11th Musselburgh Festival 1985
by Norrie Williams
B&F April 1985
Junior Accordion
Under 12 Traditional Accordion Solo – Pentland Cup
1) Scott Sneddon
12 and Under 16 Traditional Accordion Solo – Jim Johnstone Cup
1) Dianne Armstrong (Armadale)
Junior Accordion Solo Pipe Music – Bill Black Cup
1) Dale Galley (Forfar)
Junior Traditional Duet – Angus Howie Cups
1) Dianne Armstrong (Armadale) & Lynette Wood (Whitburn)
Senior Accordion
Senior Traditional Accordion Solo – Clinkscale Cup
1) Karen Leitch (Ayr)
Senior Accordion Pipe Music Solo – Bill Powrie Memorial Cup
1) Elizabeth Steven
Senior Overall Accordion Champion - The Bobby MacLeod Trophy
Alan Morrison
Own Composition – Willie Wilson Cup
1) Donald Shaw (Taynault)
Trios – Jimmy Blue Trophy
1) Neil Copland (Dundee)
Bands – Overall Winner - Iain MacPhail Cup
1) Colin Dewar (Kingskettle)
Band – Rhythm Section - Arthur Easson Memorial Trophy
Colin Dewar (Kingskettle)
CLASSICAL ACCORDION
Under 12 Classical Solo – Kelso Cup
1) Scott Sneddon
Under 14 Classical Solo – Aberdeen Cup
1) Stuart Law (Law Village)
Under 16 Classical Solo – Dundee Shield
1) Ian Lowthian
Open Classical Solo – Jimmy Clinkscale Shield
1) Alan Preston (Shotts)
Under 16 Classical Duet - Alex MacArthur Cups
1) Scott Higginson & Ian Brown
Open Classical Duet – Dunfermline Cup
1) Scott Leslie (Dunbar) & James Grant (Eyemouth)
FIDDLE
Junior Fiddle Solo – MSR – Strathspey and Reel Association Cup
1) Lorna Leitch (Ayr)
Junior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Dougie Welsh Memorial Cup
1) Alison Smith (Milngavie)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Strathspey, MSR – St. Boswell Cup
1) Bob Edward
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Ron Gonella Cup
1) Stella Clark (Dundee)
Youngest Girl Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Glenda Taylor
High Standard at Musselburgh ’85 Festival
by Norrie Williams
One or two of Robert Burns’ best-known lines could most certainly have been written specifically for the run-up to this year’s Musselburgh Festival. When the Secretary, Sheila Williams, succumbed to the flu bug on Friday, 1st March, no words could have more aptly described yours truly than ‘Oh, what a panic’s in thy breastie’.
And when in the small hours of Festival day itself, certain ewes in the foothills bordering the Almond Valley in Perthshire decided to start giving birth, the only thing that sprung to mind was ‘The best laid schemes o’ mice and men’ etc.
Why, because this population explosion among our wooly friends had rules out one of our adjudicators. But on this score our luck was in because Association Chairman Jimmy Blue was coming to lend a hand for the day in any required capacity, so within five minutes notice he stepped into the breech, teeming up with Kenny Thomson of Cumnock to graft solidly from 9am to 5.30pm.
Following the 7am phone call from Glenalmond, Jimmy Cooper, the Chairman of Oban Festival Committee (who had arrived at 7.15 and was immediately shanghaied into carting tables around) suddenly realised that this kind of thing can and does happen and that it’s not a bad idea to have a spare adjudicator up your sleeve.
Capable Helpers
But the Secretary had done her homework and despite these early setbacks the Festival was carried successfully through the day by a large team of most willing and capable helpers from the following Clubs – Beith, Dundee, Dunfermline, East Kilbride, Fintry, Galston, Lesmahagow, Lockerbie, Milngavie, Monklands, Newtongrange, Newton St Boswells, Perth and Renfrew. Non-club members from the Glasgow ‘Caley’, Methven and Stirling areas were also represented once again.
These tireless and very patient folk performed every task in the book without complaint – announcers, secretaries, scrutineers, doorkeepers, marshals, stewards, runners and of course in one instance accompanist for the fiddle classes.
Despite the fact that this boy’s colander-like memory had some of them doing marathon stints without relief, so that malnutrition was a distinct possibility, not one deserted his or her post. Our very warmest thanks to each and every one, you’re real toppers.
