Gr a c e No t e s Newsletter of the Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. Vol. 30 No. 9 • September 2014

President’s Letter MSSI’s annual Scottish Breakfast was held on August 23 and we were treated to scones, beans, eggs, bacon, bangers, haggis and blood sausage. Everything I tried was great, and although I’m sure the last two items listed were good, they were not on my plate. Several people exhibited their artwork, Joe Lyle sang a few cowboy songs, and once again Dick Bevier stole the show with a brain teaser about snakes. Thanks to everyone whose hard work made this event happen! Memphis Now that September is upon us, I’ve become very interested in the Scottish referendum for Scottish Independence which will take place on September 18. (I’m always a baseball fan during the World Series, too!) Both sides of the Society, Inc. issue of Scottish Independence have valid points. I know how I would vote, Board and I’m sure you know how you would vote. So, we will have a straw poll at the September meeting just to see where MSSI stands on the issue. The President results should be interesting. We won’t have a debate or present any more Melissa Gibson points about the referendum, just a fun vote to see what our people think. 901 299-3170 Also, the season of Festivals is here: September 5-7 are the dates for [email protected] CelticFest MS in Jackson, Mississippi, the Bartlett Festival (where MSSI

will have a tent) takes place on September 26 and 27, then on October 11, Vice President the Celtic Festival is back in Jackson, Tennessee and the Stone Mountain Mary Ann Lucas Highland Games in Atlanta will be held October 17-19. Any of these 901 725-1879 [email protected] festivals should be a lot of fun--maybe I’ll see you at one of them! Treasurer September Meeting George Malone

901 385-1938 [email protected] Christian King will be presenting an Irish topic at the Scottish Society’s September meeting. The topic will be the sean-nós (old style) Irish singing Secretary tradition. He will focus on the practice in Donegal, which has received Becky Trafford great influence from Scotland. 901 385-7628 [email protected] The tradition of sean-nós song was exclusively oral, and remains Members at Large customarily so. However a few songs were known to have been conveyed to script as early as the 16th century. A songbook for Elizabeth I contained Sue Malone English interpretations of sean-nós songs. Songs started to be more 901 385-1938 extensively written down in the eighteenth century and distributed in [email protected] print from then on.

Mary Clausi New composition is a controversial issue within sean-nós song circles. 901 753-9494 Some singers insist that the traditional should be supplemented with [email protected] new material, arguing that since society has changed, then the content

Elaine Meece of the lyrics should reflect this. On the other hand, some singers say that 901 907-6831 only the older, “traditional” songs represent the essence of sean-nós song [email protected] and therefore deserve a protected, preferential status.

Tennessee Tartan. Created by the Heart of Tennessee Scottish Celebration as a State tartan. Passed by Tennessee Public Acts 1999, Chapter No.82, Senate Bill No. 73. The source of the tartan 2526 was: Bill Bickford of the Tennessee Tartan Committee. Wayfaring Strangers The Musical Voyage from Scotland and Ulster to Appalachia by Fiona Ritchie and Doug Orr (Foreword by Dolly Parton) Throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centu- Parton, Dougie MacLean, Cara Dillon, John Doyle, ries, a steady stream of Scots migrated to Ulster and Pete Seeger, Sheila Kay Adams, Jean Ritchie, Doc eventually onward across the Atlantic to resettle Watson, David Holt, Anais Mitchell, Al Petteway, and in the United States. Many of these Scots-Irish im- Amy White. migrants made their way into the mountains of the southern Appalachian region. They brought with Here’s what the authors have to say about Wayfaring them a wealth of traditional Strangers. Thanks to Gina Mahalek, UNC Press, who ballads and tunes from the conducted this interview (2014). British Isles and Ireland, a carrying stream that merged Q: Wayfaring Strangers includes with sounds and songs of a CD with 20 songs by musi- English, German, Welsh, cians featured in the book. How African American, French, do you imagine your readers and Cherokee origin. Their using it as they read? Is it meant enduring legacy of music to be a soundtrack of sorts? flows today from Appalachia A: We felt sure that, as our read- back to Ireland and Scotland ers got deeper into the story, and around the globe. In they’d become increasingly ea- Wayfaring Strangers, Fiona ger to hear for themselves how Ritchie and Doug Orr guide the music has evolved. So the readers on a musical voyage book’s CD has songs and tunes across oceans, linking people that are chosen to help illustrate and songs through centuries the musical voyage. Some read- of adaptation and change. ers may enjoy listening along as From ancient ballads at the heart of the tradition to they read. Others will want to lay aside the text and instruments that express this dynamic music, Ritchie immerse themselves in the music. There are so many and Orr chronicle the details of an epic journey. En- songs—and multiple versions of songs—that our CD riched by the insights of key contributors to the living can only ever be a taste. We could easily have made a tradition on both sides of the Atlantic, this abundantly boxed set! Hopefully it will open readers’ ears to the illustrated volume includes a CD featuring 20 songs connections we’re highlighting and they’ll be tempted by musicians profiled in the book, including Dolly to embark upon their own musical explorations.

