host of top-class bands. Alex MacArthur from Biggar recorded the same night as the Lothian at Kelso and I hear whispers that the band went down a treat. I look forward to that broadcast eagerly.
Others to look forward to are Fraser McGlynn and Ronnie Easton, both recorded at Max Houliston’s ‘other’ place – Oughton’s in Dumfries. I was fortunate to be in Dumfries for the recording and I can tell you that Fraser and his splendid bunch played better than I’ve heard them for many a long year. Don’t miss that one when it comes over.
Ronnie Easton’s broadcast, unfortunately his last, was on the air on 20th Oct ’79.
By next edition I hope to have a full list of dates so that I can give you advance notice of who’s on when. Till then – happy listening.
Record Review
by Derek Hamilton
Accordion Club Favourites – Davie Stewart – Bluebell Records
Boxing Clever
by Jimmy Blair
In this month’s article I will deal with the five-row Continental Chromatic button-key keyboard. Unlike the melodeon or British Chromatic keyboard, which I described in y last article, the five row keyboard has the same sound on each button whether the bellows are pulled or pushed. At one stroke all chords are possible and because the octave is repeated every five buttons one can stretch far over two octaves between thumb and fifth finger!
There are actually only three rows in the basic keyboard. (The other two rows are repeats of the first two). This makes transposition very easy indeed. One can learn a tune in C major, for example, and by moving up a button or in a row, an immediate change of key is achieved with exactly the same fingering!
These are tremendous advantages over any other keyboard and there is also the fact that fast chromatic runs are as easy as falling off a log.
There are two main systems ; one running from inside to outside (as in Scandinavia) the so-called B system and the more popular system starting on the outside and working inwards. This C system is the system I have illustrated. Chord playing is fantastically easy in chromatic sequences, but can be tricky in diatonic passages because three rows are involved.
Most players use the first three rows of buttons normally and bring in the fourth and fifth rows to give easier fingering when necessary. Using three rows, only three fingerings are necessary for a major scale and three fingering for minor ones.
Using all five rows means that only one fingering is needed for major scales and one for minor scales. However, this makes sight reading a little awkward.
Most virtuoso players on the chromatic keyboard use the thumb but quite a few players use only four fingers. It goes without saying that using the thumb is much more preferable because arpeggio playing is then so much easier and more accurate.
I have mentioned the main advantages, but, of course, there are some disadvantages (nothing is perfect!). One is that scale playing is a little more complicated (there are no ‘easy’ keys because all scales have the same fingering). Thus pieces written for piano keyboard in C, G D, A or F B can be a bit more tricky on the chromatic keyboard. Against this some pieces written for the five-row chromatic are virtually impossible to play on the piano keyboard because of stretches involved and chromatic chord work.
Sight reading can be a little difficult because of the fact that passages can be played in many different ways when using all five rows. The problem is in deciding in a split second which rows to use!
For Scottish Dance music enthusiasts this keyboard does nor offer any advantages. For musette lovers there is a very definite advantage. For classical music I would say that there is little to choose between chromatic and piano keyboard but for modern avante-garde pieces written for the button keyboard there is no way that one could compete on equal terms using the piano keyboard.
Next month I will deal with a keyboard which I pioneered in Britain – the uniform keyboard.
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel)
Alnwick (Nag’s Head)
Balloch (Balloch Hotel) – 16th Dec ’79 Angus Fitchet
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 27th Nov ’79 & 18th Dec ‘79
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel)
Beith (Anderson Hotel) –
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) – 10th Dec ’79 Jimmy Lindsay
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) – 12th Dec ’79 Paddy Neary
Coupar Angus (Royal Hotel)
Cumbria (Huntsman Inn - Penton) – 21st Nov ’79 George Stirrat SDB
Cumnock (Tup Inn) – 18th Dec ’79 John Loch SDB
Derwentside (Royal British Legion, Consett)
Dumfries (Oughton’s)
Dunblane (Hydro) – 6th Dec ’79 Fiddlers Rally
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) – 6th Dec ’79 The Border Reivers
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) – 4th Dec Iain MacPhail SDB
Falkirk (Park Hotel) – 10th Dec ’79 Bill Douglas SDB
Forres (Brig Motel) – 12th Dec ’79 Iain MacPhail and Brian Griffin
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford)
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler)
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel)
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 21st Nov ’79 Jim Rennie & Friends
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) – 27th Nov ’79 Davie Stewart
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull)
Monklands (Georgian Hotel, Coatbridge) –
New Cumnock (Crown Hotel)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 26th Nov ’79 Willie Simpson Trio
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel)
North East (Seafield Arms) – 26th Nov ’79 Bill Black & Family
Oban (Park Hotel) – 12th Dec ’79 Jack Emblow Quintet with John McCleavey
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Dec ’79 Wallochmore Ceilidh Band
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Shetland (venue?)
