Author Archives: R Johnstone

Launch of Instrumental Music Service e-Book

Comhairle launch of e-Book resource as part of Seachdain na Gàidhlig celebrations

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are delighted to be launching an e-Book resource created by the Instrumental Music Service at a live online event on Friday the 25^th of March at 11am. This can be viewed on the following link:

eBook launch event

The event will be compered by Evelyn Coull-MacLeod and will feature pre-recorded videos and live performances from Willie Campbell and pupils from Laxdale and Stornoway Primary schools.

The Western Isles have a rich cultural heritage, and a wealth of musical talent exists amongst those living in our communities, from the Butt of Lewis right down to Barra, as well as many musicians from the islands now living on the mainland and further afield. A vast amount of musical activity takes place on a daily basis in the Western Isles: music lessons, concerts, sessions, various group rehearsals, choir practices etc. however, when the Coronavirus pandemic struck sadly this came to a halt. Despite this, musicians were still busy at home playing, singing, composing music and writing songs and instrumental lessons for our school pupils have continued online.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar wanted to find a way to share the musical talent of our islanders, keep the music flowing and use it in a positive way to engage & unite our communities to lift our spirits during the difficult times. At the start of the lockdown in 2020, staff from the Instrumental Music Service, through the Education Skills & Children’s Services department, and together with our Multimedia Unit worked on the development of an e-Cèilidh project to meet these aims.

From this evolved e-Cèilidh nan Òg. The response to requests for contributions was so large that the e-Cèilidh nan Òg event was redesigned into six separate events which ran between May and October 2020. The emphasis for e-Cèilidh nan Òg was on inclusiveness, maximising participation, having fun and celebrating our Gaelic language & culture.

Following a successful application to Bord nan Gaidhlig, a funding award was made to the Comhairle to assist with the costs of producing a physical resource & further digital resources as a legacy of the e-Cèilidh nan Òg project. This consisted of music and songs from the e-Cèilidh nan Òg broadcasts together with some of the songs and music commissioned for the Dileab: Air a’ Chuan concert at Celtic Connections in January 2020, which celebrated the cultural theme of Scotland’s Year of Coasts & Waters.

The e-Book contains sheet music and lyrics, suitable for performance by pupils in primary school onwards, and includes melody lines and chord notation allowing for performance on a wide range of instruments, including chanter/bagpipes and both solo and group performance. To accompany the sheet music, further downloadable digital resources have been produced. These consist of tutorial & play-along videos and backing tracks. The inclusion of backing tracks allows for the music to be played or sung solo.

In addition, all the instrumental items have been transposed for B flat & E flat brass & woodwind instruments and a link to these is included at the end of the book.

Information on each item is also included to give users of the e-Book an understanding of the background, cultural, historical and local significance of the material. In addition, cross curricular lesson plans have been produced to allow pupils and teachers to explore themes connected with the music. These lesson plans are available for Early, First & Second Level and will allow for whole class/school topic based mini- projects to be developed to meet areas of CfE.

More information on the e-Cèilidh and e-Cèilidh nan Òg projects, and Dìleab can be found by clicking on the logos or the following links and details of how to access the eBook will be available on the event page and this blog after the event:

e-Cèilidh and e-Cèilidh nan Òg

Dìleab

A’ Chomhairle gu bhith a’ cur air bhog goireas e-leabhair mar phàirt de thachartasan Seachdain na Gàidhlig

Tha Comhairle nan Eilean Siar a’ dèanamh fiughair ri bhith a’ cur air bhog goireas leabhair didseataich a chaidh a dhèanamh le Seirbheis Ciùil Eilean Siar, aig tachartas beò air-loidhne air Dihaoine 25mh Màrt aig 11m. Gheibhear chun an tachartais an seo:

e-Book launch event

’S i Evelyn Coull-NicLeòid a bhios na bean an taighe agus bidh measgachadh ann de cheòl is seinn ga ghabhail beò agus ga chlàradh ro làimh, le Willie Caimbeul agus sgoilearan bho Sgoil Lacasdail agus Bun-sgoil Steòrnabhaigh.

Tha dualchas cultarail beairteach aig na h-Eileanan Siar agus chan eil gainnead de thàlant am measg na tha a’ fuireach anns na coimhearsnachdan againn, eadar Rubha Robhanais agus Barraigh. A bharrachd air sin, tha iomadh neach-ciùil a bhuineas dha na h-Eileanan a-nis a’ fuireach air tìr-mòr no nas fhaide air falbh. Bhiodh pailteas ciùil a’ dol anns na h-Eileanan Siar gach latha: leasanan ciùil, cuirmean-ciùil, seiseanan, còmhlain, còisirean amsaa. Nuair a nochd an Coròna-bhìoras ge-tà, thàinig stad air a h-uile càil a tha seo. A dh’aindeoin sin, tha luchd-ciùil fhathast trang le bhith a’ cluich, a’ seinn agus a’ sgrìobhadh fhuinn agus òrain anns na dachaighean aca agus tha leasanan ciùil airson nan sgoiltean againn air leantainn air-loidhne.

