Orkney has been mentioned on one or two threads recently. This had me wondering - What's the music like up there? Are there traditional local styles or tunes? Were these ever shared with Shetland, or are the Orkney and Shetland traditions sharply distinct? And what else is heard there - C&W, classical, pop, whatever?
Go.
It's a grear place to visit, if nothing else. Although overshadowed by its northern neighbour, the tradition is vibrant there. I'm not sure if there is a large canon of indigenous tunes though, as there is in Shetland.
There was a sevicemens' song, from the troops posted there in the war, which I remember people singing in my early days round the folk clubs ; "Bloody Orkney". Rather as today the 'F' word often peppers some peoples' conversation, this used the 'B' word as every adjective.
I guess the pleasures of the islands were not apparent to the troops stationed there !
From my own pitiful CD and download collection, I'd recommend anything from Hullion and associated musicians for a look at the traditional side of things, and saltfishforty, Wrigley sisters, Lazy Boy Chair and anything Kris Drever's involved in to see what the younger ones are up to, they all have websites you can find on Google.
but I can only think of a couple of session tunes played down here that are named as Orkney tunes, one is called the Old Polka or something like that
the traditional music scene here is extremely vibrant. we don't really have that immediately obvious style, as shetland does; its more of a melting pot. there are however, plenty of old tunes, some of them fantastic, such as 'orcadia' by gordon harvey, or 'the wan legged yow' by tommy mainland.
there's not such an immediately apparent song tradition, although just the other day my mum gave me a book she found in my old bedroom called orkney songs tunes and verse. it looks more like a pamphlet than book, home produced, possibly just photocopied, but it has a lot of interesting stuff in it. it was put together by ivan drever, whose early recordings are a good introduction to what's going on here now.
your question actually could not have been timed better though, as a CD called 'orkney folk' was released to commemorate the 25th folk fest. it features all of the artists mmentioned by bren, along with ivan drever and a good few others. you can buy the cd here -
also launched at the weekend, was a book of orkney tunes by fiona driver. she has also included a couple of tunes each of around 15 other musicians currently living and playing in orkney. you can buy the book here -
the standard of musicianship is very high here, and is only improving. there is a huge movement called the orkney traditional music project who teach large numbers of youngsters every saturday.. elsewhere the wrigley sisters have a centre of music right in the middle of kirkwall which incorporates a shop, cafe, sessions (trad, jazz,blues, and a wed night 'teen session') and lessons. in the schools, douglas montgomery is an inspiration to the next generation of fiddlers. we have a handful of great festivals - as mentioned, the folk festival, the saint magnus festival, north ronaldsay festival. and to top it off there are a number of regular sessions (or tunes as we call them) throughout the islands.
btw, the festival has been great.. i haven't sobered up yet - going back to stromness this evening to pick up the car
Orkney: What's the music like there?
Orkney: What's the music like there?
Orkney has been mentioned on one or two threads recently. This had me wondering - What's the music like up there? Are there traditional local styles or tunes? Were these ever shared with Shetland, or are the Orkney and Shetland traditions sharply distinct? And what else is heard there - C&W, classical, pop, whatever?
Just curiosity...
# Posted on May 28th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Orkney: What's the music like there?
all of the above
maybe you'll get some better answers tomorrow when the folk festival goers have sobered up
# Posted on May 28th 2007 by Bren
Re: Orkney: What's the music like there?
Lots of fiddles and accordions.
# Posted on May 28th 2007 by Kenny
Re: Orkney: What's the music like there?
Go.
It's a grear place to visit, if nothing else. Although overshadowed by its northern neighbour, the tradition is vibrant there. I'm not sure if there is a large canon of indigenous tunes though, as there is in Shetland.
# Posted on May 28th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Orkney: What's the music like there?
There's a large cannon here Danny: http://www.orkneypics.com/webpage/thumb/150/t150438.jpg
not sure if it's loaded with indigenous tunes though.
The current output of Orkney musicians is prodigious.
# Posted on May 28th 2007 by Bren
Re: Orkney: What's the music like there?
There was a sevicemens' song, from the troops posted there in the war, which I remember people singing in my early days round the folk clubs ; "Bloody Orkney". Rather as today the 'F' word often peppers some peoples' conversation, this used the 'B' word as every adjective.
I guess the pleasures of the islands were not apparent to the troops stationed there !
# Posted on May 28th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Orkney: What's the music like there?
From my own pitiful CD and download collection, I'd recommend anything from Hullion and associated musicians for a look at the traditional side of things, and saltfishforty, Wrigley sisters, Lazy Boy Chair and anything Kris Drever's involved in to see what the younger ones are up to, they all have websites you can find on Google.
but I can only think of a couple of session tunes played down here that are named as Orkney tunes, one is called the Old Polka or something like that
# Posted on May 28th 2007 by Bren
Re: Orkney: What's the music like there?
the traditional music scene here is extremely vibrant. we don't really have that immediately obvious style, as shetland does; its more of a melting pot. there are however, plenty of old tunes, some of them fantastic, such as 'orcadia' by gordon harvey, or 'the wan legged yow' by tommy mainland.
there's not such an immediately apparent song tradition, although just the other day my mum gave me a book she found in my old bedroom called orkney songs tunes and verse. it looks more like a pamphlet than book, home produced, possibly just photocopied, but it has a lot of interesting stuff in it. it was put together by ivan drever, whose early recordings are a good introduction to what's going on here now.
your question actually could not have been timed better though, as a CD called 'orkney folk' was released to commemorate the 25th folk fest. it features all of the artists mmentioned by bren, along with ivan drever and a good few others. you can buy the cd here -
http://www.footstompin.com/music/compilation/orkney_folk
also launched at the weekend, was a book of orkney tunes by fiona driver. she has also included a couple of tunes each of around 15 other musicians currently living and playing in orkney. you can buy the book here -
http://www.fionadriver.co.uk/
the standard of musicianship is very high here, and is only improving. there is a huge movement called the orkney traditional music project who teach large numbers of youngsters every saturday.. elsewhere the wrigley sisters have a centre of music right in the middle of kirkwall which incorporates a shop, cafe, sessions (trad, jazz,blues, and a wed night 'teen session') and lessons. in the schools, douglas montgomery is an inspiration to the next generation of fiddlers. we have a handful of great festivals - as mentioned, the folk festival, the saint magnus festival, north ronaldsay festival. and to top it off there are a number of regular sessions (or tunes as we call them) throughout the islands.
btw, the festival has been great.. i haven't sobered up yet - going back to stromness this evening to pick up the car
# Posted on May 28th 2007 by saltybrian
Re: Orkney: What's the music like there?
Watch and listen to Jennifer and Hazel Wrigley:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lltO52TBvSw
http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/kc_video_dyn.cfm?encoded=http://play.rbn.com/?url=kennedy/kennedyg2/g2demand/05122002_1800_MSN.rm&proto=rtsp&header_image=header_mil_video.gif
# Posted on May 28th 2007 by slainte