Performed by: Laura Penman (clàrsach) and Anna Robertson (fiddle)
Film by: Martin Forry
I wrote this three-movement ceilidh inspired by a haiku written by award-winning musician Josie Duncan when she lost her sunglasses at Tinto Summer School. While the poem began as a playful lament for missing eyewear, its beautiful lines speak to so much more – the ways we see through each other’s perspectives, the moments we share together, and how essential our connections are to bringing light into our lives.
In true ceilidh spirit, this piece celebrates both the individual and the collective – the joy of taking your turn, the generosity of listening, and the magic that happens when voices unite in shared purpose.
Choimhead mi tro do shùilean, mionaidean air an co-roinn fon ghrèin, Gun solas às d’ aonais.
(I looked through your eyes, / moments shared beneath the sun, / no light without you.)
The piece unfolds in three sections that mirror the haiku’s structure:
I. Choimhead mi tro do shùilean (I looked through your eyes)
An opening that establishes the intimate connection between the two instruments, inviting us into a dialogue of shared vision.
II. Mionaidean air an co-roinn fon ghrèin (Moments shared beneath the sun)
The heart of the ceilidh, where fiddle and clàrsach each take their turn to shine before reuniting. Anna performs the traditional reels Cailleach liath Ratharsair (The old grey wife of Raasay) and Donull Rover from The Eliza Ross Collection followed by Laura playing Robert Mackintosh’s Miss Ann Monro. These individual “moments” celebrate the unique voice each musician brings, before they come together in Josie Duncan à Leòdhas, a newly composed air dedicated to the poet herself.
III. Gun solas às d’ aonais (No light without you)
A closing movement that honours the essential nature of connection and community, bringing the musical conversation to its heartfelt conclusion.
Composition by Simon Thoumire (PRS / MCPS) Performed by Laura Penman and Anna Robertson
I’m delighted to announce that my new commission Dà Chòmhlan-Ciùil De Cheathrar (Twa Quartets) will receive its premiere at a special Lunchbreak Concert in Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen, on Thursday 9 April as a teaser for the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention.
This piece has been an exciting creative challenge – it’s the first composition written specifically for two live quartets performing together on stage: a classical string quartet alongside a folk quartet. The work explores what happens when these two distinct musical traditions meet in real time, creating a sound world shaped by contrast, dialogue and connection.
The concert is part of the build-up to NAFCo 2026, as the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention celebrates its 25th anniversary in its home city of Aberdeen this June. I’m honoured to have been commissioned to create something that reflects NAFCo’s core values of cultural exchange and creative collaboration.
The piece will be brought to life by talented young musicians from across Scotland – a fitting tribute to a festival that has always championed emerging talent alongside established artists.
Details:
Date: Thursday 9 April 2026, 12.45pm–1.30pm
Venue: Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen Art Gallery
Admission: Pay what you can
If you’re in Aberdeen, come along for a taste of what promises to be a very special anniversary festival.
Many of the pieces on this album were originally written as part of The Scots Fiddle Collection, which was comissioned by Creative Scotland and premiered at the Scots Fiddle Festival in 2007. That project’s primary vision was to showcase the exceptional virtuosity and artistry of Scotland’s traditional musicians to a global audience, highlighting their technical mastery and interpretative depth that often goes unrecognised beyond traditional music circles. Following in the footsteps of composers like Bartók, Mahler, Dvořák, Kodály, and Beethoven – who drew upon their respective folk traditions – these works expand traditional Scottish dance music beyond its conventional 32-bar structure. The compositions take ancient Scottish tunes as their foundation and develop them into comtemporary concert works, creating a bridge between Scotland’s musical heritage and modern classical composition techniques. Simon’s subsequent works share this ethos, and each composition masterfully maintatins the essential character of traditional Scottish melodies, while allowing the music to evolve in new directions. This album represents a significant contribution to the contemporary Scottish fiddle repertoire, successfully blending traditional Scottish music with classical concerto form, whilst maintaining the characteristic spotaneity and ornamentation essential to Scottish fiddle performance practice.
