Box and Fiddle Year 02 No 01
October 1978
Price 15p
8 pages
7 month subscription £1.75
Editor - Ian Smith, 50 Mount Vernon Road, Stranraer
Editorial
This then is the first edition of our second season. Let’s hope we can go forward to a successful conclusion. Let’s hope there will be many happy hours of good music, company and companionship.
We start the new season with a new Secretary and another new member Club, Falkirk A&FC in the Kingdom of Fife. Let’s wish them both every success.
Will Secretaries please note that the first order Andrew Nairn issued was that there are still a few Association badges left. His address is to be found in the advert box, front page, and will Press Secretaries please continue to send me word about their clubs, guest artistes and future dates.
During the summer recess there were quite a number of Festivals and get-togethers, a few of them are reported on. When you read them they show what a lot of us missed.
The Club Directory gives the Secretaries’ addresses and telephone numbers. If there are any discrepancies, please inform me.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING JUNE 1978
At the AGM of the Association at Perth a new Secretary was appointed as Mr Ray Milbourne retired for business reasons ; he is Andrew Nairn.
The gathering of some sixty members, representing 22 Clubs met in the Salutation hotel, Perth. They were welcomed by the Chairman Mr Jimmy Blue, who soon got the meeting under way.
After quite a lot of discussion the Minutes were duly passed. The Treasurer’s Report was scrutinized and Mr David Ross was congratulated on the healthy financial state of the Association.
Mr Alex Little’s Report on the Musselburgh Festival was warmly received and congratulations were given to Mr Little and his Committee. Obviously a lot of hard work and effort had been put in to make the Festival the success it undoubtedly was.
The ‘Box and Fiddle’ was also voted a success, although there was criticism over some of the financial aspects. Mainly that the Clubs received no benefit directly from selling the papers. It was eventually decided to retain the arrangements that were already in place.
The appointment of the new Executive for another year posed a bit of a problem. Mr Jimmy Blue obliged us by accepting the Chair, and David Ross the Treasurer-ship. Ray then announced that he felt he couldn’t do his job the justice he felt it should have. He just had not got the time. His resignation was eventually accepted. His successor was proposed and (after a half-nelson and leg lock) he submitted and accepted the post. He is Andrew Nairn from Dunfermline.
Mr Alex Little agreed to take on the Musselburgh Festival for another year and Ian Smith was re-elected as Editor of the ‘Box and Fiddle’.
A motion was proposed by Mr Derek Hamilton, that it was time to honour some of our long service musicians who had given much pleasure to countless people over the years. As Derek put it ‘It is much nicer to honour people when they are alive’. This was unanimously passed and it was decided that a dinner would be held centrally.
There being no further business, Mr Jimmy Blue brought the meeting to a close when everyone retired to the dining-room for a bite and a blether.
Thanks to Secretary
By Jimmy Blue
Dear members – as many of you will already know, Ray Milbourne who was Secretary of the Association from its inception, has resigned due to pressure of work.
Ray has been a faithful servant of the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle clubs and in his years in office visited, at some time or another, practically every club in the country, giving help and advice – and a tune on the piano forbye!
Although he sometimes ‘fell ahint’ at times on the correspondence, he more than made up for this by his willingness to assist in any way possible in starting up new clubs and he has been very much the man behind the Chairman at the annual Association meetings.
Whoever was in the Chair had Ray’s wholehearted support and I know you will join be in thanking him most sincerely for all he has done, in so many ways, for the Association.
However, we have Andrew Nairn from Dunfermline, a very able man, taking over from Ray as Secretary, and I know he will do a great job – he is brimming with enthusiasm and really has the interests of the Association at heart.
New Association Secretary Andrew Nairn
When talking to Andrew he said he was ‘Just an average sort of chap’. We beg to differ, no one in our Association id average. They are all individuals with a flair or talent for something out of the ordinary, some through music, some through composing music, hobbies, etc, etc
Andrew hails from the Kingdom of Fife and is a farmer to trade. On would think that 100 hectares would be enough to occupy him, but no, he has other interests.
His wife, although not musical herself in the sense that she herself plays, is one hundred percent behind him. They have two some of 14 and 12 who are respectively learning the fiddle and accordion and a daughter of 10 at the piano. At the moment she is more interested in her pony and the Forth Valley Pony Club, silly girl.
When about five or six, Andrew lost the top of his little finger so that put paid to learning the fiddle but for some time he managed to play the pipes in the East Kilbride Boys Brigade Pipe Band. That was many moons ago. Now he helps others.
Currently he helps to run a small concert party. This was, perhaps, the forerunner of the Dunfermline and District Club. Some of the party include Willie Stewart, Chairman, Bob Fleming, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer bob Scott helps out at times as does Quinton Morris, husband of the Club’s Secretary, and Bruce Turnbull, at present he is Vice Chairman.
Let us all wish him success in the onerous task of Association Secretary.
Obituary – Jimmy MacFarlane – Musician
By Derek Hamilton
On Monday, April 17th 1978, the Scottish music scene lost a good friend – Jimmy MacFarlane, multi-musician extraordinaire.
Jimmy was the happy, smiling, bespeckled face in the middle of the famous Jim MacLeod Band who not only played fiddle but also an array of instruments ranging from saxophone to piano, clarinet to vibes and accordion to tin whistle, and, of course, the fiddle.
He was a gentleman who endeared himself to everyone who met him. He always had a word for anyone who said hello and was always first to visit someone in hospital in need of comfort. He was a kind and gentle man who knew himself what suffering was, and he was also a first class musician.