Another group who earned their corn in no uncertain terms were the adjudicators. Theirs is an onerous and responsible task and of course they run the gauntlet of parents and competitors who may not share their views. But in the opinion of those with whom I chatted they had all discharged their duties efficiently and shown good judgment.
While on this tack it may be of interest in passing to comment on our practice of changing a proportion of the panel each year. (This is of course done at other similar events). Even the judges may wonder if it is a reflection on their ability. Not so. It is to give the competitors (i.e. the heart and soul of the Festival) the best deal. Music is in the ear of the beholder and adjudicators have their own preference for style, content, interpretation, technical expertise and so on. For example, where one judge may rate technique as of prime importance – why use one note when 47 will do! – another will be looking for ‘dung in the dreel’ as it was aptly put to me by one of the panel.
This means that on occasion, certain players will have more success with one judge than another and vice versa, hence the rotation of staff.
New Faces
The three ‘new faces’ this year, Kenny Thomson, Bobby MacLeod and Ian Powrie passed with flying colours and needless to say their colleagues Rosemary Wright, Jimmy Blue and Jack Cooper (band rhythm section) did us proud once again. Where time permitted the verbal summing-up by the adjudicators was greatly appreciated by audience and competitors alike. Players, of course, lay great store by the judges’ written comments so how about this for one gem picked at random from the ‘Own Composition’ sheets – a waltz in this case “This tune has a quality that could be orchestrated beautifully and has a good musical content reminiscent of the style of Felix Burns. For its purpose this could be accepted in any band’s book.”
If that’s not encouragement I don’t know what is. We salute our adjudicators for their courage and dedication.
On the publicity and public relations front the Association owes a great deal to local press and radio stations. The ‘East Lothian Courier’ carried two pre-Festival write-ups and an appraisal plus results after the event. The ‘Dunfermline Free Press’ and ‘Fife Leader’ gave good coverage as did this paper. Which reminds me, Editor Ian Smith was there as always conscientiously but unobtrusively collecting the results as each class finished.
Excellent radio publicity for the event was given by
Radio Forth (Robin Brock)
Radio Tay (Billy Anderson)
Radio West Sound (John Carmichael) and
Radio Highland (Andy Ross)
The BBC pulled out all the stops with a lot of advance coverage on ‘TTF’ and on Festival day we were joined once again by the TTF team with some fresh faces this time round. The irrepressible Robbie was accompanied by Producer Ken Mutch, Joyce Reid (continuity, in natty colourful track suit which made her readily identifiable in the crowd) and finally recording engineers Brian Webb and David Steele.
As always these professionals went about their business in the most unobtrusive and pleasant manner with patience unlimited. We look forward to hearing the results of their labours and to hopefully welcoming them back next year.
I am sure that most will agree that the Brunton Halls complex has a unique atmosphere admirably suited to an occasion such as this. Everything was once again immaculate and shipshape for our enjoyment and the hall staff just couldn’t do enough to help.
The same was true of the local Congregational Church hall which was bright, warm and couthie. Thanks to the church board for the continuing use of their premises – greatly appreciated, we’d be lost without them.
Impact
On entering the Brunton Halls the foyer itself makes an immediate impact, creating a welcoming atmosphere which on Festival day is enhanced by displays of music, accordions and audio equipment. We are grateful to those who supported us in this way – Bell Accordions (Edinburgh & Motherwell), Charnwood Music (Leicester), Clinkscale Accordions (Melrose) and Gordon Simpson (Edinburgh).
On a long day like this one must eat and drink and as before first-class refreshments were dispensed with utmost efficiency and courtesy by our regular caterers, Harwells of Edinburgh. The choice of food was excellent and the quality of the highest. This firm are really becoming one of the family.
And now to the other meat and drink of the Festival, the music provided by the competitors in the 19 classes. One adjudicator commented that it had now really come home to him just how much effort the young players put in to prepare for this event. I would endorse that – it is heartbreaking that all cannot be placed but as we’ve said before it is the trying not the winning that counts.
Throughout all sections the playing was up to the very high standard that we have come to expect at Musselburgh. In the 43 strong Under-16 Traditional Accordion Solo class, several players were knocking very loudly indeed at the senior door! This year, because of circumstances, I was unable to hear much solo work, but, surprise surprise, I managed to get myself ‘trapped’ in the Main Hall during the band competition. It is hard to credit the continual rise in the standard in this class – the originality of content, the ingenuity in the arranging and harmony have to be heard to be believed.
