The 2010 Frenzy

Once again, the 2 ladies attended the musical feast known as 'The Shetland Fiddle Frenzy.' We experienced the energy and excitement of Shetland fiddling, pretty much non-stop for a week. Although our base was in Lerwick, classes were held one day in Cullivoe, with a side trip to Gloup. Another day, classes were held in Hillswick, with a side trip to Eshaness. We were fortunate to have three excellent teachers for our classes: Bryan Gear - with Violet Tulloch,
Jenna Reid, and Ross Couper.

An added musical event was the CD release party for Escape, music written by Jenna and Beth Reid, shown above, performed with their ensemble (we highly recommend the CD).

This being the 100th anniversary of the birth of Tom Anderson, we came home with a few more of his tunes. I had a disposable video camera with me and had an audience member record the student recital at the final concert. That video is posted below: "Student Concert." Trust me, Janet and I were onstage, to the left, 3rd row. The tunes are 2 compositions by Tom Anderson: The Road to Moreview, and The Eshaness Two-step.

In addition to traveling with our classes to Hillswick and Cullivoe, Janet and I managed to explore Mousa and Noss. Our travel photos are posted in 3 albums online. They may be accessed by clicking on each of the album titles on
the right column: "2010 Photo Albums."

Construction of the Mareel performance center is well under way. It should be an exciting venue for next year's events.

Student Concert/ Shetland Fiddle Frenzy 2010

3rd time !

The 2 ladies have registered and are making arrangements to attend the 2010 Fiddle Frenzy.

2 ladies in Nova Scotia

In October the two ladies had the pleasure of attending 'Celtic Colors' in Cape Breton, NS. We spent a couple of enjoyable days exploring Annapolis. From there we drove to Cape Breton for a week of splendid music.
The following post displays scenic highlights.
Additional photos can be seen in our picasaweb album here.

Cape Breton scenes

Upper:

Welcoming fiddle, Sydney, NS, convention center

Center:

2 ladies on the Cabot Trail

Lower:

Welcoming moose

On the Air

I have acquired a sizable collection of Shetland CD's. Recently I presented a program of Shetland fiddle music on my local radio station (WMUA FM, 91.1, out of Amherst MA), with a good word or two about the Fiddle Frenzy. How the time did fly! I could have filled 24 hrs, but, in the 1.5 hr program, had to settle for a small sample of Tom Anderson, Aly Bain, Catriona MacDonald, Willie Hunter, Debbie Scott and Chris Stout, Fiddlers Bid and Blazin' Fiddles.

I recently purchased Debbie Scott's "The Selkie's Song", newly released on CD. Love it, especially her composition, 'Naomi Jane's Reel.'

Janet and I are considering a visit to Cape Breton for Celtic Colours in October, 2009. While this year's edition will feature Irish fiddlers, Chris Stout and Catriona McKay will be there, too, upholding Shetland tradition.

Mareel 2010

I am excited to learn that construction of Mareel, the new performance arts venue in Shetland, is about to begin, with opening planned for 2010. Descriptions and artist's renderings may be viewed at http://www.myspace.com/mareelshetland.

Unfortunately the dates of the Fiddle Frenzy do not work for either of the 2 ladies in 2009.
We hope to catch up with Mareel and the Frenzy in 2010.