A Conversation for Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Peer Review: A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 1

Cosmic

Entry: Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit - A43480
Author: Cosmic - U33715

My first article. It has been through the alternative writing workshop already since I thought it might be classed as "unbalanced". They advice I got there seemed to suggest that it was OK so here it is. I hope folk like it!


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 2

Stuart

Hi Cosmic,

Nice article. I agree with everything you say. Sadly I dont think it will make the EG as it is a bit of a rant, even if I do agree with it.

You might like to post it in your Journal in your personal space and then everyone coming to your space will get to read it.

BTW: I think Amazing Grace only became associated with Scotland when it was recorded by the Pipe Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in 1972. I still have a 45 rpm recording of it somewhere. Very nice but hardly traditional.

Best wishes

Stuart


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 3

Cosmic

No bother - I though it might be worth a try. I'll write something a bit less spleen-venting next time!

Slainte

Cosmicsmiley - cheers


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 4

Zarquon's Singing Fish!

Actually, take a bit of the spleen-venting out (not a lot!), add in a bit more about 'real' Scottish music - are you thinking of stuff like the Stewarts of Blairgowrie and the like? and this could be a very nice entry.

Stick with it.smiley - smiley Add some links.

smiley - fishsmiley - musicalnote


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 5

LL Waz

I truly only see two lines in this which are 'rantish'; 'The message from this soap-box, spleen-venting tirade is that there is an alternative.' and 'For guidness sake try to help us do something to repair the damage.'

Some supporting evidence, like examples of 'traditional' scots music that came out of the music halls would speak for themselves, and would be interesting, to me anyway smiley - smiley.

Waz (humming 'I belaanng t' Glasgieee...')


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 6

LL Waz

PS neat title!


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 7

Zarquon's Singing Fish!

Music hall occurred to me as well Wazungu. I'm glad you mentioned it! *Thinks* - 'Donald, Where's your trousers?', although not strictly music hall, which lots of people would associate with Scotland is probably not traditional. smiley - whistle

smiley - fishsmiley - musicalnote


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 8

LL Waz

I was brought up with Kenneth MacKellar (spelling?) and Will Fyfe(ditto spelling?) records. Will Fyfe seems pure music hall to me but I can't remember the other songs on the record.


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 9

Cosmic

You're right, "Donald where's your troosers?" is a little young to be music hall but is definitely from that line. Andy Stewart sang it and as far as I know he wrote it as well (tho' don't quote me on that). He was in a program called "The White Heather Club" which was supposed to be Scottish culture but really just strengthened the myth (see my article!). Interestingly enough, Andy Stewart was not a professional singer - he was an actor in need of a job...

Slainte

Cosmic


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 10

Cosmic

Kenneth MacKellar is definitely music hall (didn't he win the Eurovision Song Contest?). Will Fyffe, Harry Lauder, these guys are along similar lines. Sorry to demolish anyone' illusions!

Incidently, if you want a dorway into some good Scottish music web site, check out the links in my Folk Club website (http://www.see.ed.ac.uk/~afm/music/club/) . I'm rather proud of them!

Slainte

Cosmic


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 11

Cosmic

Stewarts of Blairgowrie definitely - highly respected. Margaret Stewart has released two lovely albums with a piper called Alan MacDonald. Sheila Stewart has a voice with you either love or hate. She can be heard on a fabulous live CD called "Scot's Women". Check out the Greentrax Records Web site if you want more info (http://www.greentrax.com/).

Slainte

Paul


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 12

sprout

Just adding my voice to the 'no reason why this shouldn't be a guide entry with a bit of toning down and some more descriptive material' club.

I think it's well written.

Sprout


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 13

Cosmic

Thanks to you all for the advice so far. I'll do everything I can to take it! Keep it coming!

Slainte

Cosmic


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 14

McKay The Disorganised

I was wandering round one of those emporia that sell solely to tourists, somewhere near Dundee - I forget where - They were playing a video tape of some guy singing "Scottish Ballads."


I was struck dumb, I brought my children in to watch it. It featured a guy in a kilt, with a wig, standing on a hill with his foot on a rock singing, or with his arm round some petrified child, or sat in a pub with an accordian player, there was not a cliche missed. I wish I'd bought it, the look he gets from a sheep as he strides past was worth the price alone.

Billy Connelly does a song about his days as a folk singer, "3 sweaters with their fingers in their ears," "Jimmy will ye gi us 10 guitars." Which of themselves perpetuate the myths, and help keep Folk a minority music choice.

I think this needs a bit more bulk, some examples of scottish performers, (not Marti Pello), possibly a tip of the hat to some tradional songs like Glencoe.

smiley - cheers


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 15

Cosmic

Precisely what I'm on about!

Yes I'm in the process of bulking it out. Whatch this space.

Slainte

Cosmic


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 16

Cosmic

That's the article bulked out and made a bit more positive. Comments please?!

Slainte

Cosmic


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 17

Cosmic

Interestingly enough, I've just found out that "Glencoe" is not traditional. Sonething I'd only ever suspected! Check out the link with the horrible MIDI file!

http://www.contemplator.com/folk3/glen_coe.html

Slainte

Cosmic


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 18

McKay The Disorganised

Thats better - smiley - ok

Probably one of the better known Scottish acts in England are The Corries - smiley - erm this could give a name that people can relate to in relation to your descriptions.

Do you think its worth sticking the blame squarely on DeLaMare and his "Rob Roy" Scotland of clans, kilts, tartans, beards, and heather ?


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 19

Cosmic

True - the Corries were a good Folk act but they are no longer in existance. They are also responsible for "Flower of Scotland" which I've been very careful not to mention in my article but is a real bone of contention for me. It's all very well having a song about how nice Scotland is - there are many, but having a jingoistic song about a long past war with Scotland's nearest neighbour is a nonsense as far as I'm concerned. I like they English, many of my closest friends are English and they are very welcome here in Scotland just like everyone else. I have no desire to send them homeward to think again!

Sorry about that. You are right tho'. Without the Corries there would very likely be little interest in Scottish music today.

Some blame is definitely due to the recent Scottish movies. In actual fact, I have less of a problem with Rob Roy than I do with Braveheart. Both of them are good movies but they are movies nevertheless. The fact that these people existed is true but the stories are sveverely souped up to make good viewing!

Thanks for all the advice - keep it coming!

Slainte

Paul

smiley - cheers


A43480 - Scottish Music - "Loch Lomond" is Not the Only Fruit

Post 20

Stuart

Excellant. This is definately heading for the Edited Guide now. Some very good links for anyone interested in Folk Misic.

As an aside, if you play melody of Amazing Grace and The Skye Boat Song on a keyboard they both use the same notes. Not necessarily in the same order, but the same few notes.

Stuart


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