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ANGUS R. GRANT :: 1967-2016
It was with great sadness that we heard in early October that the wonderful fiddler Angus R. Grant had died after a short illness. Angus tutored for SMG on various occasions over the years, most recently in the 2014-15 session. His classes were the first to sell out, such was the popularity of his fiddle playing and his reputation, and we know that his students have been recalling the memorable tunes he taught them, including some of his own compositions. Angus' impact on Scottish fiddle playing, helping make traditional music more mainstream, cannot be underestimated. His contribution played a role in the upsurge in popularity of Scottish fiddling, helping sustain community organisations such as SMG and our friends at the Scots Fiddle Festival, who see the response from members of the public of all ages keen to learn and continue the tradition in all its forms. We send our sincere condolences to his family, friends and bandmates in Shooglenifty. The band have published a wonderful tribute on their website: http://www.shooglenifty.com/2016/10/angus/
Photo of Angus taken by Douglas Robertson at Boroughmuir HS, June 2015.
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SING SOLO review - Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2016
 Tutor Scott Murray sent us this review and photo of the Sing Solo students who bravely put on their own Fringe show this year - well done all!
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A dozen or so folk in the Sing Solo class, beginning of September 2015. ('I'm only here because the clarsach class is full', said one).
'You all want to sing solo, or you wouldn't be here. What about doing a concert at the Fringe next year? Acoustic Music Centre, back room holds fity, we'll fill it with family, colleagues, friends.'
'Let's do it' was the unanimous response.
So we worked for three terms on preparing one song each. And we laughed a lot too. Some folk who may have liked to sing a dreich ballad agreed to sing a bawdy ditty instead, to help the balance of the programme. Learning the words was only the start and there were helpful suggestions (not just from the tutor, indeed there were occasions when he could hardly get a word in) about pitch, phrasing, dynamics.
After the last term ended we kept meeting. Singing Scots we called the show, Motley Sangsters we called ourselves. The Fringe programme informed folk 'we'll make you cry, one way or the other.'
The concert sold out well in advance. The singers said they felt confident before singing, and appropriately a wee bit nervous, but far from terrified. They put their confidence down to knowing their song really well, and to the support from the folk around them, folk who had become pals over the year. Audience members too felt the support in the room from the singers. And they all said they enjoyed themselves.
Nearly all the singers have signed up again in September 2016, and we have some keen new folk too.
What next?
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