Ed i t o r i a l St a f f Gr a c e No t e s Melissa Gibson Editor, (901-299-3170) Grace Notes is the official publication of the Mem- [email protected] phis Scottish Society, Inc. It is published monthly. Like the Society itself, the credo of Grace Notes is Sammy Rich “to foster education and promote understanding Publisher, (901-496-2193) of things Scottish.” [email protected] to foster education If you have something of interest to readers and promote understanding of this newsletter, please submit a typewritten Gavin Anderson of things Scottish manuscript to the editorial staff. If the article or notice is very brief (30 words or fewer), e-mail Circulation Editor, (901-485-8270) or just use the telephone. Grace Notes will accept [email protected] and publish good quality photographs. Please address all correspondence to: The deadline for all submissions is the fourth Karen English Gr a c e No t es week of each month preceding the month of Circulation Editor, (901-396-9134) The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. publication. Please include a self-addressed [email protected] [email protected] stamped envelope with each submission, if you P. O. Box 770028 Memphis, TN 38177-0028 want the material returned. [email protected]

2 There are so many great artists to discover who will voices are elderly; a few are now quiet. It feels timelier lead them further—some are noted in our Discogra- than ever to share their insights and to reflect on the phy. lineage of this music even as the regional accents and styles blur and fade. Q: You acknowledge that, “The swell of a thousand voices carried this book to shore upon the waves of Q: What do you think your readers will find most sur- ten thousand tales.” Who is this book about? prising about this musical voyage across oceans?

A: We reached back to explore medieval troubadours A: You mean, apart from how long it took us to write in the south of France, wandering minstrels who the book…?! Generally, we think people will be sur- fanned out across Europe, and Scottish ballad col- prised that there is no one stream, no linear musical lectors, composers, singers, and fiddlers. Above all, journey. We are not starting off in the heartland of Scot- though, our book is primarily about the nameless tish balladry and ending up at the birth of country mu- families—across many generations—who held onto sic. Our story is more dynamic than that—and bigger. the one thing that cost nothing, took up no space It reaches back farther, travels more widely, and flows in their travel trunks, and was perhaps their most onward timelessly. While not necessarily surprised, we valuable symbol of identity: the songs and tunes they were both struck by how the music persevered, through carried over centuries and the miles. In particular, hardship and deprivation, from one generation to the we spent years researching these intrepid wayfarers: next. Without any of the advantages of modern technol- Scottish emigrants to Ulster in the north of Ireland, ogy, our wayfarers were able to sustain their music tra- who blended their musical traditions with the Irish ditions over the long migratory trail of countless years in their new home and transported these on their At- and new lands. It seemed that the music had an endur- lantic crossing to America. They often seemed drawn ing power and life force of its own, rebounding even to the distant horizon and their journeys have been a when outlawed, thriving where it might have died. carrying stream of music, fed by so many sources and A couple of specific story elements that may surprise: in turn feeding out along countless tributaries. As the role of the linen industry on the music migration Scots-Irish, many found Appalachian homes and new and the evolution of the dulcimer on the Great Wagon ways of sharing their long-held musical traditions. Road. Intrigued? You’ll have to read the book to find To tell the truth, at times it felt as if we were traveling out more! along with them, and we developed a real affinity for their unshakeable spirit and their incredible persis- Q: You are both known as the creators of much beloved tence in keeping their music and traditions alive. musical institutions—Fiona’s NPR program, The Thistle and Shamrock® and Doug’s Swannanoa Gathering— Q: Your interviews with key contributors to this liv- the traditional music workshops held on the Warren ing tradition greatly enrich your book. Tell us about Wilson college campus in the North Carolina moun- these conversations. tains each summer. Fiona, you’ve noted that “connec- tion” is the single word that best clarifies your motiva- A: In producing and hosting NPR’s The Thistle & tion for collaborating on this book. Could you please Shamrock® through the years, Fiona has had many elaborate? opportunities to talk with tradition-bearers about our developing book. Many were able to provide insights A: Well, Doug and I have a personal connection, rooted and guidance. Then as our Wayfaring Strangers proj- in public radio, that dates back over three decades. So ect took shape, it also became clearer which artists we that was a motivator in working together, as we knew should interview specifically for the book. Some were the long-standing friendship would help us to collabo- perfectly placed to come onto Fiona’s radio shows, or rate across an ocean. We learned pretty early on that we to join us at Traditional Song Week during the Swan- shared an interest in music. During my time living in nanoa Gathering. We made special visits to some the U.S., I became increasingly fascinated by the con- others, such as Pete Seeger. In fact, our visit to his nections between music from my Scottish homeland home stands out as a treasured memory of working and my North Carolina adopted home. And I could see together on this book. As for the conversations them- that Doug was following his own path of discovery, selves, they unfolded naturally. We found that people connecting with his Scots-Irish family roots and the were very enthusiastic about sharing their stories. We music this opened up to him along the way. Yes—these knew early on that documenting these conversations connections were at the heart of it all. would become an important and unique element of our book and that we desperately wanted their This is part 1 of Q and A session with Fiona and Doug voices to speak through the pages. Some of these Orr, authors of the book and companion CD “Wayfar- ing Strangers.” Pre-order your copy today.

