Our July Concert
Our July Concert started with Ann Parker playing Snow Waltz, Yodelling Polka and Beautiful Days. Colin Ensor then gave us renditions of Cruising Down The River, If I Had My Way, Once In A While, The Town I Loved So Well, I Won’t Tell A Soul and Why Did You Make Me Care. Our next player was Sara Daly, Sara played The Lovely Glens of Antrim, All Of Me, Out On The Mira, Rose Of Tralee, Dashing Away With The Smoothing Iron, Let him Go Let him Tarry and Granddaughters Waltz. It was now time for the break and the usual chat and socialising that makes the club so good. After the break Myself and Bob Seed started the second part of the night, myself on Accordion and Bob on drums, we started with Black Mask Waltz, then continued with Whispering hope, Triste Sourire, Barcarole, Cruising Down The River, I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles, The Old Bull and Bush, She’s A Lassie From Lancashire, My Girls A Yorkshire Girl, A Gordon For Me, I Belong to Glasgow, Keep Right On To The End Of The Road and to finish, American Patrol and Red White & Blue. Bernard Bamber then took to the stage and gave us These Are My Mountains, Will You No Come Back Again, Maggie, Banks Of Loch Lomond, Nobodys Child, Laughing Samba, Yellow Bird and Island In The Sun. Our next player was Patrick Halpin playing I Belong to Glasgow, Red River Valley, Danny Boy, The leaving Of Liverpool and On Top Of Old Smokey. It was now time for the second break of the evening, after which Rebecca Parker played Moon River, Home On The Range, My Wild Irish Rose, Bianca Cappana and La Valse d’Amelie. I returned to the stage and sang I’m My own Grandpa and Black Velevet Band before finishing with Sailors Hornpipe. To finish the night we had the talents of Colin Ensor playing Mcnamara’s Band, Killarney, If You’re Irish, Danny Boy, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling and Who’s Taking you home Tonight.
David Batty
This Wednesday
Due to work commitments this Wednesday is a practice night, NOT A CONCERT NIGHT. Did I mention that this Wednesday is a practice night! 🙂 The doors are open at 7.30 for 8pm. If you see someone you don’t normally talk to then please introduce yourself, you might make a new friend. Please take your accordion along and share something with someone, learn something from someone or just have a good time.
White Horse Club Reopen
A few months ago we wrote about White Horse Accordion Club closing down. We’re pleased to hear that they have re opened with their next meeting on Sunday 6th October 1:30pm till 5pm at Westbury Leigh Hall BA13 3GN, Entry fee is £3 including refreshments. Subsequent meetings are 5th January 2014 and 6th April. For more information contact Jill Martin 01985 300344
Jimmy Shand LP Converted CD
One of Jimmy Shand’s Earliest LP’s has been converted to CD. Jimmy’s Fancy first release in 1961 contains a selection of Scottish dance music such as The White Cockade, Jimmy’s Fancy, The Express, La Tempete, Jessie’s Hornpipe, The Bluebell Polka, The Duke and Duchess of, Edinburgh, Donald Bane, Waverley. The CD can be bought from Music In Scotland by visiting their website at www.musicinscotland.com/acatalog/Jimmy-Shand-and-his-Band-Jimmys-Fancy-CD-BRHCD86.html or telephone 01250 879051
Heritage Open Days
The 12th to the 15th of September 2013 sees many historic places all over the UK that are usually closed to the public or charged for, opening their doors to the public for free. To find your nearest open venue visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk and search your area. There any many places in the North West that are opening their door such as a Guided tour of Blackpool Tower, Lytham Windmill, Samlesbury Hall, Cockersands Abbey with many more listed on the website above. If you don’t have access to the Internet at home, You can visit your local library with your library card and use the internet on their computers.
Hohner Bass Keyboard
I bought a Hohner Bass Keyboard with amplifier, I only wanted the amplifier, the keyboard has one note playing flat, I will shortly repair it and will be selling it. This is a rare item and not often seen.
