Grace Notes 1 Mar. 2007 GRACE N TES Vol. 23, No. 3 Mar. 2007

March 25th is the date and Memphis College of Art, Callicott Auditorium is the place to hear . The group has been on the world’s roads for just on 30 years now, distilling their own unique form of the Scottish spirit and bottling it in concert and onto disc. According to Billboard, “What the internationally renowned Irish band, The Chieftains, has done for Irish music, Battlefield Band is doing for the music of .” Battlefield Band is frequently featured on “Thistle & Shamrock” and well known for their excellent Memphis concerts. Tickets are a bargain at $25 in advance, $30 at the Battlefield Band is coming back door, and can be obtained at Cafe Francisco, Davis-Kidd, and Fiddler’s The Ceilidh’s a-comin’... Green. This concert is presented by the The goose is getting fat. Midsouth Celtic Arts Alliance. Please to put a penny In the old man’s hat! YOUR MSSI BOARD Well, you get the idea. Mark your calendars now for Saturday, April 14th President at 6 pm and make plans to come to our Spring Ceildh. But… you can do a lot John Schultz...... 754-2419 more than just come to the Ceilidh: you can bring a guest with you, you can [email protected] perform as part of the entertainment (that’s what a ceilidh is all about, Vice President anyway!), you can join in the performances of others, you can show off your Mary Ann Lucas...... 725-1879 culinary skills in the pot luck, etc, etc. You can also be part of the Ceilidh [email protected] Committee: there are opportunities to co-ordinate the program or the dinner, Treasurer set up the decorations or tables & chairs, liaise with St. Luke’s Lutheran Tom Lewis...... 861-6640 Church (our host facility), or work on children’s aspects of the Ceilidh. [email protected] For more information or to volunteer to help in any of the above area, contact Secretary Mary Clausi...... 753-9494 me at 901-272-7159 or [email protected] . Sammy Rich [email protected] Members at Large Sue Malone...... 385-1938 [email protected] Janet Mandanna...... 323-7873 [email protected] Sammy Rich ...... 272-7159 [email protected]

www.memphisscots.com Grace Notes 2 Mar. 2007

Robin Bullock in Concert

Memphis Acoustic Music Asso- Celtic lands and their vigorous Appa- ciation invites us to a concert by lachian descendants into one power- Robin Bullock at 8 pm on Saturday, ful musical vision. March 17, 2007 at Otherlands Cof- Tickets are $12.00 at Otherlands fee Bar, 641 South Cooper, Memphis and Davis-Kidd Bookseller. TN. Robin is a prolific composer and MAMA’s concert series is partially multi-instrumentalist, whose virtuos- funded by the Tennessee Arts Com- ity on guitar, cittern and mandolin mission and the Greater Memphis blends the ancient melodies of the Arts Council. OLD-TIME MUSIC ALERT!

Lovers of old-time music, heed the There’s a silent auction, too, so Clear your calendar. Go online call! clean out the closet or back room: now to see more information about Event: Breakin’ Up Winter — a bring instruments, music accesso- how to register and be a part of veritable feast for folks who play ries, books, music-related art, one FINE weekend of music from and enjoy old-time string band music-related clothing, services another place and time. music! (music lessons, instrument set-up), Location: Cedars of Lebanon State to donate to the silent auction. See YOU at Breakin’ Up Winter! Park, Lebanon, TN Heard yourself or your band Directions from I-40: Lebanon Exit recorded on wax cylinders lately— www.nashvilleoldtime.org 238 south on US 231 toward just to see how you might have Murfreesboro—a distance of 6 sounded almost a hundred years -Thanks to Betty Westmoreland miles. Turn left into Cedars of ago? Now’s your big chance! for this article. Sounds like fun. Lebanon State Park and follow the Looking for those hard-to-find signs. old-time music CDs? The vendors will be right there at Breakin’ Up Dates: March 2-4, 2007 Winter. Details: Online at the Website for GRACE NOTES the Nashville Old-Time String Band Association (NOTSBA) at Grace Notes is the official publication of the Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. It is published monthly. Like the Society itself, the credo of Grace Notes is “to foster education and promote understanding of www.nashvilleoldtime.org things Scottish.” If you have something of interest to readers of this newsletter, please submit a typewritten manuscript The event is set in a beautiful to the editorial staff. If the article or notice is very brief (30 words or fewer), just use the telephone. Grace Notes will accept and publish good quality photographs (preferably black and white; no Polaroids, please). state park in Middle Tennessee The deadline for all submissions is the second week of each month preceding the month of publication. (between Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope with each submission, if you want the material returned. Lebanon and Murfreesboro on US Editorial Staff 231 South) with lots of trees, cabins, Mary Ann Lucas - [email protected] ...... Editor, (901-725-1879) fires in fireplaces, and old-time Sammy Rich - [email protected] ...... Publisher, (901-272-7159) Gavin Anderson - [email protected]...... Circulation Editor, (901-682-5485) music going everywhere! There are Melissa Gibson - [email protected] ...... Line Editor, (901 299-3170) jams, lectures and workshops by Please address all correspondence to: some famous folks, good food, Grace Notes to foster education shape-note (Sacred Harp) singing, The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. and promote and a world of wonderful music at [email protected] understanding of things Scottish every turn. P. O. Box 241934 Memphis, TN 38124-1934