Last Farewell
The little hamlet of Cambusbarron, near Stirling, where Jimmy lived his short 58 years, mourned the death of a friend. Hundreds of people turned up at the little church to say their farewell to Jimmy. One mourner was Jim MacLeod, who had known Jimmy for some 20 years since looking for extra players one night for a dance in Edinburgh.
I spoke to Jim MacLeod and asked him how he met Jimmy. “I had been trying for some time to get my band into the Hydro at Dunblane. The days of the ‘Palm Court’ image were about over and a dance band was required. I had this booking in Edinburgh and they demanded an eight-piece. I couldn’t find all the extra musicians required. Someone suggested that there was a plasterer who played clarinet and fiddle locally and I decided to give him a try. Jimmy MacFarlane turned up at the gig and I just knew he was right for the band. Just what I needed for the Hydro.”
The success of the Jim MacLeod Band is well known, but for Jimmy MacFarlane life wasn’t always so sweet. The lean years were there too. Jimmy was a P.O.W in Germany during the war. Five years were spent in prison camps. He was actually present when the reel of the 51st Division was composed ; in fact it was Jimmy who provided the accordion for the first performance of the dance.
The MacFarlane talent for composing continued right to the end. This all started in earnest in the days when the band appeared in ‘On Tour’.
New Tunes
“Each week” Jim MacLeod recalls “Ben Lyons, the producer, wanted a new tune dedicated to where we were appearing. At first Tam (Tommy Ford, the band’s accordionist) and I did the writing. But it wasn’t long before Jimmy was adding his talent. Ben hit on the idea of a song each week. Well, I’m no word man, so the natural choice was Jimmy MacFarlane”.
It was on a visit to Orkney, when a family gave Jimmy a lift in their car, that ‘Bonnie Kirkwall Bay’ was composed. This became Jimmy’s most popular composition.
Own Company
Two or three years ago Jimmy, his wife Rita and Jim MacLeod set up their own publishing company, Sterlini Music, and now publishes all the band’s compositions.
“One of my particular favourites” says Jim MacLeod “is Jimmy’s ‘Dark Neuve Chapelle’ .”
Jimmy had a wide and varied taste in music . He enjoyed the classics and dance bands. Jimmy had played sax in the bands of the 40’s, but he was also taught to play violin and always encouraged youngsters in their music.
Jim MacLeod says “Jimmy was more than an ordinary bandsman. He brought dignity to the musical profession.”
Sadly, Jimmy MacFarlane is dead. But his memory lives on, not only through his appearances on current albums of the Jim MacLeod Band but on a new album due to be released by Decca at the end of October. Jimmy is prominently featured on it.
“I heard the tapes the other day” says Jim MacLeod “and it was a sad experience. I drove Jimmy home after the recording and that was the last time I saw him. The record will, I’m sure, be a great tribute to Jimmy. He was a great man”.
Jimmy is to be remembered in other ways too. The band are to present ’The Jimmy MacFarlane Trophy’ a rose bowl for the section violin competition, to Stirling Schools.
Tributes have poured in for Jimmy, too many to be answered personally. But his widow and friends appreciate the sympathy shown.
Let Jim MacLeod have the final word. “Every time I sit down with the band there’s something missing – Jimmy MacFarlane, musician, friend and gentlemen”.
TMSA Festival at Keith
By Sheila Douglas
The third North Eastern Regional Festival of the TMSA at Keith took place on 9th – 11th June. It began for me when I arrived at the ceilidh in the Football Club on the Friday night to hear a glorious blast of Shetland fiddle music from Tom Anderson, Aly Bain and about twenty others.
Jackie Stewart played later on in his own inimitable, passionate style and there was also the distinctive sound of Alec Green’s whistle. More Scots whistle players should learn his style instead of playing in the Irish style. It suits Scottish tunes better.
There was also good singing from some of our best known traditional singers including the Stewarts of Blair, Willie Scott, Charlie Murray, Sheila Douglas and an excellent young group from Thurso called Mirk. The evening was compered with competence and humour by Jimmie McGregor.
The competitions on the Saturday were better supported this year, especially in the fiddle classes and the men’s singing. New competitions were introduced for junior fiddle and junior accordion to encourage young musicians (and also, in some cases, to keep them from licking the seniors!!)
The women’s singing only had five entries but the standard was high.
Winners included
Graham Geddes, Parkhill (senior accordion)
Allan Copeland, Dundee (junior accordion)
Angus Shaw, Banchory (senior fiddle)
David Morris, Aberdeen (junior fiddle)
Arthur Middleton, Aberdeen (mouth organ)
Graeme Mitchell’s Keith Cyairds (instrumental group)
Willie Scott (men’s singing)
Alison McMorland (women’s singing)
Jimmie McGregor (bothy ballad)
The winners performed at a Winners Concert on Saturday evening, which was followed by late ceilidhs in the Seafield and Commercial Hotels.
Mull Music Festival Society
by John McIntee
The development of Scottish Music (Ceol) has a lot to thank the monks who settled on Iona for.
Due to the teaching of St Columba, a learned musician (file), taught in Ireland, and minstrels of Scotland (bards) carried their talents over to the mainland ; men whose lack of musical knowledge was overshadowed by their talent for minstrelsy.
The Celts brought their own traditions and instruments over from Ireland. Of the latter, they came equipped with a harp (clarsach) and the timpan, an instrument consisting of between six and eight strings, played with a bow or plectrum. It is interesting to note that several places on Mull have adopted some of these instruments for their place names e.g. Harpers Island at the western opening of Glenmore and the Mountain Pass of the Timprel, en route to Glencannel. As in all music the Church played an important parting the life and music of the Inner Hebrides. The music was basically the act of psalm singing in the churches and working songs, used for milking the cows, rowing, weaving as well as songs of courage, tragedy and love. A feature of church music was long decoration of the melody (melissma) on which the voice trilled over the passages. This kind of singing can still be heard on Mull today.
