Box and Fiddle Year 02 No 03
December 1978
Price 15p
8 pages
7 month subscription £1.75
Editor - Ian Smith, 50 Mount Vernon Road, Stranraer
Editorial
First, a word from our Association Secretary. A letter has been sent to every Club, most of you have returned the questionnaire. Some have not, and Andrew would be pleased if these could be returned as soon as possible.
It is also my pleasant task to inform you of three new Clubs to the Association – Shetlands Club, Coupar Angus Club and Kintore Club.
If anyone wishes to add or subtract from the Guest Artistes’ List please inform Andrew Nairn as he is about to issue a new list.
May I, as Editor, of the ‘Box and Fiddle’ wish all our friends, members, advertisers and readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Directory Additions
SHETLAND –
Chairman F. Chadwick, 15 Hillhead, Lerwich, Shetland
Sec / Treasurer Dave Robertson
Committee – Jim Burgess (accordion), Cecil Hughson (bass), Willie Hunter (fiddle), Billy Isbister (accordion), Violet Tulloch (accordion & piano)
Venue – Grand Hotel, Lerwick
COUPAR ANGUS –
Chairman David Cochrane
Sec / Treasurer Tom Willisdon
KINTORE –
Mr W. J. Gray
A Day at Perth Festival
by Ian Smith (Editor)
The All Scotland Accordion and Fiddle Festival was held at Perth on the 28th October 1978 and it was an outstanding success in all regards. Organised and some excellently run by that ebullient, remarkable and friendliest of men, Mr Bill Wilkie, ably supported by his helpful Committee.
Six halls in Perth were used to accommodate all the different sections and classes, there being no fewer than 30 of them. On the face of it there did not seem to be any hitches so all the more credit to Bill and his assistants.
The ‘Box and Fiddle’ was on sale in the foyer of the City Hall which became a mini ‘Piccadilly Circus’. It was here among the bright array of the accordion display that ‘auld freens’ re-met and cracked away. From the paper stand many of these greeting s were witnessed. It was also her that many of the famous names in the accordion and fiddle world were to be seen sometime or another. As each section was finished many of the post mortems were conducted here.
There was the couple from the Oban Club who make a right weekend of it. The ‘Geordie’ from Newcastle who comes up every year and wouldn’t dream of missing out on the day. There was the young lady student from New Zealand who has taken up the fiddle and plays with the Banchory Strathspey and Reel Society. Then there were the two gentlemen from Livingston Club who were doing their best to get in to a certain Ceilidh at a certain hotel ; they had been trying for two months are were not very hopeful this time (I wonder if they made it).
The concert at night was not only a sell-out, it was also a fantastic success. I don’t know what the capacity of the City Hall is but it was packed from end to end and top to bottom. The concert was compered by Bill himself and he led off with his own accordion orchestra consisting of 18 accordions, two drum kits, bass guitar, piano and three saxophones. The girls were all delightfully dressed in white blouses and long red shirts. Their programme was a beautifully balanced mixture of old and new tunes that had some fine arrangements. Bill brought on his daughter Mrs Diana Coburn, who sang ‘Brown Girl in the Ring’ to a modern tempo. She ended with what Bill described as ‘clap handy time’ and led by Bill, the audience participated and enjoyed it all. As they finished their part of the concert they were greeted with thunderous applause and deservedly so.
Ian Anderson on accordion was excellent, as were his ‘French’ pieces. So too was the new Scottish Girl Junior Champion, Fiona Carmichael from Glasgow. Accordion Junior Classic Champion Ian Horsburgh was first class and also Robert Black, who is the new Scottish Junior Champion. These young starts of the future were given a very warm appreciation.
That accordion ace Paddy Neary then came on and for the next 15 minutes had the audience fascinated and enthralled by his brilliant playing. Paddy really was in fine form.
On stage came Willie Lawrie of Kinlochleven who won the Own Composition Class with ‘Donald McDonald’s Breakdown’, and the new Area champion, Colin Johnstone, also got a great ovation as this was his fifth win in a row. The Trio was won by the Robert Black Trio. As before, all these young artistes received a great ovation for their triumphs.
A bit of light relief was then ordered by Bill and it was duly provided by John Shearer. His act being a mixture of jokes, sleight of hand, ventriloquism and song. This then brought on one of Scotland’s best Scottish Dance Bands – the Iain MacPhail six-piece band. They effortlessly kept the audience happy in a feet tapping mood.
Young Gavin Sime endeared himself to everyone with his vigorous Highland dances. In his smart Highland dress he danced with pride and sureness that belied his age. He is the Commonwealth Champion.
The next turn was very enjoyable and entertaining. This was the John Scrimger Singers. Six ladies and six gentlemen, with the aid of their pianist, they combined to produce some lovely and at time stirring songs. All these performers had led in an ever increasing crescendo to the leading guest artiste Pearl Fawcett of London.
She brought on to the stage two accordions – a Museticia Special Musicordo and an acoustic and electronic accordion.
In less than 30 seconds this fair, vivacious and exciting personality proved why she is the best in the business. Her performance was brilliant. Her technique and interpretations were out of this world. Time and again she went to leave the stage, but both Bill and the audience refused to let her go. So ended the first half.
My thanks to the two unnamed gentlemen from the Kelso Club. They helped to get my car started. The joys of motoring start at midnight. Thank you gentlemen and thank you Bill Wilkie, for presenting these championships and concert. It will be remembered in years to come.
Increase in Entries for Edinburgh Festival
by Christine Leatham
Once again the Edinburgh Festival was a great success. The entries were again on the increase and the resulting competition was very keen, the adjudicators having a hard job to separate the winners. Here are the results.