Bha Comhairle nan Eilean Siar airson dòigh a lorg gus na tha de thàlant ceòlmhor am measg nan eileanach againn a thaisbeanadh, airson an ceòl a chumail a’ dol agus ga chleachdadh ann an dòigh a chuidicheadh le bhith a’ brosnachadh agus a’ neartachadh coimhearsnachd agus a bheireadh togail inntinn do dhaoine aig àm duilich. Aig toiseach a’ ghlasaidh-sluaigh ann am 2020, dh’obraich luchd-obrach Seirbheis Ciùil nan Eilean Siar, tro Roinn Foghlam, Sgilean agus Seirbheisean Chloinne agus ann an co-bhonn le Aonad Ioma-mheadhain na Comhairle, ann a bhith a’ leasachadh pròiseact e-Cèilidh gus na h-amasan seo a choileanadh.

Dh’èirich e-Cèilidh nan Òg às à sin. Le meud na bha ag iarraidh a bhith an lùib e-Ceilidh nan Òg, chaidh am pròiseact a leudachadh gu sia tachartasan fa leth a ghabh àite eadar an Cèitean agus an Dàmhair 2020. Bha in-ghabhalachd, a’ leigeil leis a h-uile duine a bha air a shon pàirt a ghabhail, a’ gabhail tlachd agus a’ dèanamh fèill air cànan agus cultar na Gàidhlig, aig cridhe e-Cèilidh nan Òg.

Tro iarrtas soirbheachail gu Bòrd na Gàidhlig, fhuair a’ Chomhairle maoineachadh a chuidich le bhith a’ cruthachadh goireas fiosaigich cho math ri barrachd ghoireasan didseatach mar dhìleab air pròiseact e-Cèilidh nan Òg. Mar phàirt dheth, tha craolaidhean e-Cèilidh nan Òg cho math ri cuid de na h-òrain agus an ceòl a chaidh a sgrìobhadh airson cuirm Dìleab: Air a’ Chuan aig Celtic Connections anns an Fhaoilleach 2020, a bha a’ comharrachadh bliadhna Chladaichean is Uisgeachan na h-Alba.

Anns an e-leabhar, a tha freagarrach do sgoilearan bun-sgoile agus nas sine, gheibhear fuinn le ceòl sgrìobhte, facail nan òran agus còrdan. Mar sin, gabhaidh an cluich air farsaingeachd de dh’ionnsramaidean, nam measg am feadan agus a’ phìob-mhòr, agus bidh e comasach an cluich mar chòmhlan no mar neach-ciùil leat fhèin. Chaidh goireasan didseatach eile a leasachadh a chumas taic ris a’ cheòl sgrìobhte agus a ghabhas luchdachadh a-nuas. Tha seiseanan-oideachaidh ann, bhideothan leis an urrainn dhut cluich aig an aon àm agus cùl-cheòl ma tha thu airson cluich no seinn leat fhèin ach le taic ciùil eile.

Gheibhear barrachd fiosrachaidh mu phròiseactan e-Cèilidh agus e-Cèilidh nan Òg agus Dìleab tro na ceanglaichean a leanas:

e-Cèilidh agus e-Cèilidh nan Òg

Dìleab

Piping across the isles

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After a difficult year cause by the Covid-19 pandemic meaning that pipers were unable to perform it is fantastic to hear the skirl of the pipes once more. As restrictions are gradually eased with the Western Isles being placed in level one, pupils have been able to receive live lessons in schools on chanters and bagpipes again rather than e-Chanters.

Another benefit to the easing of restrictions has meant that pipers have been able to meet, rehearse and play in groups outdoors, subject to social distancing and other safety mitigations.

Here’s a round up of what the pipers have been up to recently.

Lewis & Harris Youth Pipe Band

On Saturday the 21^st of May the Lewis and Harris Youth Pipe Band finally managed to get back to practice in person, for the first time in 14 months, on the Lews Castle Green . Since the pandemic hit they have had online weekly lessons with Piping Instructors Ashley MacDonald and Anna Murray as well as David MacLennan, in order to keep the players going. They are delighted to be back, although socially distant from each other following the Scottish Government advise. The other major milestone for LHYPB was to meet the new drummers along with Eilidh Young, the Comhairle’s apprentice Drumming Instructor in partnership with the Lewis and Harris Youth Pipe Band. Since Eilidh started in January she has also taught the young drummers online.