After the Norse invasion of the 8th Century in which much of the music and art was destroyed (including the burning of the monastery on Iona) the Highland chiefs reawakened the people’s love of their country and their music after defeating the Norsemen at the Battle of Largs in 1263 and music and art flourished for the next 400 years.
About this time the harp underwent a decline and the bagpipes were introduced as the ‘instrument of war’, as its potency as a stimulus to heroism was much in evidence. The early pipes were simple, consisting of a chanter and two drones and had many great names from the Isle of Mull connected with them viz the MacLeans of Lochbuie, Duart and Torloisk. After 1745 the bagpipes were banned in Scotland due to their influence on the patriotism of the Scottish people, but it continued to flourish unstinted.
The pipes were exported from Scotland and its various islands to foreign lands : the great piper Morrison of Ardtun at Bunessan even set up a school of piping in New South Wales.
Undoubtedly one of the most popular instruments of Scottish music nowadays is the fiddle ; burned in there hundreds after the Disruption of the Established Church in 1843, the fiddle again became popular on Mull at the turn of the 20th century.
Glengorm boasted a fiddle band eight strong around 1910 and the fiddle became the popular ceilidh instrument, overshadowing the short popularity enjoyed by the melodeon. Choral singing was becoming more and more popular and Mull set up its own Gaelic four-part choirs after the First World War.
Like all communities, Mull can boast of its curiosities as well. As the Jews harp grew in popularity, it is said that among the older men, there were those who were so proficient that they were able to play two at once! For added effect they would tie silver threepenny pieces on to the harps to add a jingle to their sounds.
Coming right up to date we have the accordion, the newest of Scottish instruments equaling the popularity of the fiddle. After the Second World War the stage was set for the ‘Flying Fingers’ of the internationally famous Bobby MacLeod and Calum MacLean, foremost exponents of their art and who have done so much to keep music ‘live’ in their field.
The momentum of this music must be continued and to this end a dedicated band of people on Mull including Bobby MacLeod and Calum MacLean inaugurated the Mull Music Festival Society in 1977 to attract yearly the most famous exponents of our national music on traditional instruments.
The Festival Committee comprising Bobby MacLeod and the internationally famous Calum MacLean as Musical Director supplemented by an enthusiastic team of John McIntee, a local police sergeant as secretary, the indefatigable Flora Noble, the local tourist information officer as co-ordinator, Eilidh Campbell from the Clydesdale Bank as the Treasurer and a local school master, George Henderson, as Competitions Convener literally ‘swung’ into action six weeks before the Festival, in February 1978, on the mammoth task of raising approximately £2,000 to fund the first Festival. Generous assistance materially was given by Mull and Oban Tourist Board and in particular by one of their officers Alec MacKay and a massive campaign of publicity mainly in the form of printed handouts were circulated throughout Scotland requesting patronage.
The local people in Mull, as always, generously delved into their pockets and supported the multitude of fundraising activities viz coffee mornings, ceilidhs, dances, whist drives, superstar concert and similar activities in the frantic effort to obtain the necessary funds. Local hoteliers, owners of guest houses generously donated accommodation either free or at discount rates, one massive contribution being the commitment by Major and Mrs Nelson at Glengorm Castle who generously donated the Castle in its lovely baronial surroundings for a ceilidh etc.
As the momentum grew so also did the possibility of anxiety neurosis on the part of the seven members of the Committee. The daily question being asked was ‘How much have we got now?’ During this period the HIDB and the Scottish Arts Council showed an interest and promised assistance which took some of the strain off.
Friday, 28th April, eventually arrived and the island of Mull was invaded by a tartan army which, in retrospect, probably did more to enhance the good name of Scotland than its counterpart which was shouting what it was going to do to the football opposition in Argentina. We did not have Ally MacLeod but we had the old maestro himself, Bobby MacLeod, his flying fingers and quick rush to the telephone to sort out immediate problems as they arose.
From 8 till 10pm on Friday, 29th April, there was a massive rally of all artistes attending viz Angus Cameron
Ron Gonella
Arthur Spink and Denis Clancy
John Huband
John Strachan
Tommy Kettles Quartet
Billy Thom
Cally MacLean
Bobby MacLeod
The Sound of Mull
MacDonald of Keppoch
Bobby Colgan
And numerous other internationally known artistes of traditional musical prowess. After 10pm and the rally non-stop dancing went on through the night with similar artistes being ensconsed in the three local hotels at Tobermory viz the MacDonald Arms, the Mishnish and the Western Isles Hotel.
During this time for the purists a fiddle recital was taking place in the baronial hall in the romantic setting of Glengorm Castle chaired by Major Nelson and compered by the bard of Tobermory Angus MacIntyre. Numerous other impromptu ceilidhs were springing up throughout Tobermory and continued throughout the night.
On Saturday, 29th April, the talent contest took place with Juniors in the morning and Seniors in the afternoon on voice or traditional instruments. Both performances were packed out throughout the day and the quality of talent which emerged was in the opinion of the judges staggering.
The outright winners of the talent contest were a group of nine young music teachers from the College of Music in Glasgow conducted by Graeme McIntee, with their rendering of an old Gaelic tune, The Isle of Iona Boat Song, and nine part vocal harmonies of reels and strathspeys.