Elementary Solo
1. Carol Farquhar (Whitburn)
2. Alan Black (Biggar)
3. Gordon Wardlaw (Edinburgh)
12 Years and Under Solo
1. Diane Armstrong (Armadale)
2. Ian Skinner (Blackridge)
3. Yvonne Mathieson (Blackburn)
Intermediate Solo
1. David Wilson (Blackburn)
2. Callum Burns (Balerno)
3. Duncan Reid (Whitburn)
Advanced Solo
1. Ian Horsburgh (Blackridge)
2. Kenneth McGinty (Edinburgh)
3. Keith Wilson (Edinburgh)
Elementary Duet
1. David Wilson & Yvonne Mathieson (Blackburn)
2. Ian Skinner & Michael Cassaly (Blackridge)
3. George Burke & Neil Scott (Haddington)
Intermediate Duet
1. Ian Horsburgh & Carol Farquhar (Blackridge)
2. George & Joan Henney (Edinburgh)
3. Lynda Byrne & Helen McGuire (Edinburgh)
12 Years and Under Scottish
1. Duncan Black (Stanley)
2. Derek Rae (Uphall)
3. Yvonne Mathirson (Blackburn)
Junior Scottish
1. Robert Black (Stanley)
2. Ian Horsburgh (Blackridge)
3. Keith Wilson (Edinburgh)
Senior Scottish
1. George King (Gifford)
2. Tommy Pringle (Selkirk)
3. Duncan McBain (Edinburgh)
Adjudicators – Archie Duncan (Classical) and Bobby Crowe (Scottish)
At the concert following the competitions we had : Peter Innes’ SDB ; Arthur Wilson (songs & guitar) ; Bobby Crowe, the well-known accordionist ; Christine Leatham and Joyce Crombie (accordion duet) ; finals of the Senior Scottish Section and some of the winners of various sections of the competitions.
The compere was Bobby Colgan of Musselburgh who makes any concert a success.
It was a very successful day with many more entries than last year.
1920 and All That
by Alf Silk (Ayr)
With the advent of the 20’s the very nature of dancing and dance music underwent a further change as jazz from the USA infiltrated the domain of country and sequence dances.
From an ‘ad lib’ dance known as the ‘Bunnyhug’ in the saloons of the bold, bad West, there evolved dances like the Onestep and Foxtrot.
They were a natural follow-on of Ragtime music which was prevalent in the latter years of last century and the early years of this one ; a well-known pioneer in this form of syncopation being the late Scott Joplin.
The Onestep was superseded by the Quickstep which is still a popular dance today, but a smoother more melodic form of music was played for it at that time, a good example being that still popular evergreen ‘Whispering’, first published in 1921.
Along with the jazz came the ‘jazz-set’. This was the drum kit with the bass-drum-pedal attachment. Prior to this, bands seldom had percussion of any kind (especially small combinations) piano or double bass (maybe both) being all the backing, with generally, fiddle and chromatic accordion taking the lead.
With the change of music the concertina replaced the accordion and the banjo began to appear in dance combinations, providing a more rhythmic background.
This period was still pre-radio, the old wind-up gramophone being the then equivalent, and most people who possessed one had a collection of records featuring Peter or Daniel Wyper who played the two-row chromatic and specialized in Scottish airs and dance music. The records of that time were the old wax cylinders, which unfortunately, were so fragile. Amongst the few that have survived of my own collection are two of that early virtuoso of the piano accordion Guido Diero, composer of the famous ‘My Florence’ Waltz. I believe these recordings date back to around 1908-10 ; and I find I still have an original 78 of the celebrated violinist Scott Skinner playing, amongst other things, his well-known Lass o’ Bon Accord.
In the era of which I speak people depended on the gramophone for home musical entertainment, unless, of course, they were able to make their own music, maybe on the fiddle, piano or just vocal. A family sin song round the old ‘chimmel-en’ was a cosy way of passing a winter night. As an early teenager I was quite in demand, playing the piano at some such gatherings, and I particularly remember one family – the Caldwells – who lived in a big house in Kilmarnock. There were four or five fiddlers in the family and they had regular ‘get togethers’ with a vamp on the piano from myself.
On one occasion I accepted a special invitation and to my great surprise and delight was privileged to meet and accompany on the piano the well-known stage violinist McKenzie Murdoch, composer of ‘Hame o’ Mine’. He was appearing that week in the King’s Theatre and apparently the Caldwells were on very friendly terms with him and invited him to their home.
It was around this time that I made my ‘debut’ as a cinema pianist ‘close-fitting’ music to the silent movies. I worked in various local cinemas (there were five and two theatres in town at that time) playing solo or with orchestras until the advent of talking pictures in 1929.
That year I joined an alfresco seaside summer show as pianist, also taking part in cameo sketches etc. We didn’t make a fortune but it was great fun.
Thus ended the ‘Roaring 20’s’ an era which popularized the saxophone (this instrument having no part in original jazz, but was a sophisticated addition) and gave us among many other things the Charleston and zip fastener, not forgetting, of course, ‘wireless’ ……and so, into the ‘throbbing 30’s’.
Tutor of Champions – Peter Farnan
by Ian Smith
In recent years accordion players from the North-East have been having a lot of success at competitions throughout the country. To quote a few examples ; Graeme Mitchell, Scottish Senior Champion 1977, Eric Bell, Scottish Senior Champion 1978. Graeme Mitchell and Graham Geddes variously winning top honours in solo and trio classes at Kinross, Blairgowrie, Keith, Musselburgh and Perth.
These players have more than talent in common – they all have the same music teacher – Peter Farnan from Bucksburn, Aberdeen.