Atmosphere
Deservedly the Main Hall was full to capacity at this point with folk two and three deep round the walls. Standing at the very back was able to soak in the unique atmosphere. It is during the group playing that Musselburgh all comes together, a time for the audience to let their hair down and give vent to their enthusiasm, a time for four adjudicators to do their nuts trying to accomplish the impossible and pick a winner, a time when each player gives of their best to support his or her team-mates and a time when the music produces a very strong emotional bond between audience and players.
It’s at this point that one can say ‘THIS IS MUSSELBURGH’.
But I digress. The bands finished dead on time at 5.30pm Then a burst of feverish activity by the stewards to clear the hall and prepare for the concert and a brief respite for some to grab a bite.
But not for Andrew Nairn of West Baldridge, Dunfermline who had been announcing for a good part of the day, had nipped home to change, and now immaculate in dinner suit, was back to compere the concert. By 6.30 we had to try and cobble a programme together, no easy matter as the majority of the various class winners had scattered on the four winds! Andrew was deputizing for Alex Little (MC) who was once again taking things a wee bit easier under doctor’s orders – we all wish him a speedy recovery to 100%.
Despite the panic and bedlam behind the scenes, Andrew kept the head and did a great job. The finals of the Senior Accordion Pipe Music Section added spice to the menu. One hesitates to single out any artistes for special mention because all were so good in their own way, but I’m sure I will be forgiven for spotlighting two of the young players who typified their age groups with their personality and performance – 10-year-old Glenda Taylor of Beith, the youngest competitor in the Festival, and the two-row button key player from Windygates in Fife, Bruce Lindsay Jnr. Look away and it was just Jimmy Shand playing.
The concert finished on a high note with rousing selections from the winning band – what else?
Another feverish burst of activity by those dedicated helpers and the hall was ready for the dance and what a dance, over 500 happy souls sweating it out literally in such tropical temperatures to the music of Jim Johnstone’s five-piece band and my goodness that band was in form right enough – a great finish to a great day.
Finally, acknowledgements are due to all Clubs who contributed to the raffle, to the British College of Accordionists for their assistance in selecting the classical test pieces and to the Festival Organising Committee who are
Mrs Joan Blue
Tom Clark
Eddie MacDonald
Bob Scott
Willie Wilson
And Secretary Sheila Williams – how we missed her on the day.
Under 12 Traditional Accordion Solo – Pentland Cup
1) Scott Sneddon
12 and Under 16 Traditional Accordion Solo – Jim Johnstone Cup
1) Dianne Armstrong (Armadale)
Junior Accordion Solo Pipe Music – Bill Black Cup
1) Dale Galley (Forfar)
Junior Traditional Duet – Angus Howie Cups
1) Dianne Armstrong (Armadale) & Lynette Wood (Whitburn)
Senior Accordion
Senior Traditional Accordion Solo – Clinkscale Cup
1) Karen Leitch (Ayr)
Senior Accordion Pipe Music Solo – Bill Powrie Memorial Cup
1) Elizabeth Steven
Senior Overall Accordion Champion - The Bobby MacLeod Trophy
Alan Morrison
Own Composition – Willie Wilson Cup
1) Donald Shaw (Taynault)
Trios – Jimmy Blue Trophy
1) Neil Copland (Dundee)
Bands – Overall Winner - Iain MacPhail Cup
1) Colin Dewar (Kingskettle)
Band – Rhythm Section - Arthur Easson Memorial Trophy
Colin Dewar (Kingskettle)
CLASSICAL ACCORDION
Under 12 Classical Solo – Kelso Cup
1) Scott Sneddon
Under 14 Classical Solo – Aberdeen Cup
1) Stuart Law (Law Village)
Under 16 Classical Solo – Dundee Shield
1) Ian Lowthian
Open Classical Solo – Jimmy Clinkscale Shield
1) Alan Preston (Shotts)
Under 16 Classical Duet - Alex MacArthur Cups
1) Scott Higginson & Ian Brown
Open Classical Duet – Dunfermline Cup
1) Scott Leslie (Dunbar) & James Grant (Eyemouth)
FIDDLE
Junior Fiddle Solo – MSR – Strathspey and Reel Association Cup
1) Lorna Leitch (Ayr)
Junior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Dougie Welsh Memorial Cup
1) Alison Smith (Milngavie)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Strathspey, MSR – St. Boswell Cup
1) Bob Edward
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Ron Gonella Cup
1) Stella Clark (Dundee)
Youngest Girl Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Glenda Taylor
High Standard at Musselburgh ’85 Festival
by Norrie Williams
One or two of Robert Burns’ best-known lines could most certainly have been written specifically for the run-up to this year’s Musselburgh Festival. When the Secretary, Sheila Williams, succumbed to the flu bug on Friday, 1st March, no words could have more aptly described yours truly than ‘Oh, what a panic’s in thy breastie’.
