Articles About The Taransay Event
02/07/2002
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Taransay reels again as fiddlers take up residence
The Hebridean Island which was home to BBC television's Castaway 2000 is being invaded again - this time by folk from much nearer home.
From July 15-19th Taransay will be home to fiddlers from Lewis and Harris - Fidhleirean Eilean an Fhraoich - who will host a week of top class fiddle tuition.
Leading the tutors will be the world famous Cape Bretoner Buddy MacMaster - uncle of the equally well known Natalie. Buddy will be supported by Allan Henderson of Blazin' Fiddles, Alasdair Whyte of Battlefield Band, and Glenfiddich Fiddle Champion, Patsy Reid.
Organiser Dolan Morrison said: "It is very fitting that Buddy should be teaching his Gaelic based style back in the heart of Gaeldom which his ancestors left nearly 200 years ago at the time of the clearances.
"The beautiful island will resound once again to driving strathspeys and reels and students will enjoy the modernised accommodation left behind by the Castaways."
Fiddlers of all ages from the Hebrides will be joined by students from Scotland, England and Ireland and as far afield as Australia.
When they're not playing fiddle and ceilidhing the nights away, the participants will have opportunities to learn Gaelic conversation; pick up stepdancing from Alison MacLeod of the Scottish Stepdance Company; play shinty on the machair; explore the island; and learn its history from Harris based genealogists Bill and Chris Lawson.
To finish off the week, the whole group will lead a Friday night public ceilidh/dance in Tarbert Hall back on mainland Harris where more fun will be had to the wee sma hours.
The tuition programme has received support from Western Isles Enterprise and the EU-funded Community Economic Development programme.
Vol 7, Issue 8 September 2002
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From
our foreign correspondent, Lisa Christensen. For
those who don't know her, Lisa was a member of the club until a couple
of years ago, was a soloist on the first CD, designed the covers for both
CD's and is also a very talented tune writer. She is currently travelling
in the UK. She sent this:
Taransey, a little island within the outer Hebridean group of islands was home to a 'big' fiddle summer school held in June this year. I first found out about it from Melinda who urged and coaxed me to come along, saying it would be the highlight of my trip o/s. And indeed it has been to date (along with a few other things of course)
Due to commitments back home I left on the Sunday afternoon and after non stop travel, except for a good nights sleep in Edinburgh, I arrived on Tuesday night to a most beautiful, remote and untouched place. Awaiting me was 3 days of fun, fiddling and frolicking. Days consisted mainly of learning tunes by ear from 4 different tutors - Buddy McMaster, Alasdair Whyte, Iain Henderson and Patsy Reid. Nights consisted of much drinking, playing and dancing. Sleep was negligible. We had fantastic weather although the nights were cool, the sun dropped over the horizon for only a couple of hours a night, the sky barely going dark.
Some of the many highlights included a walk to the top of a hill - the solitude and peacefulness, overwhelming. It was beautiful to look out at every angle and see and ancient and unspoilt landscape with no sign of life except a few sheep and tiny antlike fiddle players below.
Another highlight was Patsy's rhythm workshop where all attempted to learn unusual percussive type rhythms. It had us all in stitches as we sounded like a complete set of cats scratching and whining at each other.
The memories and experiences are all too many to recall right here right now but one thing is for sure, I had an absolute ball. Thanks to all who helped make it happen especially Dolan, Woodie, Willie and Kenny.
Lisa
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