Stranraer (Buck’s Head Hotel) – 3rd Dec ’79 Sandy MacArthur
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) – 18th Dec ’79 Wick Fiddlers
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Balloch
3. Banchory
4. Banff
5. Beith
6. Buchan
7. Coquetdale
8. Cumnock
9. Derwentside
10. Dumfries
11. Dunblane & District
12. Dunfermline
13. Dundee
14. Falkirk
15. Forres
16. Galston
17. Glendale
18. Highland
19. Kelso
20. Kintore
21. Langholm
22. Lockerbie
23. M.A.F.I.A.
24. Monklands
25. Newtongrange
26. North East
27. Stranraer
28. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976)
3. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1971)
4. Banchory A&F Club (1978)
5. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973)
6. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1971)
7. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974)
8. Buchan A&F Club
9. Coquetdale
10. Coupar Angus A&F Club
11. Cumnock A&F Club
12. Derwentside A&F Club
13. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s) (April 1965)
14. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971)
15. Dundee & District A&F Club
16. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
17. Falkirk A&F Club
18. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
19. Galston A&F Club
20. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
21. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
22. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
23. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976)
24. Kintore A&F Club
25. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967)
26. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973)
27. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973)
28. M.A.F.I.A.
29. Monklands A&F Club
30. Newcastleton Accordion Club
31. New Cumnock A&F Club
32. Newtongrange A&F Club (Oct 1977)
33. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
34. North Cumbria
35. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971)
36. Oban A&F Club (1975)
37. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
38. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970)
39. Rothbury Accordion Club (1974)
40. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978)
41. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
42. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
43. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975)
Not on official list (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
44. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
45. Club Accord
46. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
47. Fintry A&F Club
48. Gretna (June 1966)
49. Renfrew A&F Club
50. Straiton Accordion Club (opened? 3rd club to open – closed March 1979)
51. Wellbank A&F Club
This has been quite a month, first the Perth Festival and the success of the Black family from Stanley, then there was the Will Starr Memorial Concert in the Civic Centre, Motherwell with its final for the Memorial Shield, won for the first time by Ian Horsburgh. Langholm held their Festival too and Dermot O’Brien is on a tour of the Clubs.
Subscription rates have had to be increased. I have held off as long as possible but the new postal rates are having their effect. Clubs please take note, the postal rates also affect Club papers, but these rules cannot be altered until passed at an AGM. There seem to be more increases planned by the GPO, do they never consider their customers?
Derek has started a new column based on the ‘Take the Floor’ series on BBC Radio. Bye the bye, I hope you are writing in and supporting the programme and don’t forget to mention you want Robbie Shepherd’s programme back ‘Strap on the Box’.
‘Accordions Galore’ pay tribute to Will Starr
by Ian Smith
This concert was a variety show to pay tribute to the late Will Starr and the proceeds were to go to Cancer Research. Twelve hundred people filled the Motherwell Civic Centre on Sunday, 21st October 1979 and at the end they all went home enthralled by accordion music of the finest quality. It was a knock out.
The organiser and live wire was one Peter Paterson from Bellshill. Along with the concert there were the three finalists for the Will Starr Memorial Shield. Previous to these three finalists the field was narrowed by adjudicator George Stirrat.
It was George and his Band who got the concert off to a bouncy start. Their music lifted the audience 12 inches off the floor and they didn’t come down till the last note of the concert disappeared into the misty heights of the hall.
The second act started with George and the band still on the stage and a bevy of bonnie lassies dancing with grace and agility – they were the Johnston Highland dancers.