St Audries Bay
We attended this years St Audries Bay Accordion Week, starting on Saturday 20th July where there was a welcome reception in the late afternoon with a complimentary drink. The evening entertainment was The Accordionists Entertain led by Harry Hussey, This is the same format as our Local Players nights. This was the format for the evenings entertainment for the rest of the week till 9:30 at night when people started to move to the main bar where in one corner buskers got together and had a busking session with Harry Hussey playing at the other end of the room. On the Monday evening there was a French circle in the ballroom and a Ceilidh on the Wednesday and Thursday evening. Over the day were activities for Accordionists including Higher Intermediate Orchestra led by Rene Mairis, Elementary Orchestra led by Brenda Webster, Scottish Workshop led by Angie Lukins, Vintage Orchestra led by Jean Hanger, John Leslie Special Classes, Intermediate Orchestra led by Adrienne Griffiths and John Leslie Orchestra Workshop led by John Leslie. I (Rebecca) Joined the Elementary orchestra with Brenda Webster, We were playing three pieces, Red River Valley, Song at Sundown and Somewhere My Love. I had a great time joining in with the orchestra, plenty of laughs, met some new people and others who I had not seen for years. I wasn’t able to stay for the grand performance on the Friday evening as we had to be “back up north” for the Saturday, although I heard that the elementary orchestra played very well on the Friday evening as did all the other orchestras. Myself and David attended John Leslie’s Special class where we were discussing and learning more about the Stradella bass, we both found those to be interesting and informative. There were also non Accordion related day time activities that anyone could join in with such as fun fitness, Horse Shoe pitching, Putting competition, Croquet, Bingo, Beach Rambles, Quizzes, Boules competition, Hoopla, Quoits, Boules Doubles and organised walks round the surrounding areas such as Watchet. Next years Festival is on from the 19th-26th July 2014, They book up quite quick. For more information and to book telephone 01984 632515 or email info@staudriesbay.co.uk
Jimmy Shand Music Collection To Be Auctioned
Part of Jimmy Shand’s collection of music which inspired him has been put up for auction by his family. Over 60 years Jimmy accumulated the collection of antique books including hundreds of traditional “Auld Scots Sangs”. Jimmy acquired them from book shops between performances and used them to find music he could adapt for the accordion and incorporate in his own act. Jimmy’s son said in a interview with The Scotsman that “he hoped the collection would be ‘rediscovered’ by another music-lover.” Part of Jimmy’s collection will be up for auction next month at Bonhams Scottish Sale next month. Jimmy jnr said: “My father collected these books over many years. Throughout his career he would hear about a book and go off in the car to find it, or if he was playing somewhere and had an afternoon off he would walk round the shops looking for one. “He enjoyed collecting them. Some of the melodies he would adapt for the accordion and his own use. He would sit down in his chair and read the music in his head and if he liked something he would play it.” The collection contains, some handwritten scores, with reels, strathspeys, marches, laments, pibrochs and even grand sonatas for the harpsichord. Henry Baggott, Bonhams’ book specialist, said the books would be sought after not only by lovers of traditional Scottish songs, but by admirers of Sir Jimmy. He said: “I was contacted by Jimmy Shand jnr to have a look at these 23 individual volumes, and it was extraordinary — these were the traditional Scottish songs from which Sir Jimmy took inspiration. “It is an important collection. Now somebody else can enjoy them.” The Collection on sale include GOW (NEIL) A Collection of Strathspey Reels, with a Bass for the Violoncello or Harpsichord, for the author, [c.1785] PLEYEL (IGNACE) Three Grand Sonatas, for the Piano Forte or Harpsichord… select Scotish Airs, Edinburgh, Purdie, [c.1800] ibid, another copy, lacking boards BALFORUR (DAVID) Ancient Orkney Melodies, Edinburgh, Ballantyne, 1885 KENNEDY-FRASER (MARJORY and KENNETH MACLEOD) Songs of the Hebrides, 3 vol., dust-jackets, Boosey, 1922 The Ballroom Music Book… for the Pianoforte, INSCRIBED ‘TO JAMES SHAND WITH BEST WISHES FROM JIM WHELAN THE GALWAY ARMS DUBLIN’, Boosey, [c.1870] LEE (ALEXANDER) Here’s a Health bonnie Scotland to thee, Lee, [c.1830] LOW (JOSEPH) Collection of Reels Strathspens & Jigs, Edinburgh, Paterson GLEADHILL (T.S.) Kyle’s Scottish Lyris Gems, Glasgow, Ferrie WATLEN (JOHN) Collection of the most admired Scots Songs, pages rubbed and repaired with loss, for the author, August 1st 1793 Manuscript Music Book, ink on paper, approximately 50 pages, inscribed ‘Miss Christina Gib, Maulesden, Brechin, Nov 9th 1836’ Manuscript Music Book, ink on paper, approximately 30 pages, inscribed ‘R. Scott, 1813’ Manuscript Music Book, ink on paper, with bars in ink, approximately 98 pages and 1 page index, upper cover with red calf label reading ‘Jess Grant’, [eighteenth century]; together with one further musical manuscript and 7 other books of music, cloth and half calf, 4to and smaller. The lot is being auctioned on the 21st August in Edinburgh To view the lot visit http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20653/lot/349A/