Those who failed to turn out on a dreich night or were away for the school holidays missed a treat at the second night of the 11-date tour.
A smallish and rather reticent crowd welcomed the six finalists of this year’s BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award, with fiddler Daniel Thorpe, the winner of the 2010 award.
Orkney’s own fiddler and 2011 winner, Kristan Harvey, led us into the sets with a tender slow air laced with richness and emotion, and pianist Tina Rees syncopating the rhythm. Karen’s Reel, written by Douglas Montgomery for murdered Orcadian Karen Aim, upped the tempo for a dazzling portrayal of its subject’s bubbly personality.
Pace was alternated with solo cameos, duos, trios and all-hands sets. Accordionist Andrew Waite from Duns’s Jakey Set moved seamlessly from a mellow air to his own bustling Izzy’s Guide To Jake followed by the dazzling Beoga!. Versatility was displayed by Scots singer Alistair Ogilvy of Strathblane, whose slowed-down version of Calton Weaver was made beautiful with the melancholy breeze of both fiddles and delicate harp and piano.
A waulking song sung while working cloth, Cò Siud Thall air Sràid na h-Eala, introduced us to the sublime Gaelic vocals of clarsach player Mairi Chaimbeul of Skye. Her zest for rearranging traditional songs and making them her own was fluently performed. Piper and whistle player Lorne MacDougall’s pipes set showcased the virtuosity of this twice-over finalist, accompanied by Tina Rees of Glasgow.
The set list showcased the talents of these young musicians who take with them the treasure house of Scottish traditional music and keep it alive and evolving.
HHHH
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