And when in the small hours of Festival day itself, certain ewes in the foothills bordering the Almond Valley in Perthshire decided to start giving birth, the only thing that sprung to mind was ‘The best laid schemes o’ mice and men’ etc.
Why, because this population explosion among our wooly friends had rules out one of our adjudicators. But on this score our luck was in because Association Chairman Jimmy Blue was coming to lend a hand for the day in any required capacity, so within five minutes notice he stepped into the breech, teeming up with Kenny Thomson of Cumnock to graft solidly from 9am to 5.30pm.
Following the 7am phone call from Glenalmond, Jimmy Cooper, the Chairman of Oban Festival Committee (who had arrived at 7.15 and was immediately shanghaied into carting tables around) suddenly realised that this kind of thing can and does happen and that it’s not a bad idea to have a spare adjudicator up your sleeve.
Capable Helpers
But the Secretary had done her homework and despite these early setbacks the Festival was carried successfully through the day by a large team of most willing and capable helpers from the following Clubs – Beith, Dundee, Dunfermline, East Kilbride, Fintry, Galston, Lesmahagow, Lockerbie, Milngavie, Monklands, Newtongrange, Newton St Boswells, Perth and Renfrew. Non-club members from the Glasgow ‘Caley’, Methven and Stirling areas were also represented once again.
These tireless and very patient folk performed every task in the book without complaint – announcers, secretaries, scrutineers, doorkeepers, marshals, stewards, runners and of course in one instance accompanist for the fiddle classes.
Despite the fact that this boy’s colander-like memory had some of them doing marathon stints without relief, so that malnutrition was a distinct possibility, not one deserted his or her post. Our very warmest thanks to each and every one, you’re real toppers.
Another group who earned their corn in no uncertain terms were the adjudicators. Theirs is an onerous and responsible task and of course they run the gauntlet of parents and competitors who may not share their views. But in the opinion of those with whom I chatted they had all discharged their duties efficiently and shown good judgment.
While on this tack it may be of interest in passing to comment on our practice of changing a proportion of the panel each year. (This is of course done at other similar events). Even the judges may wonder if it is a reflection on their ability. Not so. It is to give the competitors (i.e. the heart and soul of the Festival) the best deal. Music is in the ear of the beholder and adjudicators have their own preference for style, content, interpretation, technical expertise and so on. For example, where one judge may rate technique as of prime importance – why use one note when 47 will do! – another will be looking for ‘dung in the dreel’ as it was aptly put to me by one of the panel.
This means that on occasion, certain players will have more success with one judge than another and vice versa, hence the rotation of staff.
New Faces
The three ‘new faces’ this year, Kenny Thomson, Bobby MacLeod and Ian Powrie passed with flying colours and needless to say their colleagues Rosemary Wright, Jimmy Blue and Jack Cooper (band rhythm section) did us proud once again. Where time permitted the verbal summing-up by the adjudicators was greatly appreciated by audience and competitors alike. Players, of course, lay great store by the judges’ written comments so how about this for one gem picked at random from the ‘Own Composition’ sheets – a waltz in this case “This tune has a quality that could be orchestrated beautifully and has a good musical content reminiscent of the style of Felix Burns. For its purpose this could be accepted in any band’s book.”
If that’s not encouragement I don’t know what is. We salute our adjudicators for their courage and dedication.
On the publicity and public relations front the Association owes a great deal to local press and radio stations. The ‘East Lothian Courier’ carried two pre-Festival write-ups and an appraisal plus results after the event. The ‘Dunfermline Free Press’ and ‘Fife Leader’ gave good coverage as did this paper. Which reminds me, Editor Ian Smith was there as always conscientiously but unobtrusively collecting the results as each class finished.
Excellent radio publicity for the event was given by
Radio Forth (Robin Brock)
Radio Tay (Billy Anderson)
Radio West Sound (John Carmichael) and
Radio Highland (Andy Ross)
The BBC pulled out all the stops with a lot of advance coverage on ‘TTF’ and on Festival day we were joined once again by the TTF team with some fresh faces this time round. The irrepressible Robbie was accompanied by Producer Ken Mutch, Joyce Reid (continuity, in natty colourful track suit which made her readily identifiable in the crowd) and finally recording engineers Brian Webb and David Steele.