There was a change for the third act, Country and Western singer Roy Dane, then again another change, young Janice Graham, a pupil of James McEwan (more of James later) on electric organ.
Yet again another change with a sentimental moment as the Croy Miners’ Choir took the stage. Their fine singing was a treat to listen to and they got a special clap when they finished their spot.
The final act of the first half ended with a stirring stream of music from Walter Perrie. Walter’s no’ big, but by the great Lord Harry he can handle that box. Before Walter we heard the new Scottish Junior Champion Accordionist and this whetted the appetite for the three finalists.
The second half started off again at the gallop with the Highland Dancers and they were followed by a young accordion group, The Jays with Lynn MacIntyre. They had, as the programme said, great versatility.
Another sentimental moment – Will Starr’s accordion was then shown, and this was followed by a wee lad, no more than three, who played a few notes. Then Peter Paterson himself, resplendent in Highland dress and kilt, delighted the audience in song including his own composition in tribute ‘The Starr has Gone’.
It was now time for the three finalists for the Shield. They were John Morgan, Slamannan, Bob Foster from Nantwich, Cheshire and Ian Horsburgh. Each did a five minute programme. The adjudicators for this were Walter Perrie and myself. The winner was Ian Horsburgh, closely followed by John Morgan and Bob Foster.
After this the audience were treated to a display of button box playing, reminiscent of Will, by Billy McGuire. Billy was at his best and it was great to listen to.
After the presentations were made and bouquets presented to Will’s sisters, Walter came back on stage and really went to town. Still this show wasn’t over. Walter called for Billy and a stramash was the order of the night. This audience wouldn’t go home. They shouted for more and more again. It was just like a club night.
It was noted that there were quite a number of Club members in the audience. “So what?” as one, Willie Wilson of Beith said, “Where there’s accordion music I’ll be there” – and so say all of us.
Peter Paterson announced that steps were being taken to form an accordion orchestra to be known as the Strathclyde Accordion Orchestra and that anyone interested should contact himself.
As Peter said, the fiddlers have their Golden Fiddle Awards and Strathspey and Rells Societies so it is time we had our orchestra, not to compete against the fiddlers but to compliment them. It can do nothing but good.
Langholm Festival full of Interest
Langholm, the ‘Muckle Toon o’ the Borders’ nestling under the brooding hills, was the scene of the Accordion and Fiddle Festival. A better place for a festival could not be got ; a picturesque town and full of interesting places to see.
The hall itself has great acoustics and this brought out to the full the sounds of the musicians as they vied to get among the awards. Competition is the spice of life and this was spicy. This is not only and accordion and fiddle festival, the whole show goes on for a fortnight. Mini pipe band contests, art exhibition (which our cartoonist has a hand in), slide shows, Scottish Country dancing, brass band contests and a play presented by the Sunday School and supported by the Langholm Orchestra.
Saturday, 6th October ’79, was reserved for the accordionists and fiddlers. Contestants came from as far afield as Inverness and Carlisle.
Here then are the fiddle winners :-
Juniors : Bow or Music Stand
1) Dan Jenkins (Jedburgh)
2) Edith Cowan (Langholm)
3) Carol Dobson (Langholm)
Seniors : Challenge Cup
1) Gregor Borland (Inverness)
2) Angus Rogerson (Jedburgh)
Open : E & L Advertiser Cup
1) Hugh Boreland (Inverness)
2) Frank Robb (Dundee)
3) Albie Tedham (Langholm)
Border S&R Society : Olive Waugh Trophy
1) Albie Tedham (Langholm)
2) Watt Robson (Denholm)
3) John Cowan (Langholm)
Quartets : Border S&R Society Trophy
1) The Chamber Pot (Langholm)
2) Cyril Robb Quartet (Forfar)
3) Gartocharn Quartet (Livingstone Village)
Accordions
Junior Challenge Cup
1) Gary Donaldson (Glenrothes)
2) Heather Plunkett (Stranraer)
3) Fiona Stewart (Carlisle)
Intermediate : Robert Graham Challenge Cup
1) Ann Plunkett (Stranraer)
2) Heather Plunkett (Stranraer)
3) Janice Gray (Beeswing)
Open : George Bell Memorial Trophy
1) Gary Blair (Glasgow)
2) Gary Donaldson (Glenrothes)
3) Tommy Pringle (Selkirk)
Trios
1) Tommy Pringle (Selkirk)
2) Willie Duff (Langholm)
3) P. McKay
The day’s proceedings ended with a concert. Taking part were all the finalists of the whole Festival.