Intrigued by this success I decided to go along and meet this man who obviously has the uncanny knack of developing championship material in a player, albeit the potential is there beforehand, waiting to be developed.
Peter, who is 32, is a Computer Systems Programmer in Aberdeen, and is married with four of a family. Two of his children play the piano, while the other two play the accordion. When I asked him about their potential as players, Peter was a bit non-committal and I had the feeling he was being modest – he’s that kind of a fellow.
Scottish Champion
Peter was born in Dundee and was educated at Harris Academy where John Huband and Arthur Spink were also pupils, at the same time. Peter had an illness which prevented him from playing football, etc., with other children and when he was eight his father bought him an accordion. He went to lessons until he was sixteen and during that time he was Scottish Traditional Junior Champion in 1960 and 1961. He was also Area Junior Classical Champion the same years. Music was his principal interest at school where he studied piano and played clarinet in the Dundee Schools’ Orchestra.
He left school at 17 and went into insurance. At that particular time there was not a great demand for accordionists so Peter switched to the bass guitar and gave up the accordion completely. He played jazz, rock and pop with various groups in the Dundee area. In the meantime he had gone from insurance to accountancy and eventually got the opportunity to work with computers. While in Dundee he did a bit of teaching the accordion and taught a young chap by the name of Sandy Nixon who won the Scottish Under 12 Solo Class two years running. However, Peter did not see himself as a teacher and made no effort to further his career in that respect.
At the age of 23 his work brought him to Aberdeen where he started playing bass guitar with the Peter Dee Band in the Palace Ballroom. He remained with the band for six and a half years. When Peter had been in Aberdeen for a time he was asked by a friend to help out with a teaching job. He accepted. That was in 1972 and what started as a favour for a friend gave him the incentive to continue teaching. I had heard that Peter is a hard task master and when I asked him what he looked for in a pupil he was very definite in his answer. He looks for enthusiasm, sensitivity and physical capacity for the instrument. He likes his pupils to be firstly a musician and secondly a technician. He looks for expression and control of the bellows, technical control and precision in co-ordination of the hands.
Peter is of the opinion that the best players are those who get encouragement from their parents, even though the parents do not play an instrument themselves. As far as the pupils are concerned they must enjoy what they are doing and it is only by practice that they will be successful and consequently get enjoyment. He believes that pupils should have an aim. The aim itself may be to play in a school concert or to win a championship – whichever it is it gives the young player something to work for. He advocates that training a pupil to enjoy competing goes a long way to helping that pupil to win.
Peter emphasizes that the selection of tunes for a competition is vital and he is finding it increasingly difficult to find suitable material for his pupils to play. He has overcome this by composing several competition pieces which have been played by Eric Bell, Graeme Mitchell and Graham Geddes in their winning selections.
Peter is still playing bass guitar regularly in hotels in the Aberdeen area as well as doing session work on TV, records and radio. His tastes in music cover a wide spectrum as during our conversation he was enthusing about music to win the Senior Scottish Championship one minute and the next he was advising that someone who wanted to hear and learn about good bass lines should listen to Bach.
Peter Farnan is a man totally dedicated to good music and we are fortunate that he is willing to share his dedication to the benefit of others.
The Busby Accordion, Fiddle and Matrimonial Club
by Jimmy Yeaman
Norman Williams is so fanatical about accordion and fiddle music that in an effort to quench his insatiable thirst for the ‘Earth and Message’ (his terms) he decided to found his own private Club.
On 11th November – a night to remember – the first meeting was held in the Busby Hotel, thinly disguised as a wedding. The guest artiste was ace accordionist from Perth Jimmy Lindsay (British Chromatic). Supporting Jimmy was Norman’s daughter Norma (Nuptual Bells).
Master of Ceremonies in the first half was Rev Stephan and later the clipboard was handed to compere Jimmy McGregor.
A capacity audience of players and non-players saw the night start with a swing to the strains of Fraser McGlynn and his Broadcasting Band. Featuring McGlynn Snr (British Chromatic), McGlynn Jnr (drums), David Scott (fiddle), Stan Kellock (bass) and Duncan MacKay (piano).
The standard of musicianship among players in attendance was extremely high, surely the amount of Scottish Champions at one gathering is a record.
The players were Norman Williams (piano accordion and claw hammer jaiket) ; Peter Bruce (piano accordion) ; Harry Roy (piano accordion) ; Ivor Britton (Continental Chromatic) ; Bill Black and Jean Kirkland (British Chromatic).
Fiddlers Jack Lindsay (Dundee Pneumatic), Ken MacLean (Glasgow Asthmatic), Denis McLaughlin (Clydeband Erratic and Erotic), Willie Simpson (Perthshire Neurotic), Gordon Simpson (Bearsden Acrobatic) and Jimmy Yeaman (Balloch Fantastic).
It was good to see fiddlers outnumbering accordionists for a change. It was obvious that Norman wanted tone, true tradition and culture to predominate.
Pianists ; Ann Black, Sheena MacLean and Morag MacAskill.
Bassists ; Bill Morgan and Neil McMillan.
Drums ; Stan Peacock.
Other entertainers were singer Margaret Robertson and comedian and singer Eddie Rose.
Unfortunately, guest artistes Jimmy and Norma had to leave early for another engagement, and from those of us who didn’t say cheerio – “Good luck for the future”.
To Norman, who organised the whole affair with a subtlety beyond the normal capacity of ‘Domino’ Keyboard Players, we offer this suggestion.
If at sometime in the future you are looking for a name for a grandchild, how about Morino Stradivari?