The Junior prize for the best traditional instrument was won by Richard Ross, whose flying fingers had the senses and the feet of the audience reeling. So much other talent was evident that the judges commented they would like to have been able to give all the competitors a prize, but of course, there is always 1979.
Later in the evening the winners of the competition took part in a major concert along with the stars and thereafter further impromptu ceilidhs took place generously supplemented by Scotland’s national spirit ; not much sleep was taken this night either.
On Sunday, 30th April, there was a further invasion of the island by an official boat laid on by Caledonian-McBrayne, affectionately known as the Sound of Mull Experience, which traveled from Oban direct to Tobermory swinging all the way.
The local 45 strong Youth Band from Oban High School were in attendance and on disembarking played a selection at the Clock Tower.
During this time a jazz workshop was sounding merrily from the portholes of the Mishnish.
The three-day Festival sadly came to an end and was played out by a grand concert in the evening in the Aros Hall featuring all the stars. Prior to this the boat left Tobermory Pier at 5.30pm and there were many emotive scenes with old friends and new friends taking leave of one another.
Mention must be made at this stage of the tremendous professionalism and generosity of the artistes attending without whom the Festival would have been nothing. It took Tobermory at least a week to recover from the impact of the Festival which was a tremendous success.
At the AGM of the Music Festival a month later after having paid all debts, the Festival Committee were agreeably surprised to find that they made a small working profit and plans were immediately set afoot for the Festival in 1979.
The Committee learned from many mistakes made in this our very first Festival of Music and these will profitably be taken into account for the 1979 Festival. We would hope to attract more competitors from the Accordion and Fiddle Clubs throughout Scotland with particular emphasis on the young performing on any traditional instrument or voice.
A spin off from the Festival is the fact that strenuous efforts are now being made on the island to have an itinerant teachers of music attracted to live permanently on the island to train the young minds in the basics and traditional concept of music. It is possible that in the near future Mull may once again boast of the fiddle bands of Glengorm, accordion bands, pipers and harmony groups for which it was renowned in days of yore.
It is our intention to make Mull synonymous with the ‘sound of music’ our sound of course being the ‘Ceol’ variety. Particularly pleasing to the Committee was the fact that apart from the public thoroughly enjoying themselves so too did the artistes attending and the general comment from the artistes was to the effect “We’ll be back” and they will be very welcome.
We invite Scotland to attend our Festival in 1979 and can promise the traditional bonhomie and good cheer for which the Isle of Mull is famous.
Enquiries are invited now with regard to any aspects of the 1979 Festival and should be addressed to Flora Noble.
We can only end with the quote that ‘The Mull of Kintyre’ had a record – but WE had a Festival.
Record Review
By Derek Hamilton
Scottish Country Dances Vol 1 Alex MacArthur and his Band Bluebell Records BBR/LP110
A Scottish Ramble Alastair Hunter and the Lorne Band EMI Oneup OU2208
The Best of the Cornkisters Robbie Shepherd Emi note NTS148
Scotland’s Accordion King Walter Perrie Emerald Gem GES1188
Petronella Willie Simpson and his Band Loudon Records LDN463
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel)
Alnwick (Nag’s Head)
Balloch (Riverside Hotel)
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel)
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel) 6th Oct 78 Dinner Dance Walter Rutherford Band
Beith (Anderson Hotel)
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) 9th Oct 78 Bill Black and Family
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel)
Cumnock (Royal Hotel)
Dumfries (Oughton’s) Jim MacLeod SDB
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel)
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) 3rd Oct 78 Max Houliston Quartet
Falkirk (Park Hotel) 23rd Oct 78 Jim Johnstone SDB
Forres (Brig Motel)
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford) 9th Oct 78 Stuart Anderson
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler)
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel) 16th Oct 78 Sandy Coghill & the Wallachmore CB
Keith (Seafield Arms Hotel)
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel)
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull) 5th Oct 78 Alistair Herron
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel)
North Cumbria (Huntsman Inn - Penton) 18th Oct 78 Jimmy Lindsay
Oban (MacTavish’s Kitchen)
Perth (Salutation Hotel)
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Straiton (Black Bull Hotel)
Stranraer (North West Castle Hotel) 2nd Oct 78 Jim Cleland Trio
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wellbank (venue?)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel)
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Banff
3. Beith
4. Biggar
5. Dumfries
6. Dunfermline & District
7. Falkirk
8. Forres
9. Galston
10. Highland / Inverness
11. M.A.F.I.A.
12. North Cumbria
13. North East
14. Perth
15. Stranraer
16. Wick
BASED ON THE ABOVE THE FULL CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 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. Cumbria (or North Cumbria) Accordion Club
12. Cumnock A&F Club
13. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s)
14. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
15. Dunblane & District A&F Club
16. Dundee & District A&F Club
17. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
18. Falkirk A&F Club
19. Fintry A&F Club
20. Forres A&F Club
21. Galston A&F Club
22. Glendale Accordion Club
23. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
24. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
25. Kelso A&F Club
26. Kintore A&F Club
27. Langholm A&F Club
28. Livingston A&F Club
29. Lockerbie A&F Club
30. M.A.F.I.A.
31. Newcastleton Accordion Club
32. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
33. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC
34. Oban A&F Club
35. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
36. Perth & District A&F Club
37. Renfrew A&F Club
38. Rothbury Accordion club
39. Straiton Accordion Club
40. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
41. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
42. Wellbank A&F Club
43. Wick A&F Club
This then is the first edition of our second season. Let’s hope we can go forward to a successful conclusion. Let’s hope there will be many happy hours of good music, company and companionship.
We start the new season with a new Secretary and another new member Club, Falkirk A&FC in the Kingdom of Fife. Let’s wish them both every success.