The presentations were made by Mrs Andrew Jeffrey, wife of the Chairman of the Festival Committee.
A Black Day at Perth Festival
Bill Wilkie, Mr Mac Musicman of Perth has done it once again. Under his leadership, his staff worked non-stop all day and the result was another smash hit. This was the 30th Festival and it surely must rank as the best ever.
There was, as one comes to expect, competitors from all over the country, each of outstanding ability, technique and youth that one became bemused and slightly overawed the way the fiddlers flew over the strings and the blur of young fingers forging such music out of those squeeze boxes.
There was the fairyland of the colourful display of accordions in the main hall and the sheet music stand.
There was also, as a bonus, not one concert but two. Concert is a tame word for such an event. These concerts that Bill puts together are ‘Best Sellers’ in the best sense of the words.
They produced everything that was the finest in musicianship. Accordion orchestras, singers, comedy, not one, but two of Scotland’s best Scottish Dance bands Ian Holmes and Bobby Crowe and to cap it all, the suave, sophisticated Peppino Principe. But to me the highlight was once again with the youth, the Irene Gunn girls and their ‘Can Can’. This beats everything, young girls from three years to twelve doing everything that Can Can girls do with such enthusiasm. This was both hilarious and delightful.
Once again the finals of the Championship were decided and it must be said that adjudicator Jimmy Blue did a most difficult job, in as fair and unbiased a way as one could expect.
The Concert on the Sunday was, I believe, a repeat of the Saturday one. The dance bands were replaced by the John Ellis SDB and an additional attraction was that celebrated female accordionist Pearl Fawcett.
As most people will know by now the Senior Accordion was won by Robert Black of Crawbutts, Stanley, Perth. This was Robert’s first attempt at the seniors after winning the Junior’s three years in a row and to give his father a day to relish for years to come Robert’s younger brother Duncan won the Juniors.
Robert is taught by John Huband of Dundee and Duncan by Peter Bruce of Wilkie’s School of Music.
Here are some of the winners :
Senior Accordion – Robert Black
Junior Accordion – Duncan Black
Higher Intermediate Free Bass – Colin Johnstone
Intermediate Free Bass – Martha Wilson
Elementary Free Bass – Craig Munnoch
Preparatory Band – Joe Bruce Accordion Band
Elementary Band – Dundee Accordion Band
Under 14 – Edward Galley
Elementary Duet – May & Margo Taylor
Bell Trophy – Hugh Galletly
Junior Area – James Crabb
Intermediate Duet – Shona Leitch & Shona Maitland
Higher Intermediate – Richard Ross
Area Advanced champion – Garry MacLaughlan
Under 12 – Ian Skinner
Under 10 – Lynn Mathieson
Under 8 – David Hendren
Prepatory Solo – Grant Leslie
Junior Girls – Carol Farquhar
Own composition – 1) Willie Lawrie 2) George Bell 3) Graeme Mitchell
Trios – 1) Duncan Black (77) 2) George Bell (69) 3) Robert Black (66)
Fiddles – 1) Gillian Yellop 2) David Morrice 3) Kathleen Smith
Space is not available to give all the results.
The Reel Radio
by Derek Hamilton
1979 has been a good year for regular listeners to BBC Radio Scotland.
First there was the new format for Scottish Dance Music. It has retained its long-loved character, but has brought new bands and encouraged new music in new styles. The introduction of ‘Bandleader’s Choice’ has broadened the scope of the performing bands – a scope for so many years stifled by rigid traditionalism.
There was also ‘Strap on the Box’ an armchair Accordion and Fiddle Club presented by Robbie Shepherd. This gave a much more ‘in depth’ look at many aspects of the music we all love. The idea is great. It’s just a bit of a pity that the programmes were recorded so far in advance of broadcasting. Some of the impact of listeners comments were lost. That apart, another series must surely be planned.
‘Intermezzo’ allowed at least one of its programmes to be devoted to our kind of music. Douglas Muir, the maestro of John Ellis’s front line, gave a superb performance of his choice of music on the accordion. The BBC even repeated this just after the dance music recently.