Cabaret at the Barlochan
by Ian Smith
The village of Palnackie in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright has a claim to fame on two counts. It is here that the Championships are held to find the Champion Flounder Tramper and they have the Barlochan Hotel. Some of Scotland finest acts have appeared here. To name a few – Ethna Campbell, Glen Daly, the Alexander Brothers and Andy Stewart. Another name to add is Dermot O’Brien.
The compere for the evening was Robin Waitte of the Bon Accords. Robin plays a 3-row button-box and his wife Deryn a Crucianelli electronic box with two great hairy spiders hanging from it. Robin and Deryn set the tone of the evening’s entertainment with some lively tunes that got the audience in a great mood. They remained on the stage and backed Sexton McMillan, a Scottish singer from Ayr. Dressed in his Highland outfit, he sang from Kirkwall Bay to the Dark Island.
Dermot then strapped on his ‘milking machine’, Derek hitched up his overgrown banjo, John Barton put on his safety belt and his Roller Coaster Bongos and off they went. Man! This was crazy stuff and how this audience lapped it all up. They could do no wrong this night. The more the crowd cheered the more they got. Beer Barrel Polka, Kerry Slides, Flying Scotsman and songs galore – Katey Daly, Forty Shades of Green, Kitty of Colraine. On and on they went, non stop for three quarters of an hour.
There followed a short interval and then a Country and Western singer, Scott Stevens, from Glasgow, took the stage and entertained with his Jim Reeves and Don Williams.
Dermot returned to a great acclamation and they immediately carried on as before. This time a lot of his time was taken up with requests which he valiantly tried to handle, but he was overwhelmed with them. Nothing was left out, reels, jigs, songs jokes and Irish jokes too. This crowd were being saturated with accordion music, the likes of which they had never heard before. This dynamic Trio turned this cabaret into a veritable cauldron of music. Time had run out but still they went on. Eventually something had top give and it was Derek’s string vest.
If this is the entertainment provided by the Barlochan Hotel the people in the district must count themselves very lucky indeed.
Record Review
by Derek Hamilton
Country Dance Style – John McGregor and his Dance Band London LDN466
It’s Scotland’s Music – Fergie Macdonald and his Highland Band Shona SHLP 7001
The Border Country Dance Band - Fellside FE007
Looking for a Partner – The Wallochmor Ceilidh Band Lapwing LAP101
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) 27th Dec 78 Graeme Mitchell
Alnwick (Nag’s Head)
Balloch (Balloch Hotel) 17th Dec 78 Bob Christie and Lex Keith
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) 19th Dec 78
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel)
Beith (Anderson Hotel) 18th Dec 78 Fraser McGlynn + Trio competition
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) 11th Dec 78 Angus Cameron
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel)
Coupar Angus (Royal Hotel) 5th Dec 78 Arthur Spink
Cumnock (Royal Hotel)
Dumfries (Oughton’s)
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) 7th Dec 78 Club Artistes
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom)
Falkirk (Park Hotel)
Forres (Brig Motel) 13th Dec 78 Angus Cameron
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford) 11th Dec 78 Currie Brothers
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) 14th Dec 78 Member only
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel)
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel) 27th Dec 78 Walter Perrie
Kintore (Crown Hotel) 6th Dec 78 Alistair Hunter Trio
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) no December meeting, 30th Jan 79 Iain MacPhail
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull) 7th Dec 78 Sandy Coghill & the Wallachmore CB
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel)
North Cumbria (Huntsman Inn - Penton) 20th Dec 78 Bert Shorthouse
North East (Seafield Arms) 5th Dec 78 Douglas Muir
Oban (Park Hotel) 6th Dec 78 Ron Gonella
Perth (Salutation Hotel)
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Straiton (Black Bull Hotel)
Stranraer (North West Castle Hotel) 4th Dec 78 Bill Powrie
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wellbank (venue?)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) 19th Dec 78 Wick Fiddlers
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Banchory
3. Banff
4. Beith
5. Biggar
6. Buchan
7. Coupar Angus
8. Cumnock
9. Dundee & District
10. Falkirk
11. Forres
12. Galston
13. Glendale (Wooler)
14. Kelso
15. Kintore
16. Livingston
17. Lockerbie
18. M.A.F.I.A.
19. North Cumbria
20. North East
21. Oban
22. Perth & District
23. Straiton
24. Stranraer
25. Wick
BASED ON THE ABOVE THE FULL CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT DEC 1978 BECOMES (This is a record of all the Clubs who have ever been members of the Association. I will add in opening, and where appropriate, closing dates if and when I come across them) :-
1. Aberdeen A&F Club
2. Alnwick A&F Club
3. Balloch A&F Club
4. Banchory A&F Club
5. Banff & District A&F Club
6. Beith & District A&F Club
7. Biggar A&F Club
8. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
9. Buchan A&F Club
10. Coquetdale (?)
11. Coupar Angus A&F Club
12. Cumbria (or North Cumbria) Accordion Club
13. Cumnock A&F Club
14. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s)
15. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
16. Dunblane & District A&F Club
17. Dundee & District A&F Club
18. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
19. Falkirk A&F Club
20. Fintry A&F Club
21. Forres A&F Club
22. Galston A&F Club
23. Glendale Accordion Club
24. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
25. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
26. Kelso A&F Club
27. Kintore A&F Club
28. Langholm A&F Club
29. Livingston A&F Club
30. Lockerbie A&F Club
31. M.A.F.I.A.
32. Newcastleton Accordion Club
33. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
34. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC
35. Oban A&F Club
36. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
37. Perth & District A&F Club
38. Renfrew A&F Club
39. Rothbury Accordion Club
40. Shetland A&F Club
41. Straiton Accordion Club
42. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
43. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
44. Wellbank A&F Club
45. Wick A&F Club
First, a word from our Association Secretary. A letter has been sent to every Club, most of you have returned the questionnaire. Some have not, and Andrew would be pleased if these could be returned as soon as possible.
