EVENTS
Faith & Hope Community School
Margaret will be at the Charity Event being held on behalf of School of Faith & Hope, Ngombe, Lusaka, at Clan Donald Centre, Sleat, on 20th April, 2013. This is an extremly worthy cause which is her delight to assist with. Click on the photo below, for a link to the school's website, where there is a further link for information about how to get invovled.
Hope & Faith Community School, Ngombe, Lusaka
Donald MacDonald Quaich
Piping Competition - 15th June 2012 and 2014
A blast from the past !
(click photo for larger image)
(click photo for larger image)
I will be performing some pìbroch songs relevant to the competition tunes, at this prestigious piping event, sponsored by Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The competition, now in its 26th year, will be held on Friday 15 June 2012 at the Clan Donald Centre in Armadale, Isle-of-Skye. For more information please contact [email protected].
The Clan Donald Lands Trust aims to preserve traditions relating to Clan Donald and the Gaidhealtachd (Highlands and Islands) by supporting the music traditions of the Highlands, and by holding the Donald MacDonald Quaich Annual Piobaireachd piping competition at Armadale Castle, currently sponsored by Glenfiddich Pure Malt Scotch Whisky.
Donald MacDonald, born about 1750, became a pupil of the MacArthurs, hereditary pipers to the MacDonalds of Skye. He later moved to Edinburgh, establishing himself as a maker of Highland and other bagpipes. At that time, the premier award for playing of the piobaireachd was a Prize Pipe, awarded annually by the Highland Society of London, which Donald won in 1817.
In 1822, he published a book of piobaireachd, written in a staff notation of his devising, which has remained the basis on which subsequent editors of piobaireachd have worked. Although well received, the book’s financial return prevented publication of Donald’s projected second volume.
Donald therefore presented the manuscript to the grandfather of General C.S. Thomson. Thomson used the MS as a reference in compiling 'Ceol Mor', a comprehensive collection of piobaireachd published in 1900.
Donald died in 1840 but his book has been reprinted. By his own account, Donald embraced several schools or styles of playing and the way in which he wrote the standard movements in different tunes varies, providing scope for individual interpretation and expression.
Without his work, it is conceivable that much Highland musical heritage would have been lost. Although the piobaireachd arrangements usually heard today are those published by the Piobaireachd Society, derived mainly from the collection of Angus MacKay, the Donald MacDonald Quaich honours the memory of this revered piping pioneer.
The Clan Donald Lands Trust aims to preserve traditions relating to Clan Donald and the Gaidhealtachd (Highlands and Islands) by supporting the music traditions of the Highlands, and by holding the Donald MacDonald Quaich Annual Piobaireachd piping competition at Armadale Castle, currently sponsored by Glenfiddich Pure Malt Scotch Whisky.
Donald MacDonald, born about 1750, became a pupil of the MacArthurs, hereditary pipers to the MacDonalds of Skye. He later moved to Edinburgh, establishing himself as a maker of Highland and other bagpipes. At that time, the premier award for playing of the piobaireachd was a Prize Pipe, awarded annually by the Highland Society of London, which Donald won in 1817.
In 1822, he published a book of piobaireachd, written in a staff notation of his devising, which has remained the basis on which subsequent editors of piobaireachd have worked. Although well received, the book’s financial return prevented publication of Donald’s projected second volume.
Donald therefore presented the manuscript to the grandfather of General C.S. Thomson. Thomson used the MS as a reference in compiling 'Ceol Mor', a comprehensive collection of piobaireachd published in 1900.
Donald died in 1840 but his book has been reprinted. By his own account, Donald embraced several schools or styles of playing and the way in which he wrote the standard movements in different tunes varies, providing scope for individual interpretation and expression.
Without his work, it is conceivable that much Highland musical heritage would have been lost. Although the piobaireachd arrangements usually heard today are those published by the Piobaireachd Society, derived mainly from the collection of Angus MacKay, the Donald MacDonald Quaich honours the memory of this revered piping pioneer.
CEARCALL SEINN SHLÈITE
Seòmar Cruinneachaidh, Arainn Ostaig,
Thursday 24th May,
starting at 8pm (free event)
Come together and raise your voices in song at the last Cearcall Seinn of the season.
The session will be led by Margaret Stewart, ‘Musician in Residence’ at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. As new Short Courses have started this May, the usual ‘End of Course Cèilidh’ will be incoroprated within this gathering.
Archive Recordings - Margaret hopes to play some of the sound recordings which were collected in the Sleat area by the School of Scottish Studies in the 1950s, and it is hoped that members of the community will be present to possibly add to these songs, or give some background information on them.
Those attending are encouraged to bring traditional and/or local songs to share, if they have them, and are willing to sing (these can be written or from memory). The evening will take the form of a ‘taigh chèilidh’, with an informal and relaxed social atmosphere. Tea, coffee, wine and some baking will also be offered, free of charge, during the evening.
A general invitation is issued to young and old throughout the district.
Any enquiries should be directed to Margaret Stewart on [email protected]
Thursday 24th May,
starting at 8pm (free event)
Come together and raise your voices in song at the last Cearcall Seinn of the season.
The session will be led by Margaret Stewart, ‘Musician in Residence’ at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. As new Short Courses have started this May, the usual ‘End of Course Cèilidh’ will be incoroprated within this gathering.
Archive Recordings - Margaret hopes to play some of the sound recordings which were collected in the Sleat area by the School of Scottish Studies in the 1950s, and it is hoped that members of the community will be present to possibly add to these songs, or give some background information on them.
Those attending are encouraged to bring traditional and/or local songs to share, if they have them, and are willing to sing (these can be written or from memory). The evening will take the form of a ‘taigh chèilidh’, with an informal and relaxed social atmosphere. Tea, coffee, wine and some baking will also be offered, free of charge, during the evening.
A general invitation is issued to young and old throughout the district.
Any enquiries should be directed to Margaret Stewart on [email protected]