www.memphisscots.com Grace Notes 3 Mar. 2007

SCOTTISH CONNECTION Have you caught a clever movie actor, he received the “Lifetime called A Night at the Museum re- Achievement” Oscar. leased recently? It features one of So, next time you see that familiar America’s longtime favorite actors, nose & cocky grin (& it shouldn’t Mickey Rooney (sometimes mis- take long, since he has made over spelled “Roonie”). Did you know 300 movies and a hundred or so TV that Rooney has a Scottish Con- appearances so far), remember nection? Mickey Rooney’s Scottish Con- Mickey Rooney was born Joe nection. Yule, Jr. His father Joseph Yule, Sr., Editor’s note: Mickey’s life-long a vaudeville actor, had been born in friend & fellow actor Judy Gar- 1892 in . Joseph was the son land also had a Scottish Connec- of Ninian and Elizabeth (McKell) tion: her great-grandfather and Yule. They were married in Decem- great grandmother, Charles Milne ber 1887 in Maryhill, Lanark. mouth organ that was hanging on a and Mary Kelso Milne, were both At 17 months old, Rooney’s talent string around his neck. The audi- born in Scotland, he in Arbroath surfaced by accident. His web biog- ence erupted with laughter.” And and she in Kilmarnock. They mar- raphy reports, “While hiding under- the rest, as they say, is history. ried in the Auld Country before neath a shoeshine stand in a Chicago Rooney visited Glasgow in Feb- immigrating to Canada. theatre, fascinated by his father’s ruary, 1996 and, in an interview From the Yule family web site; act, he let out a sneeze. The noise there, encouraged the Scots to make McKell family website; caused a spotlight to find him in the more movies, which would bring in drumbeck.co.uk; Wikipedia; crowd. Not knowing what to do, he substantial external revenues. mickeyrooney.com; and stood up and blew on his tiny toy In 1983, following 60 years as an photobucket.com. The Vital Spark 2007 The Vital Spark 2007 is an interna- ing remote and fragile areas counts on the conference fee, are avail- tional conference about heritage inter- · Voices in Interpretation: lan- able until the end of March. pretation. It will be held in Aviemore, in guages, cultures and communities The Vital Spark is a joint venture the Scottish Highlands, September 30th- · Authenticity and Re-interpreta- between Interpret Scotland, a consor- October 3rd 2007. tion: traditional icons in the 21st tium of Scottish agencies interested in The conference leaders welcome century interpretation, and the Association for proposals for presentations and work- The conference will be a great Heritage Interpretation, the United shops at this exciting event, but the place to showcase recent work or Kingdom body representing the field. It deadline is Friday 9 March 2007. Pro- debate current issues in interpreta- is running as part of Highland 2007, a posals should be based on one or more of tion. For more information, and to year-long celebration of Highland cul- the conference’s four themes: make a proposal for a presentation ture. · The Vital Spark: interpretation as or a workshop, visit the website -Thanks to Betty Westmoreland for the driver for cultural regeneration www.thevitalspark2007.org.uk this information. · Creativity and Innovation: interpret- Early bird bookings, with dis-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A piper was sick of the band abusing him, and decided to start his own. He walked into a music shop, planning to buy the first instruments he saw. “Give me the red saxophone and that !” he said. The assistant replied, “You play the pipes, don’t you?” “That’s right. Why?” “Well, the fire extinguisher I can sell you - but the radiator stays.”