Will Secretaries please note that the first order Andrew Nairn issued was that there are still a few Association badges left. His address is to be found in the advert box, front page, and will Press Secretaries please continue to send me word about their clubs, guest artistes and future dates.
During the summer recess there were quite a number of Festivals and get-togethers, a few of them are reported on. When you read them they show what a lot of us missed.
The Club Directory gives the Secretaries’ addresses and telephone numbers. If there are any discrepancies, please inform me.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING JUNE 1978
At the AGM of the Association at Perth a new Secretary was appointed as Mr Ray Milbourne retired for business reasons ; he is Andrew Nairn.
The gathering of some sixty members, representing 22 Clubs met in the Salutation hotel, Perth. They were welcomed by the Chairman Mr Jimmy Blue, who soon got the meeting under way.
After quite a lot of discussion the Minutes were duly passed. The Treasurer’s Report was scrutinized and Mr David Ross was congratulated on the healthy financial state of the Association.
Mr Alex Little’s Report on the Musselburgh Festival was warmly received and congratulations were given to Mr Little and his Committee. Obviously a lot of hard work and effort had been put in to make the Festival the success it undoubtedly was.
The ‘Box and Fiddle’ was also voted a success, although there was criticism over some of the financial aspects. Mainly that the Clubs received no benefit directly from selling the papers. It was eventually decided to retain the arrangements that were already in place.
The appointment of the new Executive for another year posed a bit of a problem. Mr Jimmy Blue obliged us by accepting the Chair, and David Ross the Treasurer-ship. Ray then announced that he felt he couldn’t do his job the justice he felt it should have. He just had not got the time. His resignation was eventually accepted. His successor was proposed and (after a half-nelson and leg lock) he submitted and accepted the post. He is Andrew Nairn from Dunfermline.
Mr Alex Little agreed to take on the Musselburgh Festival for another year and Ian Smith was re-elected as Editor of the ‘Box and Fiddle’.
A motion was proposed by Mr Derek Hamilton, that it was time to honour some of our long service musicians who had given much pleasure to countless people over the years. As Derek put it ‘It is much nicer to honour people when they are alive’. This was unanimously passed and it was decided that a dinner would be held centrally.
There being no further business, Mr Jimmy Blue brought the meeting to a close when everyone retired to the dining-room for a bite and a blether.
Thanks to Secretary
By Jimmy Blue
Dear members – as many of you will already know, Ray Milbourne who was Secretary of the Association from its inception, has resigned due to pressure of work.
Ray has been a faithful servant of the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle clubs and in his years in office visited, at some time or another, practically every club in the country, giving help and advice – and a tune on the piano forbye!
Although he sometimes ‘fell ahint’ at times on the correspondence, he more than made up for this by his willingness to assist in any way possible in starting up new clubs and he has been very much the man behind the Chairman at the annual Association meetings.
Whoever was in the Chair had Ray’s wholehearted support and I know you will join be in thanking him most sincerely for all he has done, in so many ways, for the Association.
However, we have Andrew Nairn from Dunfermline, a very able man, taking over from Ray as Secretary, and I know he will do a great job – he is brimming with enthusiasm and really has the interests of the Association at heart.
New Association Secretary Andrew Nairn
When talking to Andrew he said he was ‘Just an average sort of chap’. We beg to differ, no one in our Association id average. They are all individuals with a flair or talent for something out of the ordinary, some through music, some through composing music, hobbies, etc, etc
Andrew hails from the Kingdom of Fife and is a farmer to trade. On would think that 100 hectares would be enough to occupy him, but no, he has other interests.
His wife, although not musical herself in the sense that she herself plays, is one hundred percent behind him. They have two some of 14 and 12 who are respectively learning the fiddle and accordion and a daughter of 10 at the piano. At the moment she is more interested in her pony and the Forth Valley Pony Club, silly girl.
When about five or six, Andrew lost the top of his little finger so that put paid to learning the fiddle but for some time he managed to play the pipes in the East Kilbride Boys Brigade Pipe Band. That was many moons ago. Now he helps others.
Currently he helps to run a small concert party. This was, perhaps, the forerunner of the Dunfermline and District Club. Some of the party include Willie Stewart, Chairman, Bob Fleming, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer bob Scott helps out at times as does Quinton Morris, husband of the Club’s Secretary, and Bruce Turnbull, at present he is Vice Chairman.
Let us all wish him success in the onerous task of Association Secretary.
Obituary – Jimmy MacFarlane – Musician
By Derek Hamilton
On Monday, April 17th 1978, the Scottish music scene lost a good friend – Jimmy MacFarlane, multi-musician extraordinaire.
Jimmy was the happy, smiling, bespeckled face in the middle of the famous Jim MacLeod Band who not only played fiddle but also an array of instruments ranging from saxophone to piano, clarinet to vibes and accordion to tin whistle, and, of course, the fiddle.
He was a gentleman who endeared himself to everyone who met him. He always had a word for anyone who said hello and was always first to visit someone in hospital in need of comfort. He was a kind and gentle man who knew himself what suffering was, and he was also a first class musician.
Last Farewell
The little hamlet of Cambusbarron, near Stirling, where Jimmy lived his short 58 years, mourned the death of a friend. Hundreds of people turned up at the little church to say their farewell to Jimmy. One mourner was Jim MacLeod, who had known Jimmy for some 20 years since looking for extra players one night for a dance in Edinburgh.
