Bands & Dancing

Greetings, a message for those who like to travel and another for dance enthusiasts. Regards, the other Ron

Courtesy Craig Fulton:

Readers may be interested in obtaining some information about the

Quebec City International Festival of Military Bands which is one of the

events marking the 450th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City.

This event recognizes the Scottish influence in Quebec with bands such

as the Black Watch and the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe bands.  The Air

Command Pipes and Drums band from Ottawa and the 12 Wing Pipes and Drum

band from Shearwater will also be performing.   The Tattoo will take

place August 21, 22 and 23 at Quebec City's Coliseum.  Tickets are going

fast so pipe band aficionados should wishing to attend should book soon.

 

Website: http://www.fimmq.com/site/tattoo-show.html

 

Courtesy Sandra Crosby. The following notice is to advise that the starting date for children's dance lessons has been moved ahead from May 5^th to Monday, April 21st

**NEW** Children's Scottish Country Dance Classes

Mondays 6:15 - 7:00 for 5 - 8 year olds.

Mondays 7:00 - 8:00 for 8 - 13 year olds.

Old Community Barn - UBC  - 6308 Thunderbird Blvd.

Register: 604.827.4469  -  programs@oldbarn.ca

Information: Sandra Crosby 604.850.1605 or inverglendance@shaw.ca

Piobaireachd Club

Greetings. I am the bearer of great news! A premier Club meeting in North Vancouver.

Pipe-Major Alex Chisamore of the J.P. Fell Pipe Band has most hospitably arranged for 

use of the J.P. Fell Armory for an evening of the 'great music'. Regards, the other Ron.

WHERE: J.P.Fell Armory, 1513 Forbes Avenue (15th & Forbes), North Vancouver, B.C.

WHEN: Friday, April 25, 2008

TIME: 7:30 P.M.

FEATURING:  the top three at the 2008 Annual Gathering plus Jack Lee and anyone else who chooses to play.

James P. Troy who swept the professional level will play Hector MacLean's Warning.

Colin Lee who was second in the piobaireachd will play the Massacre of Glencoe.

Andrew Lee who was third in the piobaireachd will play I Am Proud To Play A Pipe.

Jack Lee will play Lament for Angus Campbell.

If coming across the Second Narrows Bridge, proceed to Lonsdale, take the Lonsdale Exit, turn left onto Londsdale,

proceed to 15th Avenue, turn right on to 15th and proceed to Forbes Avenue. The Armory will be there awaiting your arrival.

If coming across the Lion's Gate Bridge, turn left on to Marine Drive, proceed to Keith Road West

3-way corner of Marine/Bewicke and Keith Road West), proceed a block to Forbes Avenue, turn left

on to Forbes Avenue and proceed to the intersection of Forbes and 15th.

St. Kilda Tapes

Greetings, an invitation to a showing of St Kilda tapes. Regards, the other Ron

A  S P E C I A L   I N V I T A T I O N

 The Scotland Funds, the St. Andrew's Society of Vancouver,

and Alma Lee

 Invite You & A Guest

To Be Their Guests

 Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 6 pm

 The Caprice / 965-7 Granville Street

 For a Screening Of

 The St. Kilda Tapes

 And A Performance By Vocalist

 Alyth McCormack

 Fresh From Her Carnegie Hall New York Debut

 RSVP by return email or to kevin@publicityplus.ca

 The St. Kilda Tapes

On August 29, 1930, the last 36 inhabitants of Scotland's St. Kilda Island, one of the world's most remote human settlements, were evacuated, at their own request, to Morvern on the Scottish mainland, leaving behind a home and life that their ancestors had known for centuries.

 The Scottish Screen Archive has preserved deeply moving footage shot during this memorable departure.

 Using this material, and the voice of Norman Gillies, who participated in the evacuation as a five-year-old boy, filmakers Ewan and Alastair Meldrum have created a unique document that poses timeless questions: When you are forced or you choose to leave your home where does your journey stop? How do you know when you've arrived at your ultimate destination, and how do you balance what you have left behind with what you discover on your journey?

 A complex and subtle multi-media work, The St. Kilda Tapes features music and song by guitarist David Allison and well-known musicians and singers, including Ms. McCormack. The piece incorporates looping technology and experimentation with wonderful and distinctly non-Celtic instruments like the concert zither, Turkish saz and the Arabic oud.

 The St Kilda Tapes is a solo sister project to The Island Tapes.

 Alyth McCormack

Alyth was born and raised on the Island of Lewis of the north west coast of Scotland and after growing up within this culture and having being given the opportunity to perform since she was a nipper, she decided to hit the road, left home moved to the big city and began her singing education in earnest.

 She had a wonderful teacher, who gave her a great grounding and then the adventuring began. She toured in various bands and projects, Shine, Sunhoney throughout Germany, Spain, Italy, Estonia, North America, the Uk, Brazil, Ireland, Switzerland, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Norway & Sweden recorded with various artists, appearing on 16 albums to date, and in 2000 released her first solo CD An Iomall(The Edge) on Vertical records.