www.memphisscots.com Grace Notes 4 Mar. 2007

Maybe Those Drunk Jokes Aren’t So Funny The BBC reported last month that The report quoted Dr. Nanette behind the figures are real lives that “Men and women in Scotland are twice Milne, Scottish Conservative health have been destroyed and grieving fami- as likely to die an alcohol-related death spokeswoman, as saying, “These lies devastated.” as people in the UK as a whole, Though interventions of according to new research.” various forms aiming at differ- Quoting studies by the Office ent ages and circumstances are for National Statistics, the grim currently available in Scotland, data were staggering: the report indicated that those > Of the 20 areas of highest amongst the younger ages are male alcohol-related death rates, the highest priority. A Glasgow 15 were in Scotland. official stated, “We are placing > The highest death-from-al- as much emphasis [as possible] cohol rate was in Glasgow. upon prevention, to identify and > There was a 72% increase in tackle alcohol problems at an alcohol-related deaths in Scot- early stage.” land from 1995 to 2005. > The overall UK rate for male For more information, check deaths-from-alcohol was out the BBC website for the 17.4%; in Scotland, it was article entitled “Drink kills 39.1%. twice as many Scots” posted > The same statistics for such deaths stark statistics are the most visible February 22, 2007. amongst females were 8.1% & consequence of the damage that 15.7%, respectively. excessive drinking can create - but Seisuin Etiquette

So many of our members are an instrument. Don’t take part shows up with a bodhrán, guitar, pair enjoying attending the seisuins at unless you have attained compe- of spoons, or some other instrument Celtic Crossing every other Tues- tence, unless otherwise invited. chosen because “it’s easy to play.” day, Gavin Anderson thought this Introduce yourself to the other Most often there are more-or-less Wikipedia (the free Internet ency- participants before joining in. recognized session leaders; some- clopedia) article on seisuin (pro- Good session etiquette requires times there are no leaders. At times nounced just like the English word not playing if one does not know a song will be sung or a slow air “session”) etiquette would be of in- the tune, and waiting until a tune played by a single musician between terest: one knows comes along. Every- sets. Celtic traditional music sessions one who is able to play Celtic The objective in a session is not to are mostly-informal gatherings at music is welcome, within limits; provide music for an audience of which people play traditional Celtic this can be problematic when non- passive listeners; although the punt- music. The Gaelic word for “ses- Celtic musicians encounter a ses- ers (non-playing attendees) often sion” is seisuin. The general session sion and imagine that they may come for the express purpose of scheme is that someone starts a “jam” without knowing a single listening, the music is most of all for tune, and those who know it join in. tune or even having a clear idea of the musicians themselves. “Audi- The general rules are fairly simple. what traditional music is, or when ence” requests for a particular song Seisuins are not places for learning some over-enthusiastic neophyte or tune of the players can be (cont. on pg.6)

www.memphisscots.com Grace Notes 5 Mar. 2007 Calendar of Events Mondays 2nd & 4th Friday Robert Hawks on “The Scottish Connection of Knights Templar”. Caledonia Chorale 7:00 p.m.: Scottish Country Dancing. 274-1889 March 17 Church of the Holy Communion, March 4 Walnut Grove at Perkins, 272-7159 Chris Bullock Concert @ Coffee House Concert - Diana for info. Otherlands. See pg 2 for details. Jones and the TN Boltsmokers. Thursdays Holy Communion 7 pm. For details March 25 Wolf River Pipes & Drums, 6:30- see coffeehouseconcerts.org Battlefield Band @ Memphis 9:30 at St. Luke's Lutheran; G'town March 12 College of Art Callicott Audito- Pkwy. 753-9494 for more info. rium. See pg 1 for details. Regular monthly meeting, Holiday Fridays March 29 Inn Express, Poplar @ I-240. Dancing: 7:30 til 10:00 p.m. - Dinner reservations required by Board Meeting at Perkins at Idlewild Pres.; 1750 Union Ave, Thursday, Mar 8th; call 725-1879 or 1340 S.Germantown Rd.5:30 pm. West entrance. online at memphisscots.com. April 6 1st, 3rd & 5th Friday 6:00 pm Dinner & 7:00 pm Program: Contra Dancing. 278-1216. Tartan Day - Wear your tartans!

