Box and Fiddle
Year 28 No 08
April 2005
Price £2.20
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £20 + p&p £6.50 (UK)
Editor – Karin Ingram, Hawick
B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
What a great day we had at Musselburgh! The standard of entries just seems to get better every year. Congratulations to all the winners. Iain Hale from Streaming Pictures had his camera with him, so we’ve been able to add his photographs to the B&F ones to give a really great feature. Thank you Iain.
There are also to super photos from Windygates (Button-Key) club from their Shand Morino Day. The Glencraig SDB played in Kazakhstan recently as guests of Iain Peterson’s son, Andrew, and the photos on Page 39 are thanks to him.
If you want to go to the Celebrity Luncheon, book soon. Nearly ¾ of the tickets are already sold.
Karin Ingram
Musselburgh 2005
by James Coutts (Festival Chairman)
Saturday, 5th March saw the ‘Honest Toun’ of Musselburgh host the 31st Annual Accordion and fiddle championships in The Brunton Hall complex and surrounding venues.
Despite seeing a fair covering of snow on the Lammermuirs from my livingroom window, the weather was kind and the roads were clear, eliminating any worries about people being unable top get there.
Once again, competition entries were well in excess of 200 and we were especially pleased to see marked increases in the Trios, Bands and Open Accordion and Open Fiddle Championships.
Unable to gain access to The Brunton Halls until 9am, a frantic amount of work from the Festival Committee and helpers ensured we were under way by 9.45 and, again due to the great work of everyone and ready co-operation of competitors, we managed to ensure everything was finished in time for the Bands competition in the Main Hall. A packed hall, generating a great atmosphere, enjoyed a tremendous standard of playing from musicians of a very young age, ably assisted in some cases by many of the experienced stalwarts from the Scottish band scene.
The excellent standard of musicianship in all classes was commented on throughout the day by our adjudicators. We were delighted to welcome debutants to Musselburgh, in this capacity, in Gordon Howe, Djordje Garjic and Max Ketchin, complimented by the return of Alistair McCulloch, Duncan Black, Colin Dewar, Charlie Kirkpatrick and Neil Copland. All adjudicators offered great encouragement and very constructive criticism, where necessary, as we strive to raise standards even higher.
Unfortunately, the late running of the Main Hall, largely due to the exceptional entry levels, meant the Concert attendance was considerably lower than normal, as many people had to go away for meals etc before returning for the dance. However, those who did attend were treated to two hours of great music as many of the winners showed off their talents, leading BBC Producer Ken Mutch to rate this year’s concert as the best yet. During the concert we had the play-offs for the Open Accordion and Open Fiddle championships. It was great to see two teenagers triumphing in their respective classes against very stiff competition. Gemma Donald of Shetland took the honours on fiddle with a lovely medley of Willie Hunter tunes, whilst Giffordtown’s Gary Sutherland won the accordion section with an excellently played selection of Bobby MacLeod compositions. I’m sure both composers would have been very proud to hear their music played to such a high standard by such young players. Our adjudicators have once again made excellent choices for next year’s Championship composers in Robert Mackintosh (fiddle) and Sir Jimmy shand (accordion). As always we are privileged to have the concert superbly compered by Jennifer Cruickshank and John Caskie. We were also delighted to welcome once again Ken Mutch and his team from BBC Radio Scotland who recorded some of the afternoon competitions as well as the Concert.
Graeme Mitchell and his Band brought the concert to a fitting climax then provided music for the dance which showed why they are up there among the all time greats of the Scottish dance music scene. A very well attended dance was enjoyed by all, during which we had another raffle with a tremendous amount of donated prizes, including a Weekender ticket for two from Shetland A&F club to their 2005 Festival in October. Many thanks to all who supported the raffle, whether prize donors, ticket seller or ticket buyer.
Thanks are also due to out Trade Stand exhibitors, stewards, competitors, parents, teachers, adjudicators and helpers who do so much to make the Festival such a great event. As ever, if anyone has any comments or suggestions regarding the Festival, we are always pleased to hear from you, and don’t forget to check out all the results and fortcoming news on the website.
Finally, I’d like to give a special mention to the Festival Committee for all their tireless work and the expenses they incur throughout the year – especially Secretary, Lorna Mair. The support they give to the Festival is awesome and is sincerely appreciated by myself, and, I’m sure, by everyone connected with the Festival in any way.
So roll on Saturday 4th March 2006. See you there.
Junior Accordion
Under 10 Traditional Accordion Solo – Islesteps Shield
1) Gregor Allan (Tarves)
2) Callum Cruickshank (Lumphanan)
3) Duncan Muir (Thornhill)
Under 12 Traditional Accordion Solo – Pentland Cup
1) Calum Muir (Carnwath)
2) Andrew Waite (Duns)
3=) Owain Ramsay (Gullane) & Rebekah Mitchell (Paisley)
12 and Under 16 Traditional Solo – Jim Johnstone Cup
1) Roya MacLean (Muir of Ord)
2) Craig Paton (Milnathort)
3) Gemma Coupland (Loanhead)
Junior Accordion Solo Pipe Music – Bill Black Cup
1) William Scott (Dumbarton)
2) Scott Nichol (Pathhead)
3) Roya MacLean (Muir of Ord)
Junior Traditional Duet – Angus Howie Cups
1) Gemma Coupland (Loanhead) & Scott Nichol (Pathhead)
2) Jim & Tom Gold (Douglas)
3)
Overall Junior Accordion Champion – Alex Little Memorial Trophy
Roya MacLean (Muir of Ord)
Senior Accordion
Senior Traditional Accordion Solo – Clinkscale Cup
1) David MacKenzie (Dingwall)
2=) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
2=) Janette Morrison (Glasgow)
Senior Accordion Pipe Music Solo – Bill Powrie Memorial Cup
1) Matthew MacLennan (Kiltarlity)
2) Susan MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
3) Janette Morrison (Glasgow)
Open Accordion Championship – Todhills Trophy
Gary Sutherland (giffordtown)
Runners Up
Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
David MacKenzie (Dingwall)
Senior Overall Accordion Champion - The Bobby MacLeod Trophy
Janette Morrison (Glasgow)
Open Buttonkey Accordion Solo – Windygates Trophy
1) John Weaks (Glasgow)
2)
3)
Trios – Jimmy Blue Trophy
1) Jim Gold (Douglas)
2) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
3) Robert Menzies (Thornhill)
Bands – Overall Winner - Iain MacPhail Cup – Runner Up John Fairbairn Memorial Trophy
1) Liam Stewart (Galston)
2) Nicky McMichan (Lochmaben)
3) Scott Nichol (Pathhead)
Band – Rhythm Section - Arthur Easson Memorial Trophy
Liam Stewart (Galston)
Own Composition – Willie Wilson Cup
1) Stuart Cameron (Glasgow)
2) Nicky McMichan (Lochmaben)
3) William Scott (Dumbarton)
CLASSICAL
Under 12 Classical Solo – Kelso Cup
1) Rebekah Mitchell (Paisley)
2) Arlene McNaught (Johnstone)
3)
Under 14 Classical Solo – Aberdeen Cup
1) Gary Blair Jnr (Glasgow)
2) William Scott (Dumbarton)
3) Andrew Mortimer (Dumbarton)
Under 16 Classical Solo – Dundee shield
1) Roya MacLean (Muir of Ord)
2) Grant McFarlane (Paisley)
3) Gillian Taylor (Paisley)
Under 14 Classical Musette Solo – John Laidlaw Memorial Trophy
1) Andrew Mortimer (Dumbarton)
2) Gary Blair Jnr (Renfrew)
3) Emily short (Biggar)
Under 14 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1) Gary Blair Jnr (Renfrew)
2) Andrew Gibb (Biggar)
3) William Scott (Dumbarton)
Open Classical Solo – Clinkscale Shield
1) Grant McFarlane (Paisley)
2) Alexander Young (Houston)
3) Karen Ferguson (Dunlop)
Under 13 Classical Duet – Beith & District A&F Club Cups (Willie Wilson Memorial Trophies)
1) Duncan & Arlene McNaught (Johnstone)
2) Roy Anderson (Rosewell) & Duncan Muir (Thornhill)
Under 16 Classical Duet - Alex MacArthur Cups
1) Gemma Coupland (Loanhead) & Claire Noble (Broughton)
2) Paula Kelly (Renfrew) & Grant McFarlane (Paisley)
3) Andrew Gibb & Emily Short (Biggar)
Open Classical Duet – Dunfermline Cup
1) Grant McFarlane (Paisley) & Paula Kelly (Renfrew)
2)
3)
Classical Polka
Under 10 Classical Polka Solo – The Todhills Trophy
1)
2)
Under 14 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1)
2)
3)
Open Classical Polka Solo – Tign-Na-Gorm Cup
1) Roya MacLean (Muir of Ord)
2) Jim Gold (Douglas)
3) Robert Menzies (Thornhill)
Under 14 Classical Musette Accordion Solo – John Laidlaw Memorial Trophy
1)
2)
3)
Open Classical Musette Accordion Solo – Christine Hunter Memorial Trophy
1) David McKenzie (Dingwall)
2) Roya MacLean (Muir of Ord)
3) Stuart Cameron (Glasgow)
Fiddle Sections
Under 12 Fiddle Solo – NAAFC Musselburgh Festival Trophy
1) Neil Davidson (Banchory)
2=) Innes Kennedy (Thornhill)
2=) Neil Tollan (Carluke)
Junior Fiddle Solo – MSR – Strathspey and Reel Association Cup
1) Fiona Henderson (Kirriemuir)
2) Maggie Adamson (Shetland)
3) Sophie Sneddon (Dundee)
Junior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Dougie Welsh Cup
1) Fiona Henderson (Kirriemuir)
2) Maggie Adamson (Shetland)
3) Gillian Ramsay (Airlie)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Strathspey, MSR – St. Boswell Cup
1) Gemma Donald (Shetland)
2) Perdy Syers-Gibson (Leominster)
3) Kathryn Matthews (Auchterless)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Ron Gonella Cup
1) Perdy Syers-Gibson (Leominster)
2) Kathryn Matthews (Auchterless)
3) Gemma Donald (Shetland)
Open Fiddle Championship – Banchory S&R Society Trophy
1) Gemma Donald (Shetland)
Runners Up
Kathryn Matthews (Auchterless)
Perdy Syers-Gibson (Leominster)
Overall Fiddle Champion - The Angus Fitchet Trophy
Perdy Syers-Gibson (Leominster)
Overall Junior Fiddle Champion – Judith Linton Trophy
Fiona Henderson (Kirriemuir)
Open Fiddle Groups – Lesmahagow Quaich
1) The Gill simpson Players (Dundee)
2) Tigh-Na-Gorm Players (Perth)
3) Kain’s Weans (Newmains)
Youngest Girl Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Hannah Menzies (Thornhill)
Youngest Boy Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Neil Tollan (Carluke)
Shand Morino Day
by Elena H. Graham
The 11th annual Shand Morino Gathering
The Piping Shrike
by Jean Lumsden
We have a radio hour once a week ………….
Kazakhstan
by Gordon Howe
When we consider the great Scots inventors and pioneers of industry and business of the past we might mistakenly be led to believe that Scots no longer fulfill that role. Not true! Whilst we do not have a monopoly on the situation, Scots still seem to be at the forefront of developing business and industry around the globe hence the popularity of Scottish culture and dancing abroad ; if you add Robert burns you have the recipe for a party with, of course, the need for speakers and musicians. Hence the reason Nicol, Shauna Flockhart and I set off from home at around 3.30am to catch the 6.15 flight from Edinburgh to Frankfurt and onward to Kazakhstan on Friday, 28th January 2005.
Kazakhstan – maybe I had heard of this place, or was it Afghanistan? Anyway, any country name ending in ‘stan’ usually conjures up instability, and inhospitality with extremes of climate. Well at least the latter was true. Kazakhstan, when we arrived just after their midnight (6 hours ahead of UK) was some 20 degrees below freezing and, unknown to us then, was to remain around that temperature for all our visit.
Our venue was at Almaty (the old capital) where our host met us for the visit – Andrew Paterson, son of Iain, the well-known composer and fiddle player from Dollar. Andrew is General Manager of Procter and Gamble for Central Asia, the Caucasus and Mongolia and I put him in the category as one of the Scots business pioneers aforementioned. (His vast sales area makes Nicol’s patch seem microscopic). Travelling from the airport in Andrew’s Land Cruiser on snowbound and un-gritted roads, we soon realised that Levenwick, where we had stayed the previous week during the Shetland Up-Helly-Aa celebrations, was decidedly warm! On arrival at Andrew’s house (or should I say mansion) in the Kokyube district of Almaty, I was surprised to find a gateman on duty, even at that time in the morning. The cold soon began to disappear however with generous measures of the ‘Old Cratur’ and we eventually hit the pillow around 4am feeling no pain.
Waking up next morning (always a good start) and looking out of the window I wished I had packed my drawers with the high sides and brought my Russian fur hat bought in Moscow two years earlier. The snow was deep and the view was stunning with mountains all around, covered in snow, in glorious sunshine.