From Perthshire, Patsy is a much-respected and versatile musician and this is reflected in the variety of work that she carries out as a performer, educator and composer/arranger. Soaking up traditional music as a youngster, whilst simultaneously benefiting from the technical and rigorous aspects of following a classical violin pathway has resulted in Patsy being ideally placed to tackle this kind of repertoire. Her sheer breadth of experience and musicality lends itself perfectly to Simon’s music, and she is proud to shine a light on some of the lessser-played and therefore lesser-known music from Scotland’s rich fiddle tradition.
Patsy plays a James Briggs fiddle (1905) and a Hugh Cooper viola (1907)
credits
released December 5, 2025
Patsy Reid – Fiddle and viola Jack Smedley – Left-panned fiddle (track 2) Alice Allen – Cello (tracks 3 & 9) David Bowden – Double bass (track 3) Seonaid Aitken – Left-panned fiddle (track 3) Kristan Harvey – Right-panned fiddle (track 3)
Produced by Patsy Reid Recorded, mixed and mastered by Stuart Hamilton at Castlesound Design by Somhairle Macdonald
I’m delighted to share our new Christmas single, “Shandy and Mousetta’s Waltz”, performed by Simon Thoumire and Rory Matheson.
This waltz has a heartwarming story behind it. I wrote it for my friend Gillian Dunlop, inspired by her daughter Iona’s lovely gesture. When Iona goes out, she brings Gillian’s two teddy bears, Shandy and Mousetta, downstairs to keep her mum company. This simple, caring act captures what Christmas is truly about – looking after people and making sure no one feels alone.
I imagined Gillian and the teddy bears having their own little ceilidh whilst Iona is away – perhaps sharing a dance together in the sitting room!
About the Artists:
Simon Thoumire is a highly respected virtuoso English concertina player and past winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Traditional Musician Award. An accomplished composer, he has created music for numerous projects and performed with many artists including Dave Milligan and Ian Carr. Simon is also the founder of Hands Up for Trad, which promotes Scottish music and culture through various projects, including the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award and the Scots Trad Music Awards.
Assynt-born pianist Rory Matheson is quickly establishing himself as one of the most sought-after musicians in Scottish traditional music. Known for his dynamic yet sympathetic accompaniment, he is equally at home on stage and in the studio. A versatile arranger, composer and producer, Rory has collaborated with an impressive list of artists including Hannah Rarity, Gary Innes, Donald Shaw and Michelle McManus. He’s a founding member of folk band TRIP and regularly performs with FARA, The Madeleine Stewart Trio and the Ross Miller Band.
The single is available now, and we’d be delighted if you’d consider it for airplay this festive season.
Four pieces performed by the Strathspey and Surreal Orchestra at the Scots Fiddle Festival on 15th November 2025 in Edinburgh. The pieces feature traditional and composed material – arranged by Simon Thoumire – the idea being to take old tunes and arrange them in new ways. The band on this recording are:
Patsy Reid Benedict Morris Edie Elliott Adam Sutherland Rae Maciver Rachel Henderson Elisabet McConnell Naomi Priestnall Douglas Montgomery Anika Thomas Eryn Rae Laura Wilkie
I’m delighted to announce the premiere of my latest work, Ceilearadh, at the Piping Live Festival on Thursday 14th August at 1:30pm in the Bothy tent. This collection of three Highland Bagpipe Sonatas represents something genuinely new in the piping repertoire – extended compositions that bridge traditional and contemporary approaches whilst drawing deeply from our Gaelic heritage.
Special Thanks
I must begin by expressing my gratitude to Maoin nan Ealan Gàidhlig (the Gaelic Arts Fund) whose generous support made this project possible. Their funding allowed me to undertake essential research in South Uist, working alongside Gaelic speakers and tradition bearers to ensure these compositions are rooted in authentic cultural understanding.
