Dol Fodha Na Grèine – The notes!
A’ Charaidean, Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the premier of Dol Fodha Na Grèine (Gaelic for Sunset), a piece of music I brought together to celebrate 30 years of Aly Bain’s monumental album Follow The Moonstone. My name is Simon Thoumire and I always loved that album and when I found out that 2025 was its 30th anniversary I hatched a plan to make this new piece of music. With thanks to Creative Scotland, Celtic Connections, Vaughan Williams Foundation and the Hope Scott Trust we are here tonight!
We do not have a lot of time so talking will be kept to a minimum so I wanted to tell you that this suite is in 3 sections – Alba / Scotland, Uibhist a Deas / South Uist and ceòl ùr / contemporary. Each section has between 4 or 5 pieces of music in it. When bringing this together I was very aware of the male dominance of composers in our tradition over the last few hundred years so I have tried hard to balance this out and you will hear a selection of new and old pieces written by men and women. It has been great fun bringing it all together and I would like you to give your thanks to the musicians who will perform it for you tonight. On piano Dave Milligan, on pipes and flute Alana NicAonghais, V3rsus String quintet featuring Seonaid Aitken, Patsy Reid, Kristan Harvey, Alice Allen and David Bowden.
ALBA
Strong Tea by Angus Fitchet
A strathspey that I found written by one of the most celebrated Scottish country dance musicians in the country, Dundee-born fiddler, bandleader Angus Fitchet (1910-1998). Read about him here https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame/angus-fitchet-1910-1998/
Carnegie Halls / Miss Clara Griffin’s
Carnegie Halls was written by piper and artist Mairearad Green as part of her Passing Places composition and Miss Clara Griffin’s was written by Alana NicAonghais.
Cluny Castle
Cluny Castle was composed by Alexander Troup of Crathie and Ballater, born at Dalbadgie, in the vicinity of Ballater, in September, 1835. It first appears in Scottish fiddler-composer James Scott Skinner (1843-1927) collection Harp and Claymore which was published in 1904. The soloist on this piece is Patsy Reid and she first performed CLUNY CASTLE as part of my fiddle concerto back in 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsNnrP_ni7U
Miss Farquharson of Invercauld’s Reel / Miss Jessy Dalrymple’s Reel
Robert “MackIntosh “Red Rob” was born in Tulliemet, Perthshire c.1745 and has long been recognised as one of our foremost composers of Scottish dance music.These are two tunes I found in the Highland Music Trust’s The Mackintosh Collections. Robert must have been an amazing fiddler to get his fingers around these tunes!
UIBHIST A DHEAS
Gille beag ò, leanabh lag ò
I was very lucky to get access to a first edition of Margaret Fay Shaw’s Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist and I spent a very happy week in South Uist pouring over the many amazing songs in the book. I discovered this short lullaby where mention is made of a small, weak boy who was working with sheep. It’s a cheery little song and I think shows the love a mother has for her wee baby or young child. Listen to the original recording https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/42313?l=en
Mrs Catriona MacRury’s
This beautiful air was written by Alana NicAonghais and features Alana on pipes playing alongside the strings.
M’iteagan Is M’eoin Is M’uighean
The text of this little song begins: “My little feathers, my birds, and my eggs / My breeding cattle beside my house.” I love the fun in this original recording with Peggy MacIsaac from Eriskay singing and her friends all laughing. I’ve tried to emulate this in our performance tonight. Listen to the original recording https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/26780?l=en
Mo Ghaol an Tè Nach Dìobair Mi
This is a beautiful love song where the bard promises to support the girl he loves and clear her name. Listen to this brilliant recording from Mary MacRae https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/26789?l=gd
South Uist Golf Club / Alana’s Waltz
This is one of the most famous tunes mentioning the name South Uist. This famous strathspey was written by Lachlan Bàn MacCormick (1859–1951), a native of Creagorry, Benbecula. The golf club it refers to is Askernish Golf Course. The second tune you will hear is Alana’s Waltz written by Simon Thoumire.
CEÒL ÙR
Insanity Train
Insanity train was written by Dave Milligan and is for his daughter Ella’s Polar Academy training journey over the last year.
Designation Pending
This tune was written by Simon for a large piece based on the reel The Merry Lads of Ayr written for McFall’s Chamber and performed at Distil Showcase in Stirling.
Mouse in the Mandolin
Mouse in the mandolin was written by Dave Milligan for a mouse he literally found hiding in his mandolin…
Ian on the left, Simon on the right
This tune was written by Simon Thoumire and Alana MacInnes. The Ian is one of the world’s best guitarists Ian Carr and Simon named it so they could remember where they sit on stage!
All tunes arranged by Simon Thoumire apart from Insanity Train and Mouse in the Mandolin. All strings arranged by Seonaid Aitken apart from Cluny Castle and Designation Pending which are arranged by Simon Thoumire and Seonaid Aitken.