In conversation with Andrew during breakfast, we were able to get some perspective of the vastness of the country. It is the 9th largest in the world extending to 2,724 square kilometers with a population of 14,951. A trip around Almaty gives you an awareness of the diversity of different ethnic groups. This is not surprising, considering that pre-Revolution, 1500 people arrived from Russia and Ukraine and between the years 1883 to 1886, 32,000 settled from Turkistan, Semirechye and Dungans. During the Stalin Repression 800,000 Germans, 19,000 Koreans, 102,000 Poles and in excess of half a million from other northern Caucasus were deported to Kazakhstan.
During the Second World War Kazakhstan was the main place for the evacuation of Russians, so now Kazakhs make up 57% of the total population with Russians at 27% and Uzbecks, Germans and Tatusand Uigurs making up 9%. The main languages are Kazakh and Russian, both of which Andrew spike fluently, thank goodness!
Kazakhstan has borders with Russia, China, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan. The climate is extreme with January temperatures varying from -4 degrees to -20 and July from +19 degrees to +26. Temperatures can dip as low as -45 degrees in winter.
Following our morning lesson and briefing, we prepared for the evening’s festivities including searching for a replacement piano with five octaves, which we hired from a local music shop for 8,000 tenge (£40 equivalent)
The Ankara Hotel provided the venue for the evening’s supper and ball where we had our usual sound check with a sound system ‘borrowed’ from the local concert hall with a 70 watt output, capable of coping with up to 2,500 people. Given that we were playing for 250 guests it seemed adequate and a big improvement on the Cults A&F Club system that we used the previous week – no offence! The system was manned by four or five people who provided invaluable support and seemed to cope and deal with all modifications in their own dangerous way! During the sound check we were joined by two local musicians – Sergei, a Russian violinist, and a Romanian Gypsy musician who played the bass. They asked if they could join in and, to our surprise, played a melody taken from a Da Fustra CD composed by Sandy Legget! Considering we had Shauna on piano, this was a surprise and coincidence. They had learned the music verbatim as a result of listening to a Da Fustra CD loaned by Andrew.
The evening kicked off with a cocktail reception and, needless to say, we spoke with ex=pats who knew some of our own friends back at home – it’s a small world!
Nicol delivered The Immortal Memory to an international audience including Brits, French, Americans and Germans. He obeyed the golden rule by keeping it short, (decision made on the hoof because of the din from the French who carried on their own conversation through most of it). The meal was excellent, albeit the cock-a-leekie soup bore little resemblance to the real thing. I took the liberty of introducing our table to the custom of adding gravy (whisky) to the haggis, which seemed to appeal to the non-Scots!
Following on from the meal, those guests who had been practicing their Scottish dancing were keen to display their expertise and the floor was full. Once their repertoire had been exhausted however, Nicol strutted his stuff as dance master and kept the evening going. Our final playing session was complimented with our two musical friends joining the band to their, and the guests’, delight. Given that Nicol has given Sergei and his friend some Scottish music to take away, we might find our invitation cancelled for 2006, considering their expertise in reading and playing!
Our host, Andrew Peterson (whose wife was back in her hometown in Ireland with their youngest child Gilleasbuig awaiting the birth of their fourth child), unselfishly parked the other two children, Lachlan and Iona, with friends and took the three of us on a trip up the mountains to visit a hunting lodge. This consisted of a hill training station housing special dogs, Central Asian Shepherds and Borzois, to flush out pheasants, which would then be hunted by birds of prey. These birds included their national bird, the berkut, large vultures, owls including the eagle owl, the Step Eagle and other eagles, falcons of all descriptions tethered or housed in large cages. The idea being once the pheasant had been flushed out into the open by the dogs, the bird would be released by its handler to hunt and kill. Guests would pay a fee to take a day’s hunting including the dogs, birds of prey and their handlers. A good day’s sport might yield one pheasant, quite a difference to what I am used to where we regularly shoot 170 pheasants per day albeit I would love to take part in a day’s hunt. The station also reared rats to feed the birds. The rats were kept in specially constructed heated buildings, each housing around 3000, looked after by two or three staff. The weekly demand was somewhere around 3,000 rats!
This trip was certainly one of my highlights, being able to see round this station and handle the birds without impediments such as signs saying ‘please keep a safe distance from the birds’ and the usual Health and Safety notices posted all around!
On Sunday we visited the Chimbaluk Ski Centre at Kas, which had four lifts operating to a height of 3,163 metres. Whilst I ventured up in the gondola to the top of the run to admire the view (fabulous), Nicol and Shauna, along with our host, spent a pleasant three hours skiing in conditions which would be the envy of anywhere in the world. The trip by Land Cruiser up and down to the ski centre proved to be an adventure in itself with steep icy roads and the usual headbangers of drivers involved in a spate of minor road accidents.
That evening we were entertained at a first class authentic Kazakh restaurant in Almaty serving local food including horsemeat, popular in Kazakhstan. Not only was the food delicious, but also the cabaret was out of this world with music, juggling acts and dancing of the highest order. Costumes to match added to the spectacle of the evening.
Our final day, Monday, (which Andrew kindly took as a holiday in spite of the news that Procter and Gamble had just taken over the Gillette empire) was spent in Almaty where we visited a school for the blind, to give them a tune. This invitation stemmed from fund raising for the school by one of Andrew’s friends, Frances Galloway. Well, when we arrived the children were waiting for us in their concert hall ready to entertain us. We listened first to a group playing the dombra, the national instrument of the country, followed by singing and finally an accordion band all playing an early version of the instrument called the bajan. This was another highlight and whilst we played a few reels and jigs our trump card was Andrew playing his bagpipes, which generated the most interest amongst the pupils all wanting to have a try.
Following on from our humbling at the school, which boasted 167 musicians from a school roll of 215, we visited Zenkov cathedral in Panifilov Park and also the museum of musical instruments where we were able to view the forerunner of the dombra, violin and even bagpipes. The park also displayed monuments to heroes of the past including the 28 soldiers of the Almaty Regiment who died defending Moscow in 1941.
Our final visit was to the Green Bazaar, the ancient market place in Almaty, which sold all kinds of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, spices, nuts, etc. This was a hub of activity without the restraints of our own sanitised supermarkets.
Our last evening was spent at home with Andrew entertained by his gateman, Baurzhan Alimbekov, playing the dombra. This rounded off a very special trip. Thank you very much Andrew and trust all is well with your new family member.
Greetings from Inverness
by Margo MacLennan
Hello everyone, ………….
CD Reviews – See Hear with Judith Linton
Settling the Score – The Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra – Celebrating 20 Years of Music Making – AFO 005CD
Domino Five – Kenny Thomson & the Wardlaw SDB – BRCD035 – Bryansroom Recordings
Piano – Andy Thorburn – ATMUSCD2
Book Review
The Cardenden Collection by Michael Philip – 68 original compositions – Deeay Music
Letters to the Editor
Dear Karin
Willie
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
2nd April 05 – Fiddlers 3 + 2 (Feature on Lex Keith)
9th April 05 – Ian Cruickshanks SDB (The Ruthven Collection with Rob Sargent)
16th April 05 – Neil Copland SDB (Nicol McLaren’s Personal Choice)
23rd April 05 – Marian Anderson SDB (Angus Grant – the Left-Handed Fiddler)
30th April 05 – Colin Dewar SDB (OB from Ballymena with guests Matt McGranaghan & Tom Sweeney)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) – 26th Apr 05 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 13th Apr 05 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 17th Apr 05 – George Hood SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 3rd Apr 05 – Neil MacEachern SDB
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 7th Apr 05 – Ian Muir Sound
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 17th Apr 05 – John Crawford & Friends
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 25th Apr 05 – Ian Cruickshank SDB (6-piece)
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 27th Apr 05 – John Bone
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 18th Apr 05 – Scott Gordon SDB
Belford (Community Centre) – 28th Apr 05 – Bon Accords
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 10th Apr 05 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 12th Apr 05 - tbc
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 26th Apr 05 – Luncheon & Ceilidh
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 14th Apr 05 – Sam Docherty
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 5th Apr 05 – Judith Linton Trio
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) - 7th Apr 05 – Ray Carse
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 19th Apr 05 – Judith Linton Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 21st Apr 05 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 7th Apr 05 – David Bowen Trio
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 13th Apr 05 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Dalriada (Argyll Hotel, Lochgilphead) 19th Apr 05 – ‘100 Smiles an hour’ Archie McAllister & Ian Macfadyen
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 6th Apr 05 – Neil Dawson Quartet
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 20th Apr 05 – Callum Wilson SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 12th Apr 05 – Club Night
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Masonic Lodge, Newtown St) 18th Apr 05 – Bill Black SDB
East Kilbride (Masonic Hall, Kittoch St) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 19th Apr 05 – Jimmy and Alexander Lindsay
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 25th Apr 05 – David Oswald SDB
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 24th Apr 05 – Stuart Anderson Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 13th Apr 05 – William Marshall SDB
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 7th Apr 05 - tbc
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 11th Apr 05 – Club Night
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) – 21st Apr 05 – AGM + Stuart Anderson
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 6th Apr 05 – Ian Cameron Duo
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 26th Apr 05 - tbc
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) - 3rd Apr 05 - tbc
Haddington (Railway Inn) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 18th Apr 05 – Jimmy Lindsay Trio
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 13th Apr 05 – Marian Anderson Trio
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 7th Apr 05 – Marian Anderson SDB
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 5th Apr 05 – Roger Dobson Quintet
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 27th Apr 05 – David Oswald SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – 6th Apr 05 – Tommy Newcomen & the Holly Duo
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 16th Apr 05 – Dance to James Coutts SDB
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 14th Apr 05 – Richard Smith Trio
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 7th Apr 05 - tbc
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 19th Apr 05 – Andy Kain Trio
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 26th Apr 05 – Gordon Pattullo
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 19th Apr 05 – Club Night
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 6th Apr 05 - tbc
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) - 28th Apr 05 – Ian Thomson SDB
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 10th Apr 05 - Competitions
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 5th Apr 05 – James Coutts SDB
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) – 7th Apr 05 – Iain Anderson Trio
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Club) – 28th Apr 05 – Ross MacPherson Trio
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 19th Apr 05 – Colin Dewar SDB
Phoenix (Argyll Arms hotel, Ardrishaig) 6th Apr 05 - tbc
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) - 5th Apr 05 – Billy Anderson
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 12th Apr 05 – Marian Anderson Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 7th Apr 05 – John Douglas SDB
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) - 10th Apr 05 – All Players Welcome
Selkirk (Cricket Club) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 12th Apr 05 – Tommy Newcomen
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 4th Apr 05 – Scott Gordon Trio
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 7th Apr 05 – Addie Harper SDB
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 21st Apr 05 – Charlie Abel Duo
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 14th Apr 05 – John Douglas SDB
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 19th Apr 05 – Jock Fraser SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Annan
3. Arbroath
4. Balloch
5. Banchory
6. Banff
7. Blairgowrie
8. Campsie
9. Carlisle
10 Castle Douglas
11 Coalburn
12. Dingwall
13. Dunblane
14. Dunfermline
15. Duns
16. Fintry
17. Forfar
18. Forres
19. Galashiels
20. Galston
21. Glendale
22. Glenrothes
23. Gretna
24. Highland
25. Inveraray
26. Isle of Skye
27. Islesteps
28. Kintore
29. Lanark
30. Langholm
31. Lesmahagow
32. Lewis & Harris
33. Livingston
34. Lockerbie
35. Mauchline
36. Montrose
37. Newmill
38. Newtongrange
39. North East
40. Oban
41. Perth
42. Premier
43. Renfrew
44. Shetland
45. Thornhill
46. Thurso
47. Turriff
48. West Barnes
49. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2004
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed early 08-09
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Brittania B&F Club ( joined 07-08
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
38. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
39. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
40. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
41. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
42. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
43. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
44. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
45. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
46. Kintore A&F Club (
47. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
48. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
49. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
50. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
51. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
52. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
53. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
54. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
55. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
56. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
57. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
58. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
61. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
62. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
63. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
64. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
65. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
66. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
67. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
68. Selkirk A&F Club (
69. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
70. Sutherland A&F Club (
71. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
72. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
73. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
74. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
75. West Barnes ( - present)
76. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
77. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
78. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
79. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
80. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
81. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
82. Buchan A&F Club
83 Callander A&F Club (
84 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
85 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
86 Club Accord
87 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
88. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
89. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
90. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
91. Derwentside A&F Club
92. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
93. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
94. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
95. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
96. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
97. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
98. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
99. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
100. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
101. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
102. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
103. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
110. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
111. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
112. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
113. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
114. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
115. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
116. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
117. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
118. Tranent A&F Club
119. Vancouver
120. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
121. Wellbank A&F Club
122. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
What a great day we had at Musselburgh! The standard of entries just seems to get better every year. Congratulations to all the winners. Iain Hale from Streaming Pictures had his camera with him, so we’ve been able to add his photographs to the B&F ones to give a really great feature. Thank you Iain.
There are also to super photos from Windygates (Button-Key) club from their Shand Morino Day. The Glencraig SDB played in Kazakhstan recently as guests of Iain Peterson’s son, Andrew, and the photos on Page 39 are thanks to him.
If you want to go to the Celebrity Luncheon, book soon. Nearly ¾ of the tickets are already sold.
Karin Ingram
Musselburgh 2005
by James Coutts (Festival Chairman)
Saturday, 5th March saw the ‘Honest Toun’ of Musselburgh host the 31st Annual Accordion and fiddle championships in The Brunton Hall complex and surrounding venues.
Despite seeing a fair covering of snow on the Lammermuirs from my livingroom window, the weather was kind and the roads were clear, eliminating any worries about people being unable top get there.
Once again, competition entries were well in excess of 200 and we were especially pleased to see marked increases in the Trios, Bands and Open Accordion and Open Fiddle Championships.
Unable to gain access to The Brunton Halls until 9am, a frantic amount of work from the Festival Committee and helpers ensured we were under way by 9.45 and, again due to the great work of everyone and ready co-operation of competitors, we managed to ensure everything was finished in time for the Bands competition in the Main Hall. A packed hall, generating a great atmosphere, enjoyed a tremendous standard of playing from musicians of a very young age, ably assisted in some cases by many of the experienced stalwarts from the Scottish band scene.
The excellent standard of musicianship in all classes was commented on throughout the day by our adjudicators. We were delighted to welcome debutants to Musselburgh, in this capacity, in Gordon Howe, Djordje Garjic and Max Ketchin, complimented by the return of Alistair McCulloch, Duncan Black, Colin Dewar, Charlie Kirkpatrick and Neil Copland. All adjudicators offered great encouragement and very constructive criticism, where necessary, as we strive to raise standards even higher.
Unfortunately, the late running of the Main Hall, largely due to the exceptional entry levels, meant the Concert attendance was considerably lower than normal, as many people had to go away for meals etc before returning for the dance. However, those who did attend were treated to two hours of great music as many of the winners showed off their talents, leading BBC Producer Ken Mutch to rate this year’s concert as the best yet. During the concert we had the play-offs for the Open Accordion and Open Fiddle championships. It was great to see two teenagers triumphing in their respective classes against very stiff competition. Gemma Donald of Shetland took the honours on fiddle with a lovely medley of Willie Hunter tunes, whilst Giffordtown’s Gary Sutherland won the accordion section with an excellently played selection of Bobby MacLeod compositions. I’m sure both composers would have been very proud to hear their music played to such a high standard by such young players. Our adjudicators have once again made excellent choices for next year’s Championship composers in Robert Mackintosh (fiddle) and Sir Jimmy shand (accordion). As always we are privileged to have the concert superbly compered by Jennifer Cruickshank and John Caskie. We were also delighted to welcome once again Ken Mutch and his team from BBC Radio Scotland who recorded some of the afternoon competitions as well as the Concert.
Graeme Mitchell and his Band brought the concert to a fitting climax then provided music for the dance which showed why they are up there among the all time greats of the Scottish dance music scene. A very well attended dance was enjoyed by all, during which we had another raffle with a tremendous amount of donated prizes, including a Weekender ticket for two from Shetland A&F club to their 2005 Festival in October. Many thanks to all who supported the raffle, whether prize donors, ticket seller or ticket buyer.
Thanks are also due to out Trade Stand exhibitors, stewards, competitors, parents, teachers, adjudicators and helpers who do so much to make the Festival such a great event. As ever, if anyone has any comments or suggestions regarding the Festival, we are always pleased to hear from you, and don’t forget to check out all the results and fortcoming news on the website.
Finally, I’d like to give a special mention to the Festival Committee for all their tireless work and the expenses they incur throughout the year – especially Secretary, Lorna Mair. The support they give to the Festival is awesome and is sincerely appreciated by myself, and, I’m sure, by everyone connected with the Festival in any way.
So roll on Saturday 4th March 2006. See you there.
Junior Accordion
Under 10 Traditional Accordion Solo – Islesteps Shield
1) Gregor Allan (Tarves)
2) Callum Cruickshank (Lumphanan)
3) Duncan Muir (Thornhill)
Under 12 Traditional Accordion Solo – Pentland Cup
1) Calum Muir (Carnwath)
2) Andrew Waite (Duns)
3=) Owain Ramsay (Gullane) & Rebekah Mitchell (Paisley)
12 and Under 16 Traditional Solo – Jim Johnstone Cup
1) Roya MacLean (Muir of Ord)
2) Craig Paton (Milnathort)
3) Gemma Coupland (Loanhead)
Junior Accordion Solo Pipe Music – Bill Black Cup
1) William Scott (Dumbarton)
2) Scott Nichol (Pathhead)
3) Roya MacLean (Muir of Ord)
Junior Traditional Duet – Angus Howie Cups
1) Gemma Coupland (Loanhead) & Scott Nichol (Pathhead)
2) Jim & Tom Gold (Douglas)
3)
Overall Junior Accordion Champion – Alex Little Memorial Trophy
Roya MacLean (Muir of Ord)
Senior Accordion
Senior Traditional Accordion Solo – Clinkscale Cup
1) David MacKenzie (Dingwall)
2=) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
2=) Janette Morrison (Glasgow)
Senior Accordion Pipe Music Solo – Bill Powrie Memorial Cup
1) Matthew MacLennan (Kiltarlity)
2) Susan MacFadyen (West Kilbride)
3) Janette Morrison (Glasgow)
Open Accordion Championship – Todhills Trophy
Gary Sutherland (giffordtown)
Runners Up
Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
David MacKenzie (Dingwall)
Senior Overall Accordion Champion - The Bobby MacLeod Trophy
Janette Morrison (Glasgow)
Open Buttonkey Accordion Solo – Windygates Trophy
1) John Weaks (Glasgow)
2)
3)
Trios – Jimmy Blue Trophy
1) Jim Gold (Douglas)
2) Gary Forrest (Jedburgh)
3) Robert Menzies (Thornhill)
Bands – Overall Winner - Iain MacPhail Cup – Runner Up John Fairbairn Memorial Trophy
1) Liam Stewart (Galston)
2) Nicky McMichan (Lochmaben)
3) Scott Nichol (Pathhead)
Band – Rhythm Section - Arthur Easson Memorial Trophy
Liam Stewart (Galston)
Own Composition – Willie Wilson Cup
1) Stuart Cameron (Glasgow)
2) Nicky McMichan (Lochmaben)
3) William Scott (Dumbarton)
CLASSICAL
Under 12 Classical Solo – Kelso Cup
1) Rebekah Mitchell (Paisley)
2) Arlene McNaught (Johnstone)
3)
Under 14 Classical Solo – Aberdeen Cup
1) Gary Blair Jnr (Glasgow)
2) William Scott (Dumbarton)
3) Andrew Mortimer (Dumbarton)
Under 16 Classical Solo – Dundee shield
1) Roya MacLean (Muir of Ord)
2) Grant McFarlane (Paisley)
3) Gillian Taylor (Paisley)
Under 14 Classical Musette Solo – John Laidlaw Memorial Trophy
1) Andrew Mortimer (Dumbarton)
2) Gary Blair Jnr (Renfrew)
3) Emily short (Biggar)
Under 14 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1) Gary Blair Jnr (Renfrew)
2) Andrew Gibb (Biggar)
3) William Scott (Dumbarton)
Open Classical Solo – Clinkscale Shield
1) Grant McFarlane (Paisley)
2) Alexander Young (Houston)
3) Karen Ferguson (Dunlop)
Under 13 Classical Duet – Beith & District A&F Club Cups (Willie Wilson Memorial Trophies)
1) Duncan & Arlene McNaught (Johnstone)
2) Roy Anderson (Rosewell) & Duncan Muir (Thornhill)
Under 16 Classical Duet - Alex MacArthur Cups
1) Gemma Coupland (Loanhead) & Claire Noble (Broughton)
2) Paula Kelly (Renfrew) & Grant McFarlane (Paisley)
3) Andrew Gibb & Emily Short (Biggar)
Open Classical Duet – Dunfermline Cup
1) Grant McFarlane (Paisley) & Paula Kelly (Renfrew)
2)
3)
Classical Polka
Under 10 Classical Polka Solo – The Todhills Trophy
1)
2)
Under 14 Classical Polka Solo – Newtongrange Shield
1)
2)
3)
Open Classical Polka Solo – Tign-Na-Gorm Cup
1) Roya MacLean (Muir of Ord)
2) Jim Gold (Douglas)
3) Robert Menzies (Thornhill)
Under 14 Classical Musette Accordion Solo – John Laidlaw Memorial Trophy
1)
2)
3)
Open Classical Musette Accordion Solo – Christine Hunter Memorial Trophy
1) David McKenzie (Dingwall)
2) Roya MacLean (Muir of Ord)
3) Stuart Cameron (Glasgow)
Fiddle Sections
Under 12 Fiddle Solo – NAAFC Musselburgh Festival Trophy
1) Neil Davidson (Banchory)
2=) Innes Kennedy (Thornhill)
2=) Neil Tollan (Carluke)
Junior Fiddle Solo – MSR – Strathspey and Reel Association Cup
1) Fiona Henderson (Kirriemuir)
2) Maggie Adamson (Shetland)
3) Sophie Sneddon (Dundee)
Junior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Dougie Welsh Cup
1) Fiona Henderson (Kirriemuir)
2) Maggie Adamson (Shetland)
3) Gillian Ramsay (Airlie)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Strathspey, MSR – St. Boswell Cup
1) Gemma Donald (Shetland)
2) Perdy Syers-Gibson (Leominster)
3) Kathryn Matthews (Auchterless)
Senior Fiddle Solo – Slow Air – Ron Gonella Cup
1) Perdy Syers-Gibson (Leominster)
2) Kathryn Matthews (Auchterless)
3) Gemma Donald (Shetland)
Open Fiddle Championship – Banchory S&R Society Trophy
1) Gemma Donald (Shetland)
Runners Up
Kathryn Matthews (Auchterless)
Perdy Syers-Gibson (Leominster)
Overall Fiddle Champion - The Angus Fitchet Trophy
Perdy Syers-Gibson (Leominster)
Overall Junior Fiddle Champion – Judith Linton Trophy
Fiona Henderson (Kirriemuir)
Open Fiddle Groups – Lesmahagow Quaich
1) The Gill simpson Players (Dundee)
2) Tigh-Na-Gorm Players (Perth)
3) Kain’s Weans (Newmains)
Youngest Girl Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Hannah Menzies (Thornhill)
Youngest Boy Competitor – John McQueen Medal
Neil Tollan (Carluke)
Shand Morino Day
by Elena H. Graham
The 11th annual Shand Morino Gathering
The Piping Shrike
by Jean Lumsden
We have a radio hour once a week ………….
Kazakhstan
by Gordon Howe
When we consider the great Scots inventors and pioneers of industry and business of the past we might mistakenly be led to believe that Scots no longer fulfill that role. Not true! Whilst we do not have a monopoly on the situation, Scots still seem to be at the forefront of developing business and industry around the globe hence the popularity of Scottish culture and dancing abroad ; if you add Robert burns you have the recipe for a party with, of course, the need for speakers and musicians. Hence the reason Nicol, Shauna Flockhart and I set off from home at around 3.30am to catch the 6.15 flight from Edinburgh to Frankfurt and onward to Kazakhstan on Friday, 28th January 2005.
Kazakhstan – maybe I had heard of this place, or was it Afghanistan? Anyway, any country name ending in ‘stan’ usually conjures up instability, and inhospitality with extremes of climate. Well at least the latter was true. Kazakhstan, when we arrived just after their midnight (6 hours ahead of UK) was some 20 degrees below freezing and, unknown to us then, was to remain around that temperature for all our visit.
Our venue was at Almaty (the old capital) where our host met us for the visit – Andrew Paterson, son of Iain, the well-known composer and fiddle player from Dollar. Andrew is General Manager of Procter and Gamble for Central Asia, the Caucasus and Mongolia and I put him in the category as one of the Scots business pioneers aforementioned. (His vast sales area makes Nicol’s patch seem microscopic). Travelling from the airport in Andrew’s Land Cruiser on snowbound and un-gritted roads, we soon realised that Levenwick, where we had stayed the previous week during the Shetland Up-Helly-Aa celebrations, was decidedly warm! On arrival at Andrew’s house (or should I say mansion) in the Kokyube district of Almaty, I was surprised to find a gateman on duty, even at that time in the morning. The cold soon began to disappear however with generous measures of the ‘Old Cratur’ and we eventually hit the pillow around 4am feeling no pain.
Waking up next morning (always a good start) and looking out of the window I wished I had packed my drawers with the high sides and brought my Russian fur hat bought in Moscow two years earlier. The snow was deep and the view was stunning with mountains all around, covered in snow, in glorious sunshine.