My thanks also go to Mairi MacMillan, whose knowledge of traditional Gaelic culture and bird lore proved invaluable. Coming from an indigenous Gaelic family where birds were integral to daily life – marking seasons, protecting animals, and indicating appropriate times for harvesting around nesting patterns – Mairi shared not just the poetry itself, but the lived cultural context that gave these verses their meaning.
About Ceilearadh
Each sonata draws inspiration from historic Gaelic poetry about birds, creating a unique bridge between Scotland’s ancient literary traditions and contemporary musical expression. The three works – lasting 10-12 minutes each – are written from a bagpiper’s perspective but extend beyond conventional ceòl mòr, incorporating bagpipe techniques and movements in new ways.
The three sonatas are based on these traditional poems:
A’ Chearc (The Chicken) Tog, tog, tog, Tog an rud a dh’fhàg mi, Ge beag an t-ugh, ge beag an t-ugh, Tha stà ann, tha stà ann.
Rug, rug, rug a dhà, Rug, rug, rug a dhà; Gog, gog, gog, gog, gog, gog, gaog, Beiridh mise h-uile là, ‘S cha bheir an crodh-laoigh.
A’ Bhuidheag (The Yellowfinch) A Bhuidheag bhuidhe bhòidheach, Bheir mise latha Dòmhnach A’ sguabadh do sheòmair”, Ars a’ chearc bhuidhe ghòrach.
An Trìlleachan san Tràigh (Oystercatcher on the Shore) Och, is och, is och mo dhunaidh, Mis an so an cois na tuinne, Is mi gun bhuille de’n t-snàmh.
These compositions explore the intersection of nature, language, and music, translating the rhythms and calls of birds as captured in traditional Gaelic verse into extended musical forms. Whilst respecting the deep traditions of Highland piping, the works push creative boundaries to offer something genuinely fresh in the bagpipe literature.
The premiere will feature three brilliant pipers, each performing one sonata:
Simon McKerrell performing A’ Bhuidheag
Fionnlagh Mac A Phiocair performing A’ Chearc
Bede Patterson performing An Trìlleachan san Tràigh
The performance follows a discussion about expanding piobaireachd’s horizons, hosted by Josh Dickson and Barnaby Brown, making it part of a broader conversation about the future of our piping traditions.
This event is free to attend with your festival day site ticket, taking place in the Bothy tent. I’m excited to share these new voices in Highland bagpipe music with you.
The premiere represents not just new compositions, but a methodology for creating contemporary work from traditional material that honours cultural origins whilst embracing creative innovation. It’s been a privilege to undertake this journey from the landscapes of South Uist to the stages of Glasgow, and I look forward to sharing Ceilearadh with the piping community.
I’m absolutely thrilled that PRS Foundation has supported my new clarsach concerto Itealaich an Dòchais (Flight of Hope) and the beautiful Gaelic language, helping me to promote this rich Scottish culture that means so much to me. This funding enables me to explore exciting new territory as a composer – combining electronic elements with traditional instruments for the first time, and learning to write specifically for the clarsach.
The support allows me to develop crucial skills in electronic manipulation and staging that will transform my future compositions. Beyond the technical development, this project celebrates how we all come from many different cultures in our makeup, and how we can welcome people from different backgrounds to our countries. The Turnstone’s migration story mirrors human journeys of hope and belonging.
Working with the RSPB adds an important environmental dimension, connecting music with conservation. PRS Foundation’s belief in this project gives me the confidence to push creative boundaries while honouring our musical heritage. This grant represents a pivotal moment in my artistic journey – enabling me to create music that speaks to both our past and our shared future.”
I gratefully acknowledge support from PRS Foundation.
We recorded this album in 1996 in the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. It was a double bill with the Cauld Blast Orchestra. It was recorded in the summer for a Christmas broadcast hence the Christmas Single track. I think I was trying to be funny at the time. Hey ho – can’t beat hindsight for what is funny or not!
Most of these tracks are taken from our two albums – Waltzes for Playboys and Strