Music, Castle and 'Tightners'

Enroute to the Doric Festival concert in Rothienorman I had my first ‘High Tea’ at Kintore Arms, Inverurie- High Tea= main course (scampi, neeps, chips, green beans, vegg), toast, and then fancies with tea. Quite the ‘tightner!’ The Doric festival featured bothy ballads, fiddle tunes and Doric verse.

The trip to Dunnottar Castle in Stonehaven is a trip I will never forget. The ruins tower over the cliffs that lead to the sea. Breathtaking. It was a wonderful day with class-mates, in awe of the beauty of the castle and the power of the sea.

Next was a trip to the Ellon Accordion and Fiddle club. Performers from age 10 to 80s. My rendition of Ashoken Farewell was complimented throughout the night and onstage by the featured musician- Iain MacPhail, whose band was foot stomping awesome!

This weekend was the Perth All Scots Accordion and Fiddle Festival. Perth is a beautiful city with quite different architecture from Aberdeen. Looking forward to heading back there to explore more sometime. 

I was so happy to see all the fiddlers, the junior, senior and under 12 -- 29 competitors in all. So I was able to see many renditions of march, strathspey and reel sets. When I went to the Kirriemuir Festival there was only one fiddler- I was wondering what that meant for the status of fiddlers but this festival in Perth was a better look at the scene. Actually, the one fiddler from Kirriemuir ended up winning the Senior Solo Championship in Perth! The judge for the fiddlers was Marie Fielding- a well known musician, composer and fiddler. Got to see her perform at a session and concert that evening. She was inspiration during the fiddle auditions – stressing the importance of the fiddler and traditional music. 

The accordion and band championships were also amazing- blazing talent!! It was said that the senior accordionists were of the highest quality ever, and after the six finalists had played for the second time the judges went away to deliberate and when we left an hour later, they still had not produced a result!  Of course, had to have a few ‘tightners’ – breakfast of sausage, bacon, eggs, tomatoes and toast. Lunch ‘denner’ was minestrone and dinner, ‘supper,’ was tasty spaghetti and meatballs at an Italian restaurant!

I have band rehearsal tonight with ‘Oval is Back,’ a four piece band with fellow University students. We have a charity performance coming up next week. And I’ve had my first performance with Denis and the Menace- traditional and local popular music trio at Denmore residential home a couple weeks ago. As Denis reminds me, I will have to be on my toes for future performances as the other 2 members are regularly dragged out in mid-performance to move their cars (and occasionally get locked out leaving the third member to run the show). Between all that, yes I am keeping up with my classes- essays, research, keeping busy and loving it!

And a quote from Denis of things to come: "Natalie has still quite a bit to go to becoming an Aiberdeen quine. She still has to experience real haggis, neeps and tatties, the malt whisky and the eightsome reel, and she disna even ken fit first-fittin' or a reid puddin' supper is!"

Home in Aberdeen

I’ve been in Aberdeen just about a month now and I am really settling in. The flat feels like my home, the streets seem familiar, and the people here have made it easy for me.

I can still remember that first walk down High Street to the University and seeing the King’s Chapel on Campus. What a sight! And in the days to come, I wandered to the city centre, to the beach, to parks, and to various open mics, folks clubs and sessions.

The people at the Aberdeen Folk Club gave me a warm welcome my first visit, letting me borrow a mandolin and play a few tunes. Since then I’ve been back every week with my violin and feel as though I’ve been accepted as a musician and friend. The folk club is different than a session where everyone jams at once… a folk club is when everyone sits in a circle and each individual plays or sings one by one. I was in awe of this set up my first time, Irish ballads, funny stories in Doric (local dialect), and all kinds of instrumentalists. There’s a mutual respect and appreciation, no matter the skill or talent. Through this folk club I am now a member of a traditional trio (sometimes quartet) and have some performances coming up!

I have played solo at two open mics-  a bit of tango, jazz and folky things – and have met people that way as well. Next week I’ll be playing in a pop duo with someone I met at an open mic, and in 2 weeks I’ll be playing jazz standards with another chap. The music and people I’ve experienced here in Aberdeen are diverse, entertaining and genuine.

I am looking forward to classes starting next week. Induction and registration to the graduate program in Ethnology and Folklore begins Tuesday. My first classes will delve into ethnology and folklore concepts, specifically in Scottish contexts. Not only will there be lectures and tons of research and reading, but fieldtrips to browse through archives and museums.

Tarland session

I think the experiences I’ve had here so far- meeting people, asking a lot of questions, learning about local music curriculum in the schools, hearing and participating in a variety of traditional and non-traditional music experiences have been a great start to a year in Aberdeen, Scotland!

Bon Voyage

A new chapter is about to begin for me - a new journey -
I'll be arriving in Aberdeen, Scotland in August and will be living there for nearly a year! I am excited for a new perspective in life & music and will be doing research in Ethnology and Folklore (specifically NE Scotland fiddle traditions) at the University of Aberdeen!
Those of you that live here in Eastern Iowa- I WILL MISS YOU! Please join me at Parlor City Pub this Sunday, July 15th for my Bon Voyage party at 6pm - great music and my band The Trollies will be playing. Would love to see y'all.
~peace~