In conversation with Andrew during breakfast, we were able to get some perspective of the vastness of the country. It is the 9th largest in the world extending to 2,724 square kilometers with a population of 14,951. A trip around Almaty gives you an awareness of the diversity of different ethnic groups. This is not surprising, considering that pre-Revolution, 1500 people arrived from Russia and Ukraine and between the years 1883 to 1886, 32,000 settled from Turkistan, Semirechye and Dungans. During the Stalin Repression 800,000 Germans, 19,000 Koreans, 102,000 Poles and in excess of half a million from other northern Caucasus were deported to Kazakhstan.
During the Second World War Kazakhstan was the main place for the evacuation of Russians, so now Kazakhs make up 57% of the total population with Russians at 27% and Uzbecks, Germans and Tatusand Uigurs making up 9%. The main languages are Kazakh and Russian, both of which Andrew spike fluently, thank goodness!
Kazakhstan has borders with Russia, China, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan. The climate is extreme with January temperatures varying from -4 degrees to -20 and July from +19 degrees to +26. Temperatures can dip as low as -45 degrees in winter.
Following our morning lesson and briefing, we prepared for the evening’s festivities including searching for a replacement piano with five octaves, which we hired from a local music shop for 8,000 tenge (£40 equivalent)
The Ankara Hotel provided the venue for the evening’s supper and ball where we had our usual sound check with a sound system ‘borrowed’ from the local concert hall with a 70 watt output, capable of coping with up to 2,500 people. Given that we were playing for 250 guests it seemed adequate and a big improvement on the Cults A&F Club system that we used the previous week – no offence! The system was manned by four or five people who provided invaluable support and seemed to cope and deal with all modifications in their own dangerous way! During the sound check we were joined by two local musicians – Sergei, a Russian violinist, and a Romanian Gypsy musician who played the bass. They asked if they could join in and, to our surprise, played a melody taken from a Da Fustra CD composed by Sandy Legget! Considering we had Shauna on piano, this was a surprise and coincidence. They had learned the music verbatim as a result of listening to a Da Fustra CD loaned by Andrew.
The evening kicked off with a cocktail reception and, needless to say, we spoke with ex=pats who knew some of our own friends back at home – it’s a small world!
Nicol delivered The Immortal Memory to an international audience including Brits, French, Americans and Germans. He obeyed the golden rule by keeping it short, (decision made on the hoof because of the din from the French who carried on their own conversation through most of it). The meal was excellent, albeit the cock-a-leekie soup bore little resemblance to the real thing. I took the liberty of introducing our table to the custom of adding gravy (whisky) to the haggis, which seemed to appeal to the non-Scots!
Following on from the meal, those guests who had been practicing their Scottish dancing were keen to display their expertise and the floor was full. Once their repertoire had been exhausted however, Nicol strutted his stuff as dance master and kept the evening going. Our final playing session was complimented with our two musical friends joining the band to their, and the guests’, delight. Given that Nicol has given Sergei and his friend some Scottish music to take away, we might find our invitation cancelled for 2006, considering their expertise in reading and playing!
Our host, Andrew Peterson (whose wife was back in her hometown in Ireland with their youngest child Gilleasbuig awaiting the birth of their fourth child), unselfishly parked the other two children, Lachlan and Iona, with friends and took the three of us on a trip up the mountains to visit a hunting lodge. This consisted of a hill training station housing special dogs, Central Asian Shepherds and Borzois, to flush out pheasants, which would then be hunted by birds of prey. These birds included their national bird, the berkut, large vultures, owls including the eagle owl, the Step Eagle and other eagles, falcons of all descriptions tethered or housed in large cages. The idea being once the pheasant had been flushed out into the open by the dogs, the bird would be released by its handler to hunt and kill. Guests would pay a fee to take a day’s hunting including the dogs, birds of prey and their handlers. A good day’s sport might yield one pheasant, quite a difference to what I am used to where we regularly shoot 170 pheasants per day albeit I would love to take part in a day’s hunt. The station also reared rats to feed the birds. The rats were kept in specially constructed heated buildings, each housing around 3000, looked after by two or three staff. The weekly demand was somewhere around 3,000 rats!
This trip was certainly one of my highlights, being able to see round this station and handle the birds without impediments such as signs saying ‘please keep a safe distance from the birds’ and the usual Health and Safety notices posted all around!
On Sunday we visited the Chimbaluk Ski Centre at Kas, which had four lifts operating to a height of 3,163 metres. Whilst I ventured up in the gondola to the top of the run to admire the view (fabulous), Nicol and Shauna, along with our host, spent a pleasant three hours skiing in conditions which would be the envy of anywhere in the world. The trip by Land Cruiser up and down to the ski centre proved to be an adventure in itself with steep icy roads and the usual headbangers of drivers involved in a spate of minor road accidents.
That evening we were entertained at a first class authentic Kazakh restaurant in Almaty serving local food including horsemeat, popular in Kazakhstan. Not only was the food delicious, but also the cabaret was out of this world with music, juggling acts and dancing of the highest order. Costumes to match added to the spectacle of the evening.
Our final day, Monday, (which Andrew kindly took as a holiday in spite of the news that Procter and Gamble had just taken over the Gillette empire) was spent in Almaty where we visited a school for the blind, to give them a tune. This invitation stemmed from fund raising for the school by one of Andrew’s friends, Frances Galloway. Well, when we arrived the children were waiting for us in their concert hall ready to entertain us. We listened first to a group playing the dombra, the national instrument of the country, followed by singing and finally an accordion band all playing an early version of the instrument called the bajan. This was another highlight and whilst we played a few reels and jigs our trump card was Andrew playing his bagpipes, which generated the most interest amongst the pupils all wanting to have a try.
Following on from our humbling at the school, which boasted 167 musicians from a school roll of 215, we visited Zenkov cathedral in Panifilov Park and also the museum of musical instruments where we were able to view the forerunner of the dombra, violin and even bagpipes. The park also displayed monuments to heroes of the past including the 28 soldiers of the Almaty Regiment who died defending Moscow in 1941.
Our final visit was to the Green Bazaar, the ancient market place in Almaty, which sold all kinds of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, spices, nuts, etc. This was a hub of activity without the restraints of our own sanitised supermarkets.
Our last evening was spent at home with Andrew entertained by his gateman, Baurzhan Alimbekov, playing the dombra. This rounded off a very special trip. Thank you very much Andrew and trust all is well with your new family member.
Greetings from Inverness
by Margo MacLennan
Hello everyone, ………….