Members of the public have said how happy it made them feel to hear the youth pipe band and that they could also be heard from Stornoway Town Centre. The youth pipe band hope to be able to go on parade through Stornoway Town this summer when more restrictions ease. Keep an eye out on their own Facebook page for any other updates. In the meantime have a look at the video from their rehearsal on the link below:

Lewis & Harris Youth Pipe Band – Lews Castle Green 28 May 2021

Connecting schools with music and Gaelic

The photograph shows Alysaa MacLeod from Sgoil Breasclete and Lena MacKenzie from Leverhulme Memorial school, both age 11. They have started to meet each other once a month online to receive their chanter lesson together.

Piping Instructor Ashley MacDonald has arranged this to encourage them both. Currently Alyssa is the only pupil in Sgoil Breasclete taking chanter lessons. Ashley said “It’s really great to see the girls together, normally you wouldn’t meet other pupils from other schools unless there was an event that they were attending, so this way they both get to hear each other and give each other company too. Perhaps it might ignite a bit of friendly competition between them. Both pupils are in Gàidhlig Medium and as well as teaching them in Gàidhlig I have set some time after the lesson for them to get to know each other a bit more and for them to engage in some Gàidhlig conversation. Both girls are doing very well and are just finishing off their tune before starting the next one together. They both are huge crofting fans as well, so their conversation consists of, chanter/piping and crofting which I think is fantastic as that is part of our culture here on the Islands, Gàidhlig, Music and crofting.”

We look forward to hearing how the girls progress with chanter and their new friendship.

Barra pipers play for an 80th birthday ceilidh

It was wonderful to see and hear the Fèis Barra and Castlebay Community School pipers playing together to wish Domhnall Padraig Nicholson, who was the school’s volunteer piping tutor for many years, a happy birthday.

Domhnall Padraig celebrated his 80th birthday on Wednesday 19th May, so to mark the occasion his pipers, under the tuition of Domhnall ‘Ban’ and Esther MacDonald, played a few tunes outside Castlebay School. It was uplifting to hear the pipes again!

Pupils from P6- S6 performed, including Domhnall Eachann Maclean, primary 6, who is the grandson of Domhnall Padruig.

You can watch a video of the pipers performance here: 80th Birthday Ceilidh

News stories – 20th May 2021

Here’s a round up of what has been taking place recently and what’s coming up.

Lewis & Harris provincial Mòds

Both the Lewis & Harris provincial Mòds are taking place online this year and we hope that many of the pupils who have been working with the Instrumental Music Teachers during this year will contribute to these events.

Strings news

String pupils from primary & secondary schools in Lewis & Harris recently took part in a collaborative project with string pupils from North Ayrshire Instrumental Music Service. During the months of February & March the pupils rehearsed together online once a week, with senior pupils receiving online workshops with musicians from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, with the project culminated in the recording of 6 pieces.

The first of these videos (Mrs MacLeod of Raasay) can be viewed below and the remainder will be available shortly on this blog and via our social media channels.

Brass & wind

Two wind and brass pupils, Elizabeth and Francesca Greenstock, achieved places with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland Junior Orchestra. One current student and two former students have applied to join the reserve band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland. The Lewis and Harris Youth Concert Band (LHYCB) achieved a Gold award in the finals of the Scottish Concert Band Festival with a video compilation of Neil Johnstone’s march ‘Colin Scott Mackenzie of Stornoway’. The bands entry into the festival can be viewed below

LHYCB have been asked to collaborate on a joint performance of a new commission with Eccleshall Band (Shropshire) to celebrate the ending of lockdown. The lockdown activities of LHYCB are to be featured in an article by ‘The British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles’-https://www.basbwe.net/

General

Instrumental Music Service staff, along with the Comhairle’s Multimedia Unit, have been working together to produce a legacy resource from the successful e-Ceilidh events which ran during lockdown and beyond in 2020. The eBook is nearing completion and we hope to be able to launch this early in the next school session – keep your eyes peeled for more information nearer the time.

Two of our Instrumental Music Teachers, Gavin Woods & Anna Murray, represented Comhairle nan Eilean Siar at the Gallipoli commemorations on the Monday the 27th of April.

Gavin noted the following : “In attendance was Colin Scott Mackenzie whose father was trumpeter with the RMB battery band during the first world war. The regiment was based at the Drill Hall in Stornoway and it is interesting to note that Colin’s father may well have sounded the last post from exactly the same spot as I did. The regiment fought at Gallipoli and were the first TA regiment ashore and indeed the first artillery regiment to reach the beaches.

The memorial in the background commemorates the regiment whose full title was The Ross and Cromarty Mountain Battery. The battery not only had the first regimental brass band in Scotland but also a mounted pipe band.”