As always these professionals went about their business in the most unobtrusive and pleasant manner with patience unlimited. We look forward to hearing the results of their labours and to hopefully welcoming them back next year.
I am sure that most will agree that the Brunton Halls complex has a unique atmosphere admirably suited to an occasion such as this. Everything was once again immaculate and shipshape for our enjoyment and the hall staff just couldn’t do enough to help.
The same was true of the local Congregational Church hall which was bright, warm and couthie. Thanks to the church board for the continuing use of their premises – greatly appreciated, we’d be lost without them.
Impact
On entering the Brunton Halls the foyer itself makes an immediate impact, creating a welcoming atmosphere which on Festival day is enhanced by displays of music, accordions and audio equipment. We are grateful to those who supported us in this way – Bell Accordions (Edinburgh & Motherwell), Charnwood Music (Leicester), Clinkscale Accordions (Melrose) and Gordon Simpson (Edinburgh).
On a long day like this one must eat and drink and as before first-class refreshments were dispensed with utmost efficiency and courtesy by our regular caterers, Harwells of Edinburgh. The choice of food was excellent and the quality of the highest. This firm are really becoming one of the family.
And now to the other meat and drink of the Festival, the music provided by the competitors in the 19 classes. One adjudicator commented that it had now really come home to him just how much effort the young players put in to prepare for this event. I would endorse that – it is heartbreaking that all cannot be placed but as we’ve said before it is the trying not the winning that counts.
Throughout all sections the playing was up to the very high standard that we have come to expect at Musselburgh. In the 43 strong Under-16 Traditional Accordion Solo class, several players were knocking very loudly indeed at the senior door! This year, because of circumstances, I was unable to hear much solo work, but, surprise surprise, I managed to get myself ‘trapped’ in the Main Hall during the band competition. It is hard to credit the continual rise in the standard in this class – the originality of content, the ingenuity in the arranging and harmony have to be heard to be believed.
Atmosphere
Deservedly the Main Hall was full to capacity at this point with folk two and three deep round the walls. Standing at the very back was able to soak in the unique atmosphere. It is during the group playing that Musselburgh all comes together, a time for the audience to let their hair down and give vent to their enthusiasm, a time for four adjudicators to do their nuts trying to accomplish the impossible and pick a winner, a time when each player gives of their best to support his or her team-mates and a time when the music produces a very strong emotional bond between audience and players.
It’s at this point that one can say ‘THIS IS MUSSELBURGH’.
But I digress. The bands finished dead on time at 5.30pm Then a burst of feverish activity by the stewards to clear the hall and prepare for the concert and a brief respite for some to grab a bite.
But not for Andrew Nairn of West Baldridge, Dunfermline who had been announcing for a good part of the day, had nipped home to change, and now immaculate in dinner suit, was back to compere the concert. By 6.30 we had to try and cobble a programme together, no easy matter as the majority of the various class winners had scattered on the four winds! Andrew was deputizing for Alex Little (MC) who was once again taking things a wee bit easier under doctor’s orders – we all wish him a speedy recovery to 100%.
Despite the panic and bedlam behind the scenes, Andrew kept the head and did a great job. The finals of the Senior Accordion Pipe Music Section added spice to the menu. One hesitates to single out any artistes for special mention because all were so good in their own way, but I’m sure I will be forgiven for spotlighting two of the young players who typified their age groups with their personality and performance – 10-year-old Glenda Taylor of Beith, the youngest competitor in the Festival, and the two-row button key player from Windygates in Fife, Bruce Lindsay Jnr. Look away and it was just Jimmy Shand playing.
The concert finished on a high note with rousing selections from the winning band – what else?
Another feverish burst of activity by those dedicated helpers and the hall was ready for the dance and what a dance, over 500 happy souls sweating it out literally in such tropical temperatures to the music of Jim Johnstone’s five-piece band and my goodness that band was in form right enough – a great finish to a great day.
Finally, acknowledgements are due to all Clubs who contributed to the raffle, to the British College of Accordionists for their assistance in selecting the classical test pieces and to the Festival Organising Committee who are
Mrs Joan Blue
Tom Clark
Eddie MacDonald
Bob Scott
Willie Wilson
And Secretary Sheila Williams – how we missed her on the day.