It is also my pleasant task to inform you of three new Clubs to the Association – Shetlands Club, Coupar Angus Club and Kintore Club.
If anyone wishes to add or subtract from the Guest Artistes’ List please inform Andrew Nairn as he is about to issue a new list.
May I, as Editor, of the ‘Box and Fiddle’ wish all our friends, members, advertisers and readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Directory Additions
SHETLAND –
Chairman F. Chadwick, 15 Hillhead, Lerwich, Shetland
Sec / Treasurer Dave Robertson
Committee – Jim Burgess (accordion), Cecil Hughson (bass), Willie Hunter (fiddle), Billy Isbister (accordion), Violet Tulloch (accordion & piano)
Venue – Grand Hotel, Lerwick
COUPAR ANGUS –
Chairman David Cochrane
Sec / Treasurer Tom Willisdon
KINTORE –
Mr W. J. Gray
A Day at Perth Festival
by Ian Smith (Editor)
The All Scotland Accordion and Fiddle Festival was held at Perth on the 28th October 1978 and it was an outstanding success in all regards. Organised and some excellently run by that ebullient, remarkable and friendliest of men, Mr Bill Wilkie, ably supported by his helpful Committee.
Six halls in Perth were used to accommodate all the different sections and classes, there being no fewer than 30 of them. On the face of it there did not seem to be any hitches so all the more credit to Bill and his assistants.
The ‘Box and Fiddle’ was on sale in the foyer of the City Hall which became a mini ‘Piccadilly Circus’. It was here among the bright array of the accordion display that ‘auld freens’ re-met and cracked away. From the paper stand many of these greeting s were witnessed. It was also her that many of the famous names in the accordion and fiddle world were to be seen sometime or another. As each section was finished many of the post mortems were conducted here.
There was the couple from the Oban Club who make a right weekend of it. The ‘Geordie’ from Newcastle who comes up every year and wouldn’t dream of missing out on the day. There was the young lady student from New Zealand who has taken up the fiddle and plays with the Banchory Strathspey and Reel Society. Then there were the two gentlemen from Livingston Club who were doing their best to get in to a certain Ceilidh at a certain hotel ; they had been trying for two months are were not very hopeful this time (I wonder if they made it).
The concert at night was not only a sell-out, it was also a fantastic success. I don’t know what the capacity of the City Hall is but it was packed from end to end and top to bottom. The concert was compered by Bill himself and he led off with his own accordion orchestra consisting of 18 accordions, two drum kits, bass guitar, piano and three saxophones. The girls were all delightfully dressed in white blouses and long red shirts. Their programme was a beautifully balanced mixture of old and new tunes that had some fine arrangements. Bill brought on his daughter Mrs Diana Coburn, who sang ‘Brown Girl in the Ring’ to a modern tempo. She ended with what Bill described as ‘clap handy time’ and led by Bill, the audience participated and enjoyed it all. As they finished their part of the concert they were greeted with thunderous applause and deservedly so.
Ian Anderson on accordion was excellent, as were his ‘French’ pieces. So too was the new Scottish Girl Junior Champion, Fiona Carmichael from Glasgow. Accordion Junior Classic Champion Ian Horsburgh was first class and also Robert Black, who is the new Scottish Junior Champion. These young starts of the future were given a very warm appreciation.
That accordion ace Paddy Neary then came on and for the next 15 minutes had the audience fascinated and enthralled by his brilliant playing. Paddy really was in fine form.
On stage came Willie Lawrie of Kinlochleven who won the Own Composition Class with ‘Donald McDonald’s Breakdown’, and the new Area champion, Colin Johnstone, also got a great ovation as this was his fifth win in a row. The Trio was won by the Robert Black Trio. As before, all these young artistes received a great ovation for their triumphs.
A bit of light relief was then ordered by Bill and it was duly provided by John Shearer. His act being a mixture of jokes, sleight of hand, ventriloquism and song. This then brought on one of Scotland’s best Scottish Dance Bands – the Iain MacPhail six-piece band. They effortlessly kept the audience happy in a feet tapping mood.
Young Gavin Sime endeared himself to everyone with his vigorous Highland dances. In his smart Highland dress he danced with pride and sureness that belied his age. He is the Commonwealth Champion.
The next turn was very enjoyable and entertaining. This was the John Scrimger Singers. Six ladies and six gentlemen, with the aid of their pianist, they combined to produce some lovely and at time stirring songs. All these performers had led in an ever increasing crescendo to the leading guest artiste Pearl Fawcett of London.
She brought on to the stage two accordions – a Museticia Special Musicordo and an acoustic and electronic accordion.
In less than 30 seconds this fair, vivacious and exciting personality proved why she is the best in the business. Her performance was brilliant. Her technique and interpretations were out of this world. Time and again she went to leave the stage, but both Bill and the audience refused to let her go. So ended the first half.
My thanks to the two unnamed gentlemen from the Kelso Club. They helped to get my car started. The joys of motoring start at midnight. Thank you gentlemen and thank you Bill Wilkie, for presenting these championships and concert. It will be remembered in years to come.
Increase in Entries for Edinburgh Festival
by Christine Leatham
Once again the Edinburgh Festival was a great success. The entries were again on the increase and the resulting competition was very keen, the adjudicators having a hard job to separate the winners. Here are the results.