I spoke to Jim MacLeod and asked him how he met Jimmy. “I had been trying for some time to get my band into the Hydro at Dunblane. The days of the ‘Palm Court’ image were about over and a dance band was required. I had this booking in Edinburgh and they demanded an eight-piece. I couldn’t find all the extra musicians required. Someone suggested that there was a plasterer who played clarinet and fiddle locally and I decided to give him a try. Jimmy MacFarlane turned up at the gig and I just knew he was right for the band. Just what I needed for the Hydro.”
The success of the Jim MacLeod Band is well known, but for Jimmy MacFarlane life wasn’t always so sweet. The lean years were there too. Jimmy was a P.O.W in Germany during the war. Five years were spent in prison camps. He was actually present when the reel of the 51st Division was composed ; in fact it was Jimmy who provided the accordion for the first performance of the dance.
The MacFarlane talent for composing continued right to the end. This all started in earnest in the days when the band appeared in ‘On Tour’.
New Tunes
“Each week” Jim MacLeod recalls “Ben Lyons, the producer, wanted a new tune dedicated to where we were appearing. At first Tam (Tommy Ford, the band’s accordionist) and I did the writing. But it wasn’t long before Jimmy was adding his talent. Ben hit on the idea of a song each week. Well, I’m no word man, so the natural choice was Jimmy MacFarlane”.
It was on a visit to Orkney, when a family gave Jimmy a lift in their car, that ‘Bonnie Kirkwall Bay’ was composed. This became Jimmy’s most popular composition.
Own Company
Two or three years ago Jimmy, his wife Rita and Jim MacLeod set up their own publishing company, Sterlini Music, and now publishes all the band’s compositions.
“One of my particular favourites” says Jim MacLeod “is Jimmy’s ‘Dark Neuve Chapelle’ .”
Jimmy had a wide and varied taste in music . He enjoyed the classics and dance bands. Jimmy had played sax in the bands of the 40’s, but he was also taught to play violin and always encouraged youngsters in their music.
Jim MacLeod says “Jimmy was more than an ordinary bandsman. He brought dignity to the musical profession.”
Sadly, Jimmy MacFarlane is dead. But his memory lives on, not only through his appearances on current albums of the Jim MacLeod Band but on a new album due to be released by Decca at the end of October. Jimmy is prominently featured on it.
“I heard the tapes the other day” says Jim MacLeod “and it was a sad experience. I drove Jimmy home after the recording and that was the last time I saw him. The record will, I’m sure, be a great tribute to Jimmy. He was a great man”.
Jimmy is to be remembered in other ways too. The band are to present ’The Jimmy MacFarlane Trophy’ a rose bowl for the section violin competition, to Stirling Schools.
Tributes have poured in for Jimmy, too many to be answered personally. But his widow and friends appreciate the sympathy shown.
Let Jim MacLeod have the final word. “Every time I sit down with the band there’s something missing – Jimmy MacFarlane, musician, friend and gentlemen”.
TMSA Festival at Keith
By Sheila Douglas
The third North Eastern Regional Festival of the TMSA at Keith took place on 9th – 11th June. It began for me when I arrived at the ceilidh in the Football Club on the Friday night to hear a glorious blast of Shetland fiddle music from Tom Anderson, Aly Bain and about twenty others.
Jackie Stewart played later on in his own inimitable, passionate style and there was also the distinctive sound of Alec Green’s whistle. More Scots whistle players should learn his style instead of playing in the Irish style. It suits Scottish tunes better.
There was also good singing from some of our best known traditional singers including the Stewarts of Blair, Willie Scott, Charlie Murray, Sheila Douglas and an excellent young group from Thurso called Mirk. The evening was compered with competence and humour by Jimmie McGregor.
The competitions on the Saturday were better supported this year, especially in the fiddle classes and the men’s singing. New competitions were introduced for junior fiddle and junior accordion to encourage young musicians (and also, in some cases, to keep them from licking the seniors!!)
The women’s singing only had five entries but the standard was high.
Winners included
Graham Geddes, Parkhill (senior accordion)
Allan Copeland, Dundee (junior accordion)
Angus Shaw, Banchory (senior fiddle)
David Morris, Aberdeen (junior fiddle)
Arthur Middleton, Aberdeen (mouth organ)
Graeme Mitchell’s Keith Cyairds (instrumental group)
Willie Scott (men’s singing)
Alison McMorland (women’s singing)
Jimmie McGregor (bothy ballad)
The winners performed at a Winners Concert on Saturday evening, which was followed by late ceilidhs in the Seafield and Commercial Hotels.
Mull Music Festival Society
by John McIntee
The development of Scottish Music (Ceol) has a lot to thank the monks who settled on Iona for.
Due to the teaching of St Columba, a learned musician (file), taught in Ireland, and minstrels of Scotland (bards) carried their talents over to the mainland ; men whose lack of musical knowledge was overshadowed by their talent for minstrelsy.
The Celts brought their own traditions and instruments over from Ireland. Of the latter, they came equipped with a harp (clarsach) and the timpan, an instrument consisting of between six and eight strings, played with a bow or plectrum. It is interesting to note that several places on Mull have adopted some of these instruments for their place names e.g. Harpers Island at the western opening of Glenmore and the Mountain Pass of the Timprel, en route to Glencannel. As in all music the Church played an important parting the life and music of the Inner Hebrides. The music was basically the act of psalm singing in the churches and working songs, used for milking the cows, rowing, weaving as well as songs of courage, tragedy and love. A feature of church music was long decoration of the melody (melissma) on which the voice trilled over the passages. This kind of singing can still be heard on Mull today.
After the Norse invasion of the 8th Century in which much of the music and art was destroyed (including the burning of the monastery on Iona) the Highland chiefs reawakened the people’s love of their country and their music after defeating the Norsemen at the Battle of Largs in 1263 and music and art flourished for the next 400 years.