Plans are in the pipeline for more changes in programmes. Changes for the better I hasten to add.
It strikes us in the ‘Box and Fiddle’ that as well as record reviews we should run a regular feature on radio programmes that feature our kind of music. Our first review appears elsewhere in this edition. Your comments will be much appreciated.
‘Take the Floor’
The new series of ‘Take the Floor’ got off to a flying start on Saturday, 29th Sept ’79 , at 6.15pm on Radio Scotland. The Wallochmore Ceilidh Band, led by Freeland Barbour and Sandy Coghill, were in fine form when they visited the island of Mull. This was the first of two broadcasts recorded on the island for the series. The other features young Robert MacLeod ( son of the famous father) and will be heard later in the series.
Before an enthusiastic audience the ‘Wallochs’ played their usual high standard with a fine mixture of music. Accent’ of course, was on the pipe stuff they do so well.
Week two of the series had David Findlay introducing the Lothian Scottish Dance Band led by George Meikle. The Kelso audience rose to the occasion. The Lothian’ like the Wallochs, is one of the newer broadcasting bands. They paly with attach that is lacking in some modern bands. Their modern harmonies can be attractive, but sometimes overdone. All in all, they produce a good, modern sound which is both lively and progressive. Vick Laidlaw, drummer with the band, used to broadcast with Bobby Jack. The Lothian have two LPs to their credit, both of which are still available in most shops. The Wallochmore Band, of course, have an LP out too on the Lapwing label called ‘Looking for a Partner’.
Already ‘in the can’ for the series are a whole host of top-class bands. Alex MacArthur from Biggar recorded the same night as the Lothian at Kelso and I hear whispers that the band went down a treat. I look forward to that broadcast eagerly.
Others to look forward to are Fraser McGlynn and Ronnie Easton, both recorded at Max Houliston’s ‘other’ place – Oughton’s in Dumfries. I was fortunate to be in Dumfries for the recording and I can tell you that Fraser and his splendid bunch played better than I’ve heard them for many a long year. Don’t miss that one when it comes over.
Ronnie Easton’s broadcast, unfortunately his last, was on the air on 20th Oct ’79.
By next edition I hope to have a full list of dates so that I can give you advance notice of who’s on when. Till then – happy listening.
Record Review
by Derek Hamilton
Accordion Club Favourites – Davie Stewart – Bluebell Records
Boxing Clever
by Jimmy Blair
In this month’s article I will deal with the five-row Continental Chromatic button-key keyboard. Unlike the melodeon or British Chromatic keyboard, which I described in y last article, the five row keyboard has the same sound on each button whether the bellows are pulled or pushed. At one stroke all chords are possible and because the octave is repeated every five buttons one can stretch far over two octaves between thumb and fifth finger!
There are actually only three rows in the basic keyboard. (The other two rows are repeats of the first two). This makes transposition very easy indeed. One can learn a tune in C major, for example, and by moving up a button or in a row, an immediate change of key is achieved with exactly the same fingering!
These are tremendous advantages over any other keyboard and there is also the fact that fast chromatic runs are as easy as falling off a log.
There are two main systems ; one running from inside to outside (as in Scandinavia) the so-called B system and the more popular system starting on the outside and working inwards. This C system is the system I have illustrated. Chord playing is fantastically easy in chromatic sequences, but can be tricky in diatonic passages because three rows are involved.
Most players use the first three rows of buttons normally and bring in the fourth and fifth rows to give easier fingering when necessary. Using three rows, only three fingerings are necessary for a major scale and three fingering for minor ones.
Using all five rows means that only one fingering is needed for major scales and one for minor scales. However, this makes sight reading a little awkward.
Most virtuoso players on the chromatic keyboard use the thumb but quite a few players use only four fingers. It goes without saying that using the thumb is much more preferable because arpeggio playing is then so much easier and more accurate.
I have mentioned the main advantages, but, of course, there are some disadvantages (nothing is perfect!). One is that scale playing is a little more complicated (there are no ‘easy’ keys because all scales have the same fingering). Thus pieces written for piano keyboard in C, G D, A or F B can be a bit more tricky on the chromatic keyboard. Against this some pieces written for the five-row chromatic are virtually impossible to play on the piano keyboard because of stretches involved and chromatic chord work.