 "Alyth loves singing, and lets you know that without telling you. You can hear it in her voice. She may be from Lewis, sings (but not all exclusively) in Gaelic, and often performs with harp and fiddle - but she's not a folkie. Her musical education and influences are too wide to sit in that, or any other, ghetto, minimalists like Reich, the sweeping eclecticism of Adams, sophisticated rock, modal jazz and role models like June Tabor or Marta Sebestyen have taken her down a path where she can sing unaccompanied in a Hebridean hall one day and with a metropolitan fusion samba band the next.

 "She is at home on stage and brings to her music - whether with the close harmony vocalists in Shine or full jazz/rock rhythm section in Sunhoney - a still centre" (Norman Chambers / The List)

 Joining Ms. McCormack in Vancouver for this invitation-only performance will be Ewen Vernal from Capercaillie on bass, Jonny Hardie from Old Blind Dogs on fiddle and Briam Mcalpine form Unusual Suspects on keyboard.

 St. Kilda

An isolated archipelago 64 kilometres (40 mi) west-northwest of North Uist in the North Atlantic Ocean. It contains the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The largest island is Hirta, whose sea cliffs are the highest in the United Kingdom.

 The Gaelic-speaking population probably never exceeded 180 and was never more than 100 after 1851. Although St Kilda was permanently inhabited for at least two millennia, and despite the inhabitants' unique way of life, the entire population was evacuated in 1930.

 The only residents are now military personnel. The islands are administratively a part of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar local authority area.

 Reference Links

www.myspace.com/thestkildatapes

www.myspace.com/alythspace

 

Scotland

Greetings, the heat is growing around the fire that illuminates Scotland's homecoming year, 2009. Here are a couple of items that may interest some. Regards, the other Ron

1. The following from Leith Davis, SFU

The Royal Society of Edinburgh is organising a major one-day conference on Robert Burns and Global Culture in 2009. The conference will reflect on issues such as the global reputation of Burns, the translation and reception of Burns in world literatures, the influence of Burns on the image of Scotland abroad and the continuing celebration of Burns in global culture in statues, music and Burns Supper events. 

As Scotland's National Academy, the Royal Society of Edinburgh will host this conference on Scotland's national bard as one of a series of global events to commemorate Burns on the 250th anniversary of his birth. There will be contributions by leading Burns scholars from around the world and there will be plenty of scheduled time for discussion as well as a session on thelatest research on Burns. 

Sheena Wellington & Kirsteen McCue will perform at a musical lunch, and an optional Burns Supper with a leading after-dinner speaker is planned for the evening before the conference when there will be an opening lecture by Neal Ascherson. The leading Scottish composer Dr James MacMillan CBE FRSE will introduce a new piece with contributions featuring a performance by the Haydn Trio Eisenstadt at the closing concert.

For further information re the program and registration, go to http://www.rse.org.uk/events/index.htm#burns

2. The following courtesy Jean Hall:

This article can be found on http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/other/display.var.2193513.0.Call_goes_out_for_Scots_to_take_part_in_largestever_clan_Gathering.php

A call has gone out to clanspeople to take part in the largest clan gathering ever held in Scotland.

The Gathering 2009, of which Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, is patron, is being held in Edinburgh. Not since Sir Walter Scott's Royal Pageant in 1822 will so many clans have gathered in one location.

Holyrood Park will be the event's base for a weekend in July next year with members of Caledonian and St Andrew's societies from around the world.

 More than 100 clans and families have expressed interest in taking part and 80 have confirmed orders for tents. More than a third of the maximum 8500 "passports" which provide all the necessary passes to the gathering, including a seat at the historic pageant being held on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, have been sold since they went on sale last month.

A spokeswoman said that the speed with which they were going was exceeding expectations and organisers wanted to ensure representation from right across Scotland.

Passports have been sold in the US, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Singapore and Romania and individuals and group bookings vary from clan chiefs to Los Angeles fire chiefs and German counts.

In addition to the ticket holders, it is expected more than 30,000 people will travel to Edinburgh to watch.

The Gathering 2009 is a signature event of Homecoming Scotland, a year-long Scottish Government initiative aimed at encouraging those with a passion or connection with Scotland to come home.

The 2009 World Highland Games Heavy Championships will be at the heart of the activities in the park and will draw the world's top "heavy athletes". There will be a strong focus on traditional Highland games activities, top international pipe bands, highland dancing, traditional and contemporary music, and a Taste of Scotland experience.

Another highlight is likely to be a 5000-strong clan parade up the Royal Mile and a historic Pageant of the Clans, on the Castle Esplanade.

Lord Sempill, co-director of the Gathering 2009, said: "As the Gathering is first and foremost a celebration of the contribution that the clans have made to the history and culture of Scotland, it is important that we make every effort to support this unique occasion."

The organisers say that the popularity of Highland games has been falling in Scotland and clan activity is nearly extinct. The opposite is true in some countries. In North America, clan membership exceeds 100,000 and more than 300 Highland Games and festivals are held a year.

Concert & Ceilidh

Greetings, a fund-raiser through entertainment, sponsored by the Moray, Nairn & Banff Association. The proceeds go toward promoting and assisting organizations within the ambit of the Scottish Cultural Centre in their efforts to preserve our culture and traditions. Regards, the other Ron

WHAT: Scottish Roots Concert & Ceilidh

WHERE: Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson (at 73^rd Ave.), Vancouver, B.C.

WHEN: Saturday, April 26^th, 2008

TIME: Doors & bar open 6:30 P.M.; entertainment from 7:00 P.M.

TICKETS: $25.00

CONTACT: Gisella at 604-591-7538, or, jackmellis@dccnet.com

OTHER:

Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Pipes & Drums

RCMP "E" Division Pipes & Drums

Vancouver Gaelic Choir

Royal Scottish Dancers

World Class Solo Piper & Dancer

Dancing with the "EARTHMEN" until midnight.

 

All welcome.

Tartan Day in Vancouver

Greetings, I apologize for being late reporting on Tartan Day  but I was having computer problems. Regards, the other Ron

 

The City of Vancouver has proclaimed April 6^th to be Tartan Day. The Proclamation was read by Mayor Sam Sullivan in a ceremony at City  Hall on April 4^th.

A great vote of appreciation to Todd Wong, aka Toddish MacWong of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, for getting the matter before City Council.

Those who receive my emails will realize that Todd is an energetic and dedicated exponent  of inter-ethnic culture exchange.

Coincidentally (took the lead from Sam Sullivan?), President Bush declared April 6^th , as  National Tartan Day.

However, there is a difference. The City of Vancouver's proclamation has a longer life.

 

 Motion regarding Proclamation of Tartan Day

 

Moved by Councillor Deal

Seconded by Councillor Louie

 

WHEREAS:  The City of Vancouver is known world-wide for its dedication to and support for multiculturism;

 

AND WHEREAS: The City of Vancouver takes various measures, including issuing proclamations, to stimulate pride in the diversity, harmony and enjoyment of the many cultures which collectively comprise the population of the City;

 

AND WHEREAS: Scots and the descendants of Scots have in the past and continue in the present to contribute to the building of a vibrant City of Vancouver;

 

AND WHEREAS: the historical enactment of the Declaration of Arbroath on April 6th  1320 A.D., the Scottish Declaration of Independence, is recognized as one of the first significant steps on the long journey to Scottish democracy;

 

AND WHEREAS: the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Ontario, Nova Scotia and countless municipal jurisdictions across both Canada and the United States have officially proclaimed April 6th as Tartan Day in recognition of the legacy that flows from the Declaration of Arbroath and in recognition of the contribution of Scots and their descendants to nation building;

 

AND WHEREAS: there are examples of other communities in Vancouver wearing tartans including the Singh tartan, the Irish Pipe and Drums tartan and the Gung Haggis Fat Choy tartan;

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The City of Vancouver proclaim the date of April 6th to be TARTAN DAY "until tomorrow and so on forever".

 

Dinner & Concert

Greetings, two messages. Regards, the other Ron

 

1. What: The B.C. Pipers' Annual Dinner and the final round of the Piping Knockout competitions.

Where:  Scottish Cultural Centre 8886 Hudson Street (at 73^rd Ave.) Vancouver B.C.

When: Saturday, April 19, 2008

Time: Cocktails at 6 P.M., Dinner at 7 P.M.

Tickets: Seniors $40.00; other adults $45.00; children $25.00

Contact: Shaunna Hilder - 604-944-2311 for tickets.

Order of Events

After the Dinner and Piping, awards will be presented to the Knockout competitors; to aggregate winners of mini-gatherings conducted over the autumn and winter months; to the winner of the "Mary MacKinnon Service Award"; and, other awards.

 

2. WHAT: A Celtic Gala featuring the following performers-,

Shona le Mottée (Juno Award Winner)

Dedanaan Irish Dancers & Meredith Wilson

Charles McCandless, Celtic Balladeer

Delta Police Pipe Band

South Delta Secondary School Youth Choir

WHERE: South Delta Baptist Church, 56^th Street (left off Highway , Tsawwassen

WHEN: Saturday, May 31^st, 2008

TIME: 7:30 P.M.

TICKETS: $25.00, available after March 31^st.

CONTACT: 604-940-5040 for information. Tickets also available at:

Grapes 4 U, 150-4857 Elliott Street, Ladner

Flowers by Design, 5666-12^th Avenue, Tsawwassen

OTHER: This is a fund-raiser to help finance a trip by the Delta Police Pipe Band to the Monterey Games in California in July, 2008.