About this time the harp underwent a decline and the bagpipes were introduced as the ‘instrument of war’, as its potency as a stimulus to heroism was much in evidence. The early pipes were simple, consisting of a chanter and two drones and had many great names from the Isle of Mull connected with them viz the MacLeans of Lochbuie, Duart and Torloisk. After 1745 the bagpipes were banned in Scotland due to their influence on the patriotism of the Scottish people, but it continued to flourish unstinted.
The pipes were exported from Scotland and its various islands to foreign lands : the great piper Morrison of Ardtun at Bunessan even set up a school of piping in New South Wales.
Undoubtedly one of the most popular instruments of Scottish music nowadays is the fiddle ; burned in there hundreds after the Disruption of the Established Church in 1843, the fiddle again became popular on Mull at the turn of the 20th century.
Glengorm boasted a fiddle band eight strong around 1910 and the fiddle became the popular ceilidh instrument, overshadowing the short popularity enjoyed by the melodeon. Choral singing was becoming more and more popular and Mull set up its own Gaelic four-part choirs after the First World War.
Like all communities, Mull can boast of its curiosities as well. As the Jews harp grew in popularity, it is said that among the older men, there were those who were so proficient that they were able to play two at once! For added effect they would tie silver threepenny pieces on to the harps to add a jingle to their sounds.
Coming right up to date we have the accordion, the newest of Scottish instruments equaling the popularity of the fiddle. After the Second World War the stage was set for the ‘Flying Fingers’ of the internationally famous Bobby MacLeod and Calum MacLean, foremost exponents of their art and who have done so much to keep music ‘live’ in their field.
The momentum of this music must be continued and to this end a dedicated band of people on Mull including Bobby MacLeod and Calum MacLean inaugurated the Mull Music Festival Society in 1977 to attract yearly the most famous exponents of our national music on traditional instruments.
The Festival Committee comprising Bobby MacLeod and the internationally famous Calum MacLean as Musical Director supplemented by an enthusiastic team of John McIntee, a local police sergeant as secretary, the indefatigable Flora Noble, the local tourist information officer as co-ordinator, Eilidh Campbell from the Clydesdale Bank as the Treasurer and a local school master, George Henderson, as Competitions Convener literally ‘swung’ into action six weeks before the Festival, in February 1978, on the mammoth task of raising approximately £2,000 to fund the first Festival. Generous assistance materially was given by Mull and Oban Tourist Board and in particular by one of their officers Alec MacKay and a massive campaign of publicity mainly in the form of printed handouts were circulated throughout Scotland requesting patronage.
The local people in Mull, as always, generously delved into their pockets and supported the multitude of fundraising activities viz coffee mornings, ceilidhs, dances, whist drives, superstar concert and similar activities in the frantic effort to obtain the necessary funds. Local hoteliers, owners of guest houses generously donated accommodation either free or at discount rates, one massive contribution being the commitment by Major and Mrs Nelson at Glengorm Castle who generously donated the Castle in its lovely baronial surroundings for a ceilidh etc.
As the momentum grew so also did the possibility of anxiety neurosis on the part of the seven members of the Committee. The daily question being asked was ‘How much have we got now?’ During this period the HIDB and the Scottish Arts Council showed an interest and promised assistance which took some of the strain off.
Friday, 28th April, eventually arrived and the island of Mull was invaded by a tartan army which, in retrospect, probably did more to enhance the good name of Scotland than its counterpart which was shouting what it was going to do to the football opposition in Argentina. We did not have Ally MacLeod but we had the old maestro himself, Bobby MacLeod, his flying fingers and quick rush to the telephone to sort out immediate problems as they arose.
From 8 till 10pm on Friday, 29th April, there was a massive rally of all artistes attending viz Angus Cameron
Ron Gonella
Arthur Spink and Denis Clancy
John Huband
John Strachan
Tommy Kettles Quartet
Billy Thom
Cally MacLean
Bobby MacLeod
The Sound of Mull
MacDonald of Keppoch
Bobby Colgan
And numerous other internationally known artistes of traditional musical prowess. After 10pm and the rally non-stop dancing went on through the night with similar artistes being ensconsed in the three local hotels at Tobermory viz the MacDonald Arms, the Mishnish and the Western Isles Hotel.
During this time for the purists a fiddle recital was taking place in the baronial hall in the romantic setting of Glengorm Castle chaired by Major Nelson and compered by the bard of Tobermory Angus MacIntyre. Numerous other impromptu ceilidhs were springing up throughout Tobermory and continued throughout the night.
On Saturday, 29th April, the talent contest took place with Juniors in the morning and Seniors in the afternoon on voice or traditional instruments. Both performances were packed out throughout the day and the quality of talent which emerged was in the opinion of the judges staggering.
The outright winners of the talent contest were a group of nine young music teachers from the College of Music in Glasgow conducted by Graeme McIntee, with their rendering of an old Gaelic tune, The Isle of Iona Boat Song, and nine part vocal harmonies of reels and strathspeys.
The Junior prize for the best traditional instrument was won by Richard Ross, whose flying fingers had the senses and the feet of the audience reeling. So much other talent was evident that the judges commented they would like to have been able to give all the competitors a prize, but of course, there is always 1979.
Later in the evening the winners of the competition took part in a major concert along with the stars and thereafter further impromptu ceilidhs took place generously supplemented by Scotland’s national spirit ; not much sleep was taken this night either.
On Sunday, 30th April, there was a further invasion of the island by an official boat laid on by Caledonian-McBrayne, affectionately known as the Sound of Mull Experience, which traveled from Oban direct to Tobermory swinging all the way.