Sight reading can be a little difficult because of the fact that passages can be played in many different ways when using all five rows. The problem is in deciding in a split second which rows to use!
For Scottish Dance music enthusiasts this keyboard does nor offer any advantages. For musette lovers there is a very definite advantage. For classical music I would say that there is little to choose between chromatic and piano keyboard but for modern avante-garde pieces written for the button keyboard there is no way that one could compete on equal terms using the piano keyboard.
Next month I will deal with a keyboard which I pioneered in Britain – the uniform keyboard.
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel)
Alnwick (Nag’s Head)
Balloch (Balloch Hotel) – 16th Dec ’79 Angus Fitchet
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 27th Nov ’79 & 18th Dec ‘79
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel)
Beith (Anderson Hotel) –
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) – 10th Dec ’79 Jimmy Lindsay
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel) – 12th Dec ’79 Paddy Neary
Coupar Angus (Royal Hotel)
Cumbria (Huntsman Inn - Penton) – 21st Nov ’79 George Stirrat SDB
Cumnock (Tup Inn) – 18th Dec ’79 John Loch SDB
Derwentside (Royal British Legion, Consett)
Dumfries (Oughton’s)
Dunblane (Hydro) – 6th Dec ’79 Fiddlers Rally
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) – 6th Dec ’79 The Border Reivers
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) – 4th Dec Iain MacPhail SDB
Falkirk (Park Hotel) – 10th Dec ’79 Bill Douglas SDB
Forres (Brig Motel) – 12th Dec ’79 Iain MacPhail and Brian Griffin
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford)
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler)
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel)
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Kintore (Crown Hotel) – 21st Nov ’79 Jim Rennie & Friends
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) – 27th Nov ’79 Davie Stewart
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull)
Monklands (Georgian Hotel, Coatbridge) –
New Cumnock (Crown Hotel)
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 26th Nov ’79 Willie Simpson Trio
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel)
North East (Seafield Arms) – 26th Nov ’79 Bill Black & Family
Oban (Park Hotel) – 12th Dec ’79 Jack Emblow Quintet with John McCleavey
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 18th Dec ’79 Wallochmore Ceilidh Band
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Shetland (venue?)
Stranraer (Buck’s Head Hotel) – 3rd Dec ’79 Sandy MacArthur
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) – 18th Dec ’79 Wick Fiddlers
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Balloch
3. Banchory
4. Banff
5. Beith
6. Buchan
7. Coquetdale
8. Cumnock
9. Derwentside
10. Dumfries
11. Dunblane & District
12. Dunfermline
13. Dundee
14. Falkirk
15. Forres
16. Galston
17. Glendale
18. Highland
19. Kelso
20. Kintore
21. Langholm
22. Lockerbie
23. M.A.F.I.A.
24. Monklands
25. Newtongrange
26. North East
27. Stranraer
28. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Sept 1976)
3. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1971)
4. Banchory A&F Club (1978)
5. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973)
6. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1971)
7. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974)
8. Buchan A&F Club
9. Coquetdale
10. Coupar Angus A&F Club
11. Cumnock A&F Club
12. Derwentside A&F Club
13. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s) (April 1965)
14. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971)
15. Dundee & District A&F Club
16. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
17. Falkirk A&F Club
18. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
19. Galston A&F Club
20. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
21. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
22. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
23. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976)
24. Kintore A&F Club
25. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967)
26. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973)
27. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973)
28. M.A.F.I.A.
29. Monklands A&F Club
30. Newcastleton Accordion Club
31. New Cumnock A&F Club
32. Newtongrange A&F Club (Oct 1977)
33. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
34. North Cumbria
35. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971)
36. Oban A&F Club (1975)
37. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
38. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970)
39. Rothbury Accordion Club (1974)
40. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978)
41. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
42. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
43. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975)
Not on official list (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
44. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
45. Club Accord
46. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
47. Fintry A&F Club
48. Gretna (June 1966)
49. Renfrew A&F Club
50. Straiton Accordion Club (opened? 3rd club to open – closed March 1979)
51. Wellbank A&F Club