Elementary Solo
1. Carol Farquhar (Whitburn)
2. Alan Black (Biggar)
3. Gordon Wardlaw (Edinburgh)
12 Years and Under Solo
1. Diane Armstrong (Armadale)
2. Ian Skinner (Blackridge)
3. Yvonne Mathieson (Blackburn)
Intermediate Solo
1. David Wilson (Blackburn)
2. Callum Burns (Balerno)
3. Duncan Reid (Whitburn)
Advanced Solo
1. Ian Horsburgh (Blackridge)
2. Kenneth McGinty (Edinburgh)
3. Keith Wilson (Edinburgh)
Elementary Duet
1. David Wilson & Yvonne Mathieson (Blackburn)
2. Ian Skinner & Michael Cassaly (Blackridge)
3. George Burke & Neil Scott (Haddington)
Intermediate Duet
1. Ian Horsburgh & Carol Farquhar (Blackridge)
2. George & Joan Henney (Edinburgh)
3. Lynda Byrne & Helen McGuire (Edinburgh)
12 Years and Under Scottish
1. Duncan Black (Stanley)
2. Derek Rae (Uphall)
3. Yvonne Mathirson (Blackburn)
Junior Scottish
1. Robert Black (Stanley)
2. Ian Horsburgh (Blackridge)
3. Keith Wilson (Edinburgh)
Senior Scottish
1. George King (Gifford)
2. Tommy Pringle (Selkirk)
3. Duncan McBain (Edinburgh)
Adjudicators – Archie Duncan (Classical) and Bobby Crowe (Scottish)
At the concert following the competitions we had : Peter Innes’ SDB ; Arthur Wilson (songs & guitar) ; Bobby Crowe, the well-known accordionist ; Christine Leatham and Joyce Crombie (accordion duet) ; finals of the Senior Scottish Section and some of the winners of various sections of the competitions.
The compere was Bobby Colgan of Musselburgh who makes any concert a success.
It was a very successful day with many more entries than last year.
1920 and All That
by Alf Silk (Ayr)
With the advent of the 20’s the very nature of dancing and dance music underwent a further change as jazz from the USA infiltrated the domain of country and sequence dances.
From an ‘ad lib’ dance known as the ‘Bunnyhug’ in the saloons of the bold, bad West, there evolved dances like the Onestep and Foxtrot.
They were a natural follow-on of Ragtime music which was prevalent in the latter years of last century and the early years of this one ; a well-known pioneer in this form of syncopation being the late Scott Joplin.
The Onestep was superseded by the Quickstep which is still a popular dance today, but a smoother more melodic form of music was played for it at that time, a good example being that still popular evergreen ‘Whispering’, first published in 1921.
Along with the jazz came the ‘jazz-set’. This was the drum kit with the bass-drum-pedal attachment. Prior to this, bands seldom had percussion of any kind (especially small combinations) piano or double bass (maybe both) being all the backing, with generally, fiddle and chromatic accordion taking the lead.
With the change of music the concertina replaced the accordion and the banjo began to appear in dance combinations, providing a more rhythmic background.
This period was still pre-radio, the old wind-up gramophone being the then equivalent, and most people who possessed one had a collection of records featuring Peter or Daniel Wyper who played the two-row chromatic and specialized in Scottish airs and dance music. The records of that time were the old wax cylinders, which unfortunately, were so fragile. Amongst the few that have survived of my own collection are two of that early virtuoso of the piano accordion Guido Diero, composer of the famous ‘My Florence’ Waltz. I believe these recordings date back to around 1908-10 ; and I find I still have an original 78 of the celebrated violinist Scott Skinner playing, amongst other things, his well-known Lass o’ Bon Accord.
In the era of which I speak people depended on the gramophone for home musical entertainment, unless, of course, they were able to make their own music, maybe on the fiddle, piano or just vocal. A family sin song round the old ‘chimmel-en’ was a cosy way of passing a winter night. As an early teenager I was quite in demand, playing the piano at some such gatherings, and I particularly remember one family – the Caldwells – who lived in a big house in Kilmarnock. There were four or five fiddlers in the family and they had regular ‘get togethers’ with a vamp on the piano from myself.
On one occasion I accepted a special invitation and to my great surprise and delight was privileged to meet and accompany on the piano the well-known stage violinist McKenzie Murdoch, composer of ‘Hame o’ Mine’. He was appearing that week in the King’s Theatre and apparently the Caldwells were on very friendly terms with him and invited him to their home.
It was around this time that I made my ‘debut’ as a cinema pianist ‘close-fitting’ music to the silent movies. I worked in various local cinemas (there were five and two theatres in town at that time) playing solo or with orchestras until the advent of talking pictures in 1929.
That year I joined an alfresco seaside summer show as pianist, also taking part in cameo sketches etc. We didn’t make a fortune but it was great fun.
Thus ended the ‘Roaring 20’s’ an era which popularized the saxophone (this instrument having no part in original jazz, but was a sophisticated addition) and gave us among many other things the Charleston and zip fastener, not forgetting, of course, ‘wireless’ ……and so, into the ‘throbbing 30’s’.
Tutor of Champions – Peter Farnan
by Ian Smith
In recent years accordion players from the North-East have been having a lot of success at competitions throughout the country. To quote a few examples ; Graeme Mitchell, Scottish Senior Champion 1977, Eric Bell, Scottish Senior Champion 1978. Graeme Mitchell and Graham Geddes variously winning top honours in solo and trio classes at Kinross, Blairgowrie, Keith, Musselburgh and Perth.
These players have more than talent in common – they all have the same music teacher – Peter Farnan from Bucksburn, Aberdeen.
Intrigued by this success I decided to go along and meet this man who obviously has the uncanny knack of developing championship material in a player, albeit the potential is there beforehand, waiting to be developed.