Anna played the newly discovered tune ‘Graves of Gallipoli’ which was written during the war and was arranged by Avril Allen, PT Music at The Nicolson Institute.

Balivanich Primary School’s “ABC” Band enters world’s biggest school pipe band online event

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The Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT) support Piping in schools throughout Scotland with help towards tuition costs, loans of instruments, grants to help purchase equipment etc. Their slogan reads “Every School Needs a Pipe Band”. Due to Covid restrictions their annual schools’ championship is being held this year as an on-line event. For the first time ever, this freestyle competition is open to primary schools.

Pictured below are the six members of the newly formed Balivanich Primary Freestyle Band. They are all pupils of the P6/P7 Gaelic Medium Class.

L to R: Seonaidh MacInnes (e-Chanter), Neil MacRury (e-Chanter), Catriona Beaton – Drums, Anna MacDonald (e -Chanter & piano), Joseph Hamilton (Vocals), Clover MacRury (Fiddle)

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Instrumental Music Service Piping teacher Esther MacDonald recently encouraged pupils at Sgoil Bhaile a’ Mhanaich to form a small band and to submit an entry.

The timescale has been very short, and with Covid restrictions on singing, and the playing of wind instruments in schools, combined with all instrumental music tuition being delivered online since Christmas, it has been an extra challenge to get a performance together.

Fiona MacInnes, Principal Teacher at Balivanich School, commented: “We would firstly like to thank Mrs Esther MacDonald (Piping teacher) for instilling her vision and encouraging self-belief in our pupils. During what has been a difficult time for many, our ABC Band have been motivated and encouraged to excel themselves in their chosen discipline. They have willingly rehearsed together during play and lunch times and have also convened through Teams in the evenings for some extra practices. This was made possible by the fact that all members of the band are part of the same school ‘bubble’.

We feel that our ABC Band’s competition entry conveys the resilience, teamwork and perseverance which our pupils have shown throughout the past few weeks, whilst celebrating our unique cultural heritage. Judging will commence on Saturday 27th March at 7pm and we do hope that our School Community – near and far – will support our band by taking part in the People’s Choice vote on Sunday 28th March.”

The pupils themselves have had a great buzz out of it all – it has certainly brightened up the school day a touch over the last few weeks. Comments from band members include:

“It’s the first time I’ve done anything like this – I have been playing the chanter for two and a half years but I have never joined with other instruments”

“I feel amazing to be in the band – it’s good to play music with my classmates and I’m excited about it all”

“I’m really enjoying it, and it’s much more interesting to play with others instead of just on my own.”

“It’s a really good opportunity and it makes me want to practice”

“I love the music and it’s a surprise to be in a band”

“This is my first time playing with others – it’s new and it’s fun”

Balivanich School and Parent Council have been very supportive, and local businesses have assisted with the purchase of e-Chanters for tuition in Western Isles schools during Covid restrictions. MacInnes Bros. Builders assisted with the purchase of t-shirts for the new band and its members. Special thanks must go to Culla Creations for the fabulous job they made of filming the entry – thanks Matt!

The pupils in the band have benefitted from tuition provided by the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Instrumental Music Service through the Youth Music Initiative (YMI). This funding is awarded annually to local authorities across Scotland with one of the main aims being to allow all school pupils access to a year’s free music tuition before the end of primary school.

The tunes in the set the band have recorded are – The Dark Island, Kalabaken, and Donald MacLean’s Farewell to Oban. The performance is called “An t-Eilean Dorcha”

Shortlisted films will be broadcast on the “Pipe Bands for Schools” Facebook page, with the Sgoil Baile a’ Mhanaich ABC band performance scheduled for 7pm on Saturday 27^th March. This can be viewed on the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/Piping4Pupils

Voting for the people’s choice section takes place on Sunday 28th March between 12 noon and 5pm, again via the Pipe Bands for Schools Facebook page, with the full results being announced at 7pm the same day.

Sgoil Bhaile a’ Mhanaich are the only school in the Western Isles entered this year, so please do support them and give them your vote!

Best of luck to all who participated.

More information about the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust can be found on their website:

https://sspdt.org.uk/

Lewis & Harris Youth Concert Band broadcast

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The 34 strong Lewis and Harris Youth Concert Band were absolutely thrilled to be broadcast on the council’s Facebook page on Saturday the 20th of March 2021. The film which was aired was produced by the band to record their 2020 Scottish Concert Band Festival Finals Programme. The Scottish Concert Band Festival https://www.scottishconcertbandfestival.com, which is one of the highlights of the band’s year and attended by over 2000 youngsters from all over Scotland, was cancelled at the last minute due to the pandemic.