The local 45 strong Youth Band from Oban High School were in attendance and on disembarking played a selection at the Clock Tower.
During this time a jazz workshop was sounding merrily from the portholes of the Mishnish.
The three-day Festival sadly came to an end and was played out by a grand concert in the evening in the Aros Hall featuring all the stars. Prior to this the boat left Tobermory Pier at 5.30pm and there were many emotive scenes with old friends and new friends taking leave of one another.
Mention must be made at this stage of the tremendous professionalism and generosity of the artistes attending without whom the Festival would have been nothing. It took Tobermory at least a week to recover from the impact of the Festival which was a tremendous success.
At the AGM of the Music Festival a month later after having paid all debts, the Festival Committee were agreeably surprised to find that they made a small working profit and plans were immediately set afoot for the Festival in 1979.
The Committee learned from many mistakes made in this our very first Festival of Music and these will profitably be taken into account for the 1979 Festival. We would hope to attract more competitors from the Accordion and Fiddle Clubs throughout Scotland with particular emphasis on the young performing on any traditional instrument or voice.
A spin off from the Festival is the fact that strenuous efforts are now being made on the island to have an itinerant teachers of music attracted to live permanently on the island to train the young minds in the basics and traditional concept of music. It is possible that in the near future Mull may once again boast of the fiddle bands of Glengorm, accordion bands, pipers and harmony groups for which it was renowned in days of yore.
It is our intention to make Mull synonymous with the ‘sound of music’ our sound of course being the ‘Ceol’ variety. Particularly pleasing to the Committee was the fact that apart from the public thoroughly enjoying themselves so too did the artistes attending and the general comment from the artistes was to the effect “We’ll be back” and they will be very welcome.
We invite Scotland to attend our Festival in 1979 and can promise the traditional bonhomie and good cheer for which the Isle of Mull is famous.
Enquiries are invited now with regard to any aspects of the 1979 Festival and should be addressed to Flora Noble.
We can only end with the quote that ‘The Mull of Kintyre’ had a record – but WE had a Festival.
Record Review
By Derek Hamilton
Scottish Country Dances Vol 1 Alex MacArthur and his Band Bluebell Records BBR/LP110
A Scottish Ramble Alastair Hunter and the Lorne Band EMI Oneup OU2208
The Best of the Cornkisters Robbie Shepherd Emi note NTS148
Scotland’s Accordion King Walter Perrie Emerald Gem GES1188
Petronella Willie Simpson and his Band Loudon Records LDN463
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Queen’s Hotel)
Alnwick (Nag’s Head)
Balloch (Riverside Hotel)
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel)
Banff (Royal Oak Hotel) 6th Oct 78 Dinner Dance Walter Rutherford Band
Beith (Anderson Hotel)
Biggar (Clydesdale Hotel) 9th Oct 78 Bill Black and Family
Buchan (Buchaness Hotel)
Cumnock (Royal Hotel)
Dumfries (Oughton’s) Jim MacLeod SDB
Dundee (Royal Central Hotel)
Dunfermline (Kinema Ballroom) 3rd Oct 78 Max Houliston Quartet
Falkirk (Park Hotel) 23rd Oct 78 Jim Johnstone SDB
Forres (Brig Motel)
Galston (Parakeet, Hurlford) 9th Oct 78 Stuart Anderson
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel – Wooler)
Highland/ Inverness (Drumossie Hotel) 16th Oct 78 Sandy Coghill & the Wallachmore CB
Keith (Seafield Arms Hotel)
Kelso (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Langholm (Crown Hotel)
Livingston (Cameron Ironworks Social Club)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel)
M.A.F.I.A. (Black Bull) 5th Oct 78 Alistair Herron
Newton St Boswells (Railway Hotel)
North Cumbria (Huntsman Inn - Penton) 18th Oct 78 Jimmy Lindsay
Oban (MacTavish’s Kitchen)
Perth (Salutation Hotel)
Renfrew (Glynhill Hotel)
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel)
Straiton (Black Bull Hotel)
Stranraer (North West Castle Hotel) 2nd Oct 78 Jim Cleland Trio
Torthorwald (Torr House Hotel)
Wellbank (venue?)
Wick (McKay’s Hotel)
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Banff
3. Beith
4. Biggar
5. Dumfries
6. Dunfermline & District
7. Falkirk
8. Forres
9. Galston
10. Highland / Inverness
11. M.A.F.I.A.
12. North Cumbria
13. North East
14. Perth
15. Stranraer
16. Wick
BASED ON THE ABOVE THE FULL CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 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. Cumbria (or North Cumbria) Accordion Club
12. Cumnock A&F Club
13. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughton’s)
14. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
15. Dunblane & District A&F Club
16. Dundee & District A&F Club
17. Dunfermline & District A&F Club
18. Falkirk A&F Club
19. Fintry A&F Club
20. Forres A&F Club
21. Galston A&F Club
22. Glendale Accordion Club
23. Greenhead Accordion Club (Hexham)
24. Highland A&F Club (Inverness)
25. Kelso A&F Club
26. Kintore A&F Club
27. Langholm A&F Club
28. Livingston A&F Club
29. Lockerbie A&F Club
30. M.A.F.I.A.
31. Newcastleton Accordion Club
32. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club
33. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC
34. Oban A&F Club
35. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club
36. Perth & District A&F Club
37. Renfrew A&F Club
38. Rothbury Accordion club
39. Straiton Accordion Club
40. Stranraer & District Accordion Club
41. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
42. Wellbank A&F Club
43. Wick A&F Club