Singing workshop at Birgham Village Hall

Next Sunday -December 6th There is a Singing workshop at Birgham Village Hall
1;30-5;00pm    Cost £10-£15 depending on numbers
led by
Sandra Kerr ( she of Bagpuss fame), a well known lecturer and singing tutor
http//:www.newcastle.ac.uk/staff/profiles/s.j.kerr
There will be an optional carvery meal st The Fisherman's Arms afterwards
Please forward this on to anyone who maybe interested,

If you are interested please contact Gordon on 01890830621
gordon@dalvanie.co.uk

Ceilidh Stomp 21st Nov and 10th Dec in Aberdeen

Public Ceilidh with the dynamic and uptempo Ceilidh Stomp on Saturday 21st November at the New Inn, Ellon on behalf of Ellon Rugby Football Club Mini Section.

6.30 for 7pm – Dinner & Ceilidh. Cost for dinner & dance - £30. Cost for dance only (from 9pm) £10. Contact  themoars@btinternet.com for more information or to reserve tickets.

 Ardoe House Christmas Ceilidh with Ceilidh Stomp, 10th December 2009,

£27 for dinner and ceilidh. Please view Ceilidh Stomp's website www.ceilidhstomp.co.uk for details or contact Amanda Aitkin at Ardoe House direct on 01224 860600

Writers’ Block for Composers? by Isabel Paterson

Composers who write without the added complication of a commission may benefit from complete freedom in this respect. I certainly feel that when I’ve chosen to write something simply because it needs writing, then it flows freely and usually quickly. The shape, structurally, harmonically, texturally, and the “direction” simply reveal themselves with clarity and seemingly without huge effort. But commissioned work never flows like that, for me at least. Is it because we feel imposed upon? This is not our choice. Does our creativity become forced and unnatural? Or possibily, in the case of making arrangements of anothers’ work, we may subconsciously feel that we have no right to tamper with someone else’s creation?

Read all of Writers’ Block for Composers? by Isabel Paterson

'My own homecoming', by Edd Caine

I really enjoy conducting the Vanbrugh Voices - I've been leading them for four years now and it's a real joy. But until recently I haven't been writing anything for them to sing, so, thinking of scotland, I started writing arrangements of folk tunes an popular music, starting with Ye Banks and Braes of Bonnie Doon with its original tune.

This happened to be the first piece of music that I've sold on scotchsnap! With the homecoming this year there's a great potential to revisit the poetry an music of Robert Burns, so I've started to make a book of settings, either of arrangements of the original tunes or completely original settings.

Read all of 'My own homecoming', by Edd Caine

Scotchsnap welcomes your voice on topics related to composition and music in general.

We aim to make the scotchsnap blog a hub of interesting reading on all topics related to composing, compositions, performances and music in general.

If you would like to contribute, please send your articles to Lorna@scotchsnap.com

Read all of Scotchsnap welcomes your voice on topics related to composition and music in general.

'The magic of Rabbie Burns is still there for the taking', by Isabel Paterson

I remember, at the age of 12 or so, learning “John Anderson, my Joe” with my music teacher and being very moved when she explained the meanings of the old Scots words, like “frosty pow” (white/grey hair) and that John Anderson had died and his wife was singing in memory of him. Oh, how much she loved her husband. Being able to pass this on to my students and teach them appropriate use of rubato to express her sadness and melancholy was something very special.

Read all of 'The magic of Rabbie Burns is still there for the taking', by Isabel Paterson

'Homecoming Scotland includes you', by Lorna McDougall

This year offers great inspiration for each of us to play our part in this historic project to celebrate our Scottish identity. This is not just about me and you doing our bit but here we all (whether at home or abroad) have an opportunity to wear, with delight, our ‘coat of many colours’ and celebrate the wonder of Scotland’s creative voice.

Read all of 'Homecoming Scotland includes you', by Lorna McDougall