Scottish/Celtic TV WKNO Channel 10 “Celtic Women: A New Journey” is re-aired Thursday March 1st 8 pm & midnite; Sunday March 4th 10 pm; Wednesday March 7th 9 pm & midnite; Sunday 8 pm and midnite. March 1 | Welsh Momentum singer from Co. Derry and share “Visions of Ireland” airs Sunday Emerging Welsh roots recordings vary her infectious passion for the songs March 4th 2:30 pm & Tuesday from traditional harp music to genre- of her homeland. March 6th 7 pm & mid-nite. bending blends of Latin, funk, and March 22 | Harpers These are both also aired at Afrobeat. Hear established and Hear some of today’s most additional times throughout March. emerging artists including Drymbago, innovative and inspirational Celtic Check the newspaper and web Mim Twm Llai, Gwenan Gibbard, and music on recordings of its most listings for details. Crasdant. ancient instrument. William March 8 | Roots Run Deep Jackson, Wendy Stewart, Maire Scottish/Celtic Musical communities coast-to-coast in Brennan, Grainne Hambly, the United States and Canada show Savourna Stevenson, and Alan RadioMusic their roots with great traditional Stivell all feature in this hour Sundays, 5-6 pm fiddling, expressive singing, and ear- dedicated to the . “The Thistle and Shamrock” catching blends of American and March 29 | Pipers WKNO-FM 91.1 Celtic music. Does any instrument say “Celtic” Saturdays, 10 am -1 pm March 15 | Cara Dillon quite so forcefully as the bag- “Strands of the Celtic Knot” Her voice has mesmerized audiences pipes? Decide for yourself as we Robert Campbell, host in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and explore the distinctive piping WEVL–FM 89.9 North America, and Cara Dillon has voices of Davy Spillane, Iain Sun and Mon, 6 pm and won many accolades for her record- MacInnes, Hamish Moore and Fridays, 7 pm ings, including two prestigious BBC pipers from across the globe. “The Thistle & Shamrock,” Radio 2 Folk Awards. Meet this great WMAV–FM 90.3 Copyright 2006 NPR/Fiona Ritchie

www.memphisscots.com Grace Notes 6 Mar. 2007

(cont. from pg. 4) considered rude. The session is an this shows a lack of taste, discern- Socially, sessions have often been experience that’s shared, not a per- ment, and a distressing pretension, compared to an evening of playing formance that’s bought and sold. marking the singer out as a poseur. card games, where the conversa- Some seisuins have a rule that For the instrumentalist there is no tion and camaraderie are an essen- only Americans should sing Ameri- such restriction. tial component. In many rural com- can songs and so on for the Scots and The sessions are a key aspect of munities, sessions are an integral Irish. Adopting a fake accent (Ameri- traditional music; some say it is the part of community life. can, Irish, Scottish, English, etc.) for main sphere in which the music is the duration of a song is probably the formulated and innovated. Further, -Thanks to Gavin Anderson for this most embarrassing possible mistake the sessions enable less advanced reminder. It doesn’t apply for our for a singer; it is generally felt that musicians to practice in a group. Ceilidh!

Next Monthly Meeting -Mar.12th -Dinner Reservations by 03/08, 725-1879 or online www.memphisscots.com - Holiday Inn , Poplar and I-240; Dinner at 6:00, Program at 7:00. Board Meeting, Thursday, Mar. 29th at 5:30 Perkins @ 1340 S. Germantown Rd.

GRACE NOTES The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. P. O. Box 241934 Memphis, TN 38124-1934

www.memphisscots.com