The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #173636   Message #4212275
Posted By: Tattie Bogle
24-Nov-24 - 01:14 PM
Thread Name: Irish but Not Scottish Sessions. Why?
Subject: RE: Irish but Not Scottish Sessions. Why?
A further word on the subject of the TMSA - a very laudable organisation which is coming up soon to its 60th anniversary: it has a number of branches which hold events and support musicians throughout Scotland. They lost a large chunk of core funding when the former Scottish Arts Council became Creative Scotland a few years back: grants were more for "one-off" and "innovative" projects rather than ongoing annual funding: Edinburgh-based Scots Music Group suffered the same fate. I was a founder member of the Edinburgh & Lothians TMSA branch, and served on their committee until very recently.
And I loved Auchtermuchty (TMSA) Festival with Jim and "The Rattlers" enlivening the evenings!
What have we in Scotland to compare with the Comhaltas movement in Ireland and elsewhere? The afore-mentioned Scots Music Group and Youth Gaitherin in Edinburgh, SC&T in Aberdeen, Glasgow Folk Workshop, The Feis Ros, Falkirk Fiddlers, and probably many more, all running classes for folk who wants to learn an instrument or sing. All of these provide tuition in Scottish music, and actively encourage people to get out there and play in sessions, form bands, play in care homes, cathedrals and anywhere else that asks! I have been in 2 ceilidh bands that both arose from Scots Music Group classes. There have also been various successful projects to get Scots Music into schools, though it still the case that not every school will benefit. and don't forget that we have also pipe bands, fiddle and accordion clubs, ceilidh dancing, Scottish country dancing (RSCDS), numerous festivals. It's all great, and definitely NOT the case that we are not propagating our wonderful Scottish music.