3 October Meeting Possibility is coming to town! Graeme Mackenzie, a professional genealogist Cindi Younker, director of the Buckman Arts Center who has worked for 25 years out of Inverness, at St. Mary’s School, is reaching out to the Memphis the capital of the Scottish Highlands, specialising Scottish Society regarding Julie Fowlis’ upcoming in the history and genealogy of the Highland residency at the Buckman Performing and Fine Arts Clans, will be in Tennessee in October. Center. Ms. Fowlis will spend three days in the Mid- As well as being the Seanachaidh (historian & South working with the girls at St. Mary’s in both genealogist) for Clan MacKenzie, Graeme has fulfilled music and foreigh language classes. Included in her the same role for Clan MacMillan (his grandmother’s visit is an evening performance open to the public on kindred) since 1993, and helped set up the Clan Tuesday, October 7. Obviously, we’d like to share Ms. MacMillan International Centre at the chief’s home. Fowlis and her amazing music, voice and acumen Graeme served for many years as the Chairman of for all things Scottish (she is quite the scholar, in The Highland Family History Society – a genealogy addition to her remarkable performance talents) with group based in Inverness with hundreds of members as many people in the community as we can. We’d around the world – and is currently the Chairman like to extend an offer of $20 tickets to your members. of the Association of Highland Clans and Societies You must use the special promo code that will be [AHCS] which brings together chiefs, commanders, announced at the meeting to receive this price. and societies representing over 30 clans in Scotland. Graeme has been a regular visitor to the United States in recent years, representing the Highland Clans of Scotland at Conferences, Caucuses, and Symposiums at Stone Mountain GA, Grandfather Mountain NC, and at the Capitol in Washington DC. Graeme’s most recent publication is “Genealogy in the Gaidhealtachd: Clan and Family History in the Highlands of Scotland” - published by the Highland Family History Society. Details and reviews of the book can be found at www. highlandroots.org/Gen-in-Gaidhealtachd.htm), and elsewhere on the same website you’ll find further information about Graeme, his recent speaking tour to New Zealand and Australia, and his other publications. Graeme’s forthcoming visit to the USA is timed to Julie Fowlis coincide with the Stone Mountain Highland Games From Julie’s press release: When Disney searched (17-19 Oct), which he will be attending after a speaking for the perfect, authentic voice for their award-winning engagement in Minneapolis the previous weekend. , set in historic Scotlend, all roads led to the treasure He plans to be in Tennessee in the week before of the . An esteemed scholar and world-class and/or the week after the Stone Mountain games. entertainer, Julie Fowlis is the most successful artist If your organisation would be interested in having to work in the Scots Gaelic tradition. With her four Graeme come to speak to you whilst there he albums, world tours and countless awards, Fowlis would be happy to do so – either to give a lecture or to chat informally about his work and his book. has achieved mainstream acceptance, reflecting her Graeme has two basic lectures reflecting the core homeland’s strong singing, dancing and piping traditions. of the book and of his work for the last quarter of a Raised on in the , Fowlis century and can also offer talks on “Highland Ancestry is a proud standard bearer for Gaelic music and culture. and Emigration”, and “The Nature and Traditions of Julie is also a respected scholar, researching Gaelic Scottish Clans” or on other related subjects if requested. culture and tradition through a Masters degree and an Graeme is usually happy to offer his services as a Artist in Residence project with one of Europe’s most speaker to clan, genealogy, local history, and Scottish ambitious digital archive projects, Tobar an Dualchais. interest groups. He has been contacted about the She has developed her career in broadcasting, presenting possibility of making a presentation at our October for Sky Arts HD, BBC Radio, BBC Scotland and ALBA meeting. We’ll let you know if he can make it! TV. (cont next page)

4 The Stones of Stenness

The cover article of the August 2014 National Geographic is a riveting article on the surviving Neolithic struc- tures of Orkney, titled “Before Stonehenge”. The text is erudite scholarship, and, as we have come to expect in the 125 years since a bunch of Scots instituted the Society & Magazine, the story is packed with stunning photo- graphs.

Our resident expert on Orkney is Karen English, by virtue of her frequent (yearly?) visits there. Check out the article, then engage Karen in an enlightened conversation about this spectacular treasure of Scotland’s north country. Pioctured below.

Among her many accolades are an Honorary Doctor won the pan-Celtic sean-nos singing competition in of Music degree and the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Tralee, Ireland and was also nominated as Best Gaelic Award for Music. While her brush with Hollywood and Singer at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards in newfound Disney Princess Fame has influenced her 2004. In 2005 she released her first solo album, Mar reach and audience, she remains grounded and connected a Tha Mo Cridhe (As My Heart is), partly funded to the ancient traditions of her Scottish homeland. by the Scottish Arts Council, exclusively featuring Fowlis’ grandmother was a singer, her mother’s Gaelic material, mostly collected at home on Uist. family all spoke Gaelic and she first sang Gaelic In addition to her evening performance on Tuesday, traditional songs in primary school, later taking up October 7, Julie will serve as St. Mary’s Louise T. oboe and pipes. She moved to the mainland to study Archer Artist in Residence. She will offer two master music at Strathclyde University in Glasgow and from classes, a lecture demonstration, two chapel talks and there went on to the Isle of Skye, where she studied a number of workshops for the students and the greater Gaelic at the Sabhal Mor Ostaig learning school. community. Discussions will focus on her music and Initially known primarily as an instrumentalist academic research of the Scots Gaelic traditions. specializing in the whistle, fiddle and oboe, Fowlis

5 Flowers of the Forest

“It is with great regret that we report the death of She spent a decade as a lecturer in Scottish folksong beloved singer Jean Redpath.” at Stirling University, as well as performing in venues Pauline McLean, BBC Scotland Arts across the world. Tributes have been paid by other correspondent: musicians, artists and friends. Born in Edinburgh, but brought up in Fife, Jean Redpath Speaking on BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland had a life long fascination with Scottish music. programme, Scottish singer and songwriter Sheena Wellington described Redpath as the “foremost Inspired by the archive Hamish ambassador for Scottish Henderson was building during traditional song for more than her studies at Edinburgh 50 years”. University, she arrived in the US as a young woman ready to share She said: “She researched and the 400 traditional songs she had brought back lots of songs that learned. had been lost in the midst of time, and just performed with Her first performance was in San such grace and such humour as Francisco in 1961, but she moved well. She was incredibly funny east to Greenwich Village where on stage.” she shared a flat with Bob Dylan, performing alongside him in the Ms Wellington said Redpath city’s thriving folk scene. did a “wonderful job in America” bringing Scottish to She was a regular on Garrison audiences there. “She would Keillor’s radio show A Prairie walk on stage and smile at the Home Companion, a lecturer at audience and that was it, they the University of Stirling for more were won over.” than a decade, and a performer of international renown. She added: “It struck a chord. People realised this music wasn’t unlike their own and they could see the She received an MBE for her services to music. roots of it. She was recently diagnosed with cancer and died in a hospice “Jean was an incredibly hard worker. She just had that in Arizona August 21, 2014. gift. She would walk on stage and smile at the audience The Scottish singer Jean Redpath has died. She was and that was it, they were won over. “She believed 77 and in an Arizona hospice. implicitly in what she was doing and she had huge respect for her own material and huge respect for the A huge champion of Scottish folksongs, she moved musicians and singers who worked with her.” to the US as a young woman.