Peter, who is 32, is a Computer Systems Programmer in Aberdeen, and is married with four of a family. Two of his children play the piano, while the other two play the accordion. When I asked him about their potential as players, Peter was a bit non-committal and I had the feeling he was being modest – he’s that kind of a fellow.
Scottish Champion
Peter was born in Dundee and was educated at Harris Academy where John Huband and Arthur Spink were also pupils, at the same time. Peter had an illness which prevented him from playing football, etc., with other children and when he was eight his father bought him an accordion. He went to lessons until he was sixteen and during that time he was Scottish Traditional Junior Champion in 1960 and 1961. He was also Area Junior Classical Champion the same years. Music was his principal interest at school where he studied piano and played clarinet in the Dundee Schools’ Orchestra.
He left school at 17 and went into insurance. At that particular time there was not a great demand for accordionists so Peter switched to the bass guitar and gave up the accordion completely. He played jazz, rock and pop with various groups in the Dundee area. In the meantime he had gone from insurance to accountancy and eventually got the opportunity to work with computers. While in Dundee he did a bit of teaching the accordion and taught a young chap by the name of Sandy Nixon who won the Scottish Under 12 Solo Class two years running. However, Peter did not see himself as a teacher and made no effort to further his career in that respect.
At the age of 23 his work brought him to Aberdeen where he started playing bass guitar with the Peter Dee Band in the Palace Ballroom. He remained with the band for six and a half years. When Peter had been in Aberdeen for a time he was asked by a friend to help out with a teaching job. He accepted. That was in 1972 and what started as a favour for a friend gave him the incentive to continue teaching. I had heard that Peter is a hard task master and when I asked him what he looked for in a pupil he was very definite in his answer. He looks for enthusiasm, sensitivity and physical capacity for the instrument. He likes his pupils to be firstly a musician and secondly a technician. He looks for expression and control of the bellows, technical control and precision in co-ordination of the hands.
Peter is of the opinion that the best players are those who get encouragement from their parents, even though the parents do not play an instrument themselves. As far as the pupils are concerned they must enjoy what they are doing and it is only by practice that they will be successful and consequently get enjoyment. He believes that pupils should have an aim. The aim itself may be to play in a school concert or to win a championship – whichever it is it gives the young player something to work for. He advocates that training a pupil to enjoy competing goes a long way to helping that pupil to win.
Peter emphasizes that the selection of tunes for a competition is vital and he is finding it increasingly difficult to find suitable material for his pupils to play. He has overcome this by composing several competition pieces which have been played by Eric Bell, Graeme Mitchell and Graham Geddes in their winning selections.
Peter is still playing bass guitar regularly in hotels in the Aberdeen area as well as doing session work on TV, records and radio. His tastes in music cover a wide spectrum as during our conversation he was enthusing about music to win the Senior Scottish Championship one minute and the next he was advising that someone who wanted to hear and learn about good bass lines should listen to Bach.
Peter Farnan is a man totally dedicated to good music and we are fortunate that he is willing to share his dedication to the benefit of others.
The Busby Accordion, Fiddle and Matrimonial Club
by Jimmy Yeaman
Norman Williams is so fanatical about accordion and fiddle music that in an effort to quench his insatiable thirst for the ‘Earth and Message’ (his terms) he decided to found his own private Club.
On 11th November – a night to remember – the first meeting was held in the Busby Hotel, thinly disguised as a wedding. The guest artiste was ace accordionist from Perth Jimmy Lindsay (British Chromatic). Supporting Jimmy was Norman’s daughter Norma (Nuptual Bells).
Master of Ceremonies in the first half was Rev Stephan and later the clipboard was handed to compere Jimmy McGregor.
A capacity audience of players and non-players saw the night start with a swing to the strains of Fraser McGlynn and his Broadcasting Band. Featuring McGlynn Snr (British Chromatic), McGlynn Jnr (drums), David Scott (fiddle), Stan Kellock (bass) and Duncan MacKay (piano).
The standard of musicianship among players in attendance was extremely high, surely the amount of Scottish Champions at one gathering is a record.
The players were Norman Williams (piano accordion and claw hammer jaiket) ; Peter Bruce (piano accordion) ; Harry Roy (piano accordion) ; Ivor Britton (Continental Chromatic) ; Bill Black and Jean Kirkland (British Chromatic).
Fiddlers Jack Lindsay (Dundee Pneumatic), Ken MacLean (Glasgow Asthmatic), Denis McLaughlin (Clydeband Erratic and Erotic), Willie Simpson (Perthshire Neurotic), Gordon Simpson (Bearsden Acrobatic) and Jimmy Yeaman (Balloch Fantastic).
It was good to see fiddlers outnumbering accordionists for a change. It was obvious that Norman wanted tone, true tradition and culture to predominate.
Pianists ; Ann Black, Sheena MacLean and Morag MacAskill.
Bassists ; Bill Morgan and Neil McMillan.
Drums ; Stan Peacock.
Other entertainers were singer Margaret Robertson and comedian and singer Eddie Rose.
Unfortunately, guest artistes Jimmy and Norma had to leave early for another engagement, and from those of us who didn’t say cheerio – “Good luck for the future”.
To Norman, who organised the whole affair with a subtlety beyond the normal capacity of ‘Domino’ Keyboard Players, we offer this suggestion.
If at sometime in the future you are looking for a name for a grandchild, how about Morino Stradivari?
Cabaret at the Barlochan
by Ian Smith
The village of Palnackie in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright has a claim to fame on two counts. It is here that the Championships are held to find the Champion Flounder Tramper and they have the Barlochan Hotel. Some of Scotland finest acts have appeared here. To name a few – Ethna Campbell, Glen Daly, the Alexander Brothers and Andy Stewart. Another name to add is Dermot O’Brien.
The compere for the evening was Robin Waitte of the Bon Accords. Robin plays a 3-row button-box and his wife Deryn a Crucianelli electronic box with two great hairy spiders hanging from it. Robin and Deryn set the tone of the evening’s entertainment with some lively tunes that got the audience in a great mood. They remained on the stage and backed Sexton McMillan, a Scottish singer from Ayr. Dressed in his Highland outfit, he sang from Kirkwall Bay to the Dark Island.
Dermot then strapped on his ‘milking machine’, Derek hitched up his overgrown banjo, John Barton put on his safety belt and his Roller Coaster Bongos and off they went. Man! This was crazy stuff and how this audience lapped it all up. They could do no wrong this night. The more the crowd cheered the more they got. Beer Barrel Polka, Kerry Slides, Flying Scotsman and songs galore – Katey Daly, Forty Shades of Green, Kitty of Colraine. On and on they went, non stop for three quarters of an hour.
There followed a short interval and then a Country and Western singer, Scott Stevens, from Glasgow, took the stage and entertained with his Jim Reeves and Don Williams.
Dermot returned to a great acclamation and they immediately carried on as before. This time a lot of his time was taken up with requests which he valiantly tried to handle, but he was overwhelmed with them. Nothing was left out, reels, jigs, songs jokes and Irish jokes too. This crowd were being saturated with accordion music, the likes of which they had never heard before. This dynamic Trio turned this cabaret into a veritable cauldron of music. Time had run out but still they went on. Eventually something had top give and it was Derek’s string vest.
If this is the entertainment provided by the Barlochan Hotel the people in the district must count themselves very lucky indeed.
Record Review
by Derek Hamilton
Country Dance Style – John McGregor and his Dance Band London LDN466
It’s Scotland’s Music – Fergie Macdonald and his Highland Band Shona SHLP 7001
The Border Country Dance Band - Fellside FE007
Looking for a Partner – The Wallochmor Ceilidh Band Lapwing LAP101
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel) 27th Dec 78 Graeme Mitchell
Alnwick (Nag’s Head)
Balloch (Balloch Hotel) 17th Dec 78 Bob Christie and Lex Keith
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) 19th Dec 78
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel)
Beith (Anderson Hotel) 18th Dec 78 Fraser McGlynn + Trio competition
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) 11th Dec 78 Angus Cameron
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel)
Coupar Angus (Royal Hotel) 5th Dec 78 Arthur Spink
Cumnock (Royal Hotel)
Dumfries (Oughton’s)
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel) 7th Dec 78 Club Artistes
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom)
Falkirk (Park Hotel)
Forres (Brig Motel) 13th Dec 78 Angus Cameron
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford) 11th Dec 78 Currie Brothers
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler) 14th Dec 78 Member only
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel)
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel) 27th Dec 78 Walter Perrie
Kintore (Crown Hotel) 6th Dec 78 Alistair Hunter Trio
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) no December meeting, 30th Jan 79 Iain MacPhail
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull) 7th Dec 78 Sandy Coghill & the Wallachmore CB
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel)
North Cumbria (Huntsman Inn - Penton) 20th Dec 78 Bert Shorthouse
North East (Seafield Arms) 5th Dec 78 Douglas Muir
Oban (Park Hotel) 6th Dec 78 Ron Gonella
Perth (Salutation Hotel)
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Straiton (Black Bull Hotel)
Stranraer (North West Castle Hotel) 4th Dec 78 Bill Powrie
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wellbank (venue?)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel) 19th Dec 78 Wick Fiddlers
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Banchory
3. Banff
4. Beith
5. Biggar
6. Buchan
7. Coupar Angus
8. Cumnock
9. Dundee & District
10. Falkirk
11. Forres
12. Galston
13. Glendale (Wooler)
14. Kelso
15. Kintore
16. Livingston
17. Lockerbie
18. M.A.F.I.A.
19. North Cumbria
20. North East
21. Oban
22. Perth & District
23. Straiton
24. Stranraer
25. Wick
BASED ON THE ABOVE THE FULL CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT DEC 1978 BECOMES (This is a record of all the Clubs who have ever been members of the Association. I will add in opening, and where appropriate, closing dates if and when I come across them) :-
1. Aberdeen A&F Club
2. Alnwick A&F Club
3. Balloch A&F Club
4. Banchory A&F Club
5. Banff & District A&F Club
6. Beith & District A&F Club
7. Biggar A&F Club
8. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
9. Buchan A&F Club
10. Coquetdale (?)
11. Coupar Angus A&F Club
12. Cumbria (or North Cumbria) Accordion Club
13. Cumnock A&F Club
14. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s)
15. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
16. Dunblane & District A&F Club
17. Dundee & District A&F Club
18. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
19. Falkirk A&F Club
20. Fintry A&F Club
21. Forres A&F Club
22. Galston A&F Club
23. Glendale Accordion Club
24. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
25. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
26. Kelso A&F Club
27. Kintore A&F Club
28. Langholm A&F Club
29. Livingston A&F Club
30. Lockerbie A&F Club
31. M.A.F.I.A.
32. Newcastleton Accordion Club
33. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
34. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC
35. Oban A&F Club
36. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
37. Perth & District A&F Club
38. Renfrew A&F Club
39. Rothbury Accordion Club
40. Shetland A&F Club
41. Straiton Accordion Club
42. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
43. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
44. Wellbank A&F Club
45. Wick A&F Club