CD Reviews – See Hear with Judith Linton
Settling the Score – The Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra – Celebrating 20 Years of Music Making – AFO 005CD
Domino Five – Kenny Thomson & the Wardlaw SDB – BRCD035 – Bryansroom Recordings
Piano – Andy Thorburn – ATMUSCD2
Book Review
The Cardenden Collection by Michael Philip – 68 original compositions – Deeay Music
Letters to the Editor
Dear Karin
Willie
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
2nd April 05 – Fiddlers 3 + 2 (Feature on Lex Keith)
9th April 05 – Ian Cruickshanks SDB (The Ruthven Collection with Rob Sargent)
16th April 05 – Neil Copland SDB (Nicol McLaren’s Personal Choice)
23rd April 05 – Marian Anderson SDB (Angus Grant – the Left-Handed Fiddler)
30th April 05 – Colin Dewar SDB (OB from Ballymena with guests Matt McGranaghan & Tom Sweeney)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) – 26th Apr 05 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle) 13th Apr 05 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 17th Apr 05 – George Hood SDB
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 3rd Apr 05 – Neil MacEachern SDB
Armadale (Masonic Hall) – 7th Apr 05 – Ian Muir Sound
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 17th Apr 05 – John Crawford & Friends
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 25th Apr 05 – Ian Cruickshank SDB (6-piece)
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 27th Apr 05 – John Bone
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) – 18th Apr 05 – Scott Gordon SDB
Belford (Community Centre) – 28th Apr 05 – Bon Accords
Biggar (Municipal Hall) – 10th Apr 05 – Graeme Mitchell SDB
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 12th Apr 05 - tbc
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) - 26th Apr 05 – Luncheon & Ceilidh
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 14th Apr 05 – Sam Docherty
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 5th Apr 05 – Judith Linton Trio
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) - 7th Apr 05 – Ray Carse
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) – 19th Apr 05 – Judith Linton Trio
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 21st Apr 05 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel) 7th Apr 05 – David Bowen Trio
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 13th Apr 05 – Johnny Duncan Duo
Dalriada (Argyll Hotel, Lochgilphead) 19th Apr 05 – ‘100 Smiles an hour’ Archie McAllister & Ian Macfadyen
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 6th Apr 05 – Neil Dawson Quartet
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 20th Apr 05 – Callum Wilson SDB
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) – 12th Apr 05 – Club Night
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Masonic Lodge, Newtown St) 18th Apr 05 – Bill Black SDB
East Kilbride (Masonic Hall, Kittoch St) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 19th Apr 05 – Jimmy and Alexander Lindsay
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) – 25th Apr 05 – David Oswald SDB
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 24th Apr 05 – Stuart Anderson Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 13th Apr 05 – William Marshall SDB
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) – 7th Apr 05 - tbc
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) – 11th Apr 05 – Club Night
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) – 21st Apr 05 – AGM + Stuart Anderson
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 6th Apr 05 – Ian Cameron Duo
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 26th Apr 05 - tbc
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) - 3rd Apr 05 - tbc
Haddington (Railway Inn) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) – 18th Apr 05 – Jimmy Lindsay Trio
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) - 13th Apr 05 – Marian Anderson Trio
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 7th Apr 05 – Marian Anderson SDB
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) – 5th Apr 05 – Roger Dobson Quintet
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) – 27th Apr 05 – David Oswald SDB
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – 6th Apr 05 – Tommy Newcomen & the Holly Duo
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 16th Apr 05 – Dance to James Coutts SDB
Langholm (Crown Hotel) –
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) – 14th Apr 05 – Richard Smith Trio
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 7th Apr 05 - tbc
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 19th Apr 05 – Andy Kain Trio
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 26th Apr 05 – Gordon Pattullo
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 19th Apr 05 – Club Night
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 6th Apr 05 - tbc
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) - 28th Apr 05 – Ian Thomson SDB
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) -
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 10th Apr 05 - Competitions
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 5th Apr 05 – James Coutts SDB
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) – 7th Apr 05 – Iain Anderson Trio
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Club) – 28th Apr 05 – Ross MacPherson Trio
Perth (Salutation Hotel) – 19th Apr 05 – Colin Dewar SDB
Phoenix (Argyll Arms hotel, Ardrishaig) 6th Apr 05 - tbc
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) - 5th Apr 05 – Billy Anderson
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 12th Apr 05 – Marian Anderson Trio
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 7th Apr 05 – John Douglas SDB
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) - 10th Apr 05 – All Players Welcome
Selkirk (Cricket Club) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) - 12th Apr 05 – Tommy Newcomen
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 4th Apr 05 – Scott Gordon Trio
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 7th Apr 05 – Addie Harper SDB
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 21st Apr 05 – Charlie Abel Duo
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn) 14th Apr 05 – John Douglas SDB
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 19th Apr 05 – Jock Fraser SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Annan
3. Arbroath
4. Balloch
5. Banchory
6. Banff
7. Blairgowrie
8. Campsie
9. Carlisle
10 Castle Douglas
11 Coalburn
12. Dingwall
13. Dunblane
14. Dunfermline
15. Duns
16. Fintry
17. Forfar
18. Forres
19. Galashiels
20. Galston
21. Glendale
22. Glenrothes
23. Gretna
24. Highland
25. Inveraray
26. Isle of Skye
27. Islesteps
28. Kintore
29. Lanark
30. Langholm
31. Lesmahagow
32. Lewis & Harris
33. Livingston
34. Lockerbie
35. Mauchline
36. Montrose
37. Newmill
38. Newtongrange
39. North East
40. Oban
41. Perth
42. Premier
43. Renfrew
44. Shetland
45. Thornhill
46. Thurso
47. Turriff
48. West Barnes
49. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2004
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed early 08-09
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Brittania B&F Club ( joined 07-08
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
38. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
39. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
40. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
41. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
42. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
43. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
44. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
45. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
46. Kintore A&F Club (
47. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
48. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
49. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
50. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
51. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
52. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
53. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
54. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
55. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
56. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
57. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
58. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
61. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
62. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
63. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
64. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
65. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
66. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
67. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
68. Selkirk A&F Club (
69. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
70. Sutherland A&F Club (
71. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
72. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
73. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
74. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
75. West Barnes ( - present)
76. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
77. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
78. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
79. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
80. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
81. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
82. Buchan A&F Club
83 Callander A&F Club (
84 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
85 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
86 Club Accord
87 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
88. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
89. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
90. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
91. Derwentside A&F Club
92. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
93. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
94. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
95. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
96. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
97. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
98. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
99. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
100. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
101. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
102. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
103. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
110. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
111. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
112. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
113. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
114. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
115. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
116. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
117. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
118. Tranent A&F Club
119. Vancouver
120. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
121. Wellbank A&F Club
122. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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