Are You Longing For CLANJAMFRY?

It’s that time of year, and if the long-lost lamented flush toilets). There are eight stages of entertainment, a Clanjamfry left a giant hole is your psyche, there’s whiskey tasting (“Kindred Spirits”), and one ticket for good news fer ye: CelticFest Mississippi, just down the whole weekend (which can be bought online). st the road in Jackson, will be held the 1 weekend in It’s a solid 3 hours to CelticFest, so you COULD make September, the 5th through the 7th. it a day trip, but the site is right in the middle of town The 2014 Guiness Highland Games will be happen- with easily accessible & reasonably priced lodging. For ing on Sat. and Sun. at this years CelticFest MS. more info, check out http://celticfestms.org/wp/

Everything we loved best about Clanjamfry, PLUS a lot more dancing, a full ceilidh, a singing seisuin, anachronists, AND indoor venues (rain or shine, & 6 Calendar of Events Thursdays Sundays Saturday September 27 Wolf River Pipes & Drums, NEAC Pipes&Drums Bartlett Festival 7:00-9:30 St. Luke’s Lutheran 1:30-4:00 @ 1st Pres. SW Dr. Freeman Park N. Germantown Pkwy. Jonesboro, AR exit 45 Bartlett, TN 753-9494 for info. Monday September 8 Thursday September 25 Sgt.Singleton Pipes & Drums MSSI Monthly Meeting MSSI Board Meeting 5:00-7:00 Bartlett Baptist at Jason’s Deli. Poplar/Highland 5:30 p.m. - St. Luke’s Lutheran Yale and Whitten Road. 6:00 -Dinner, 7:00-Program: Germantown Pkwy Gordon Abernathy - 412-6846 Christian King: The art of Sean Burns Nicht 2014 Meeting www.sgtwksingletonpipesanddrums.org Nos singing. 6:15 p.m. St Luke’s Lutheran.

Scottish - Celtic Radio Shows

Sundays, 6-7 p.m. “The Thistle and Shamrock” WKNO-FM 91.1

Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.“Strands of the Celtic September 7: Combos September 28: Canada Knot” Robert Campbell, host WEVL–FM 89.9 We revel in the joyous sounds Travel to Cape Breton, of multi-instrumental line-ups Newfoundland, Prince Edward Sun and Mon 6 p.m. and this week, shamelessly embracing Island, Quebec and on into the west Fridays, 7 p.m. anarchy in determining “what-goes- to hear the authentic Celtic rooted “The Thistle & Shamrock,” with-what”. of Canada. WMAV–FM 90.3 September 14: Julie Fowlis Publisher’s Pick

Raised in the Outer Hebrides, Julie Well, I didn’t have to think very Fowlis is one of a small group of hard this month. With Julie Fow- singers bringing Scots Gaelic music lis coming to town in October, how into the cultural mainstream; no could anyone possible resist her more so than when she provided with Fiona! the singing voice for Disney Pixar’s Oscar winning animation “Brave”. After that, I most definitely would Meet her this week. highly recommend Fiona’s and Doug Orr’s new book and com- September 21: Irish Pairs panion CD as a must have on the book shelf of anyone who loves Few musical sounds make a more the and the nu- honest and direct statement than merous cross-over ties that abound duos in the Irish tradition. Enjoy in our countries’ musical heritage. them combining their voices, guitars, fiddles, flutes and more acoustic Now even I thought that last instruments. sentence was clever after I read it. What could I be talking about? Is the punctuation correct?

7 G L E N

A F F R I C

Next Monthly Meeting - Monday, September 8 Jason’s Deli - Poplar and Highland Dinner at 6:00, Program @ 7:00 Regular Board Meeting, September 25 at 5:30 - St. Luke’s Lutheran 2000 N. Germantown Pkwy Burns Nicht Planning Meeting: September 25, 6:15 - St. Luke’s Lutheran

Gr a c e No t e s

The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. P. O. Box 770028 Memphis, TN 38177-0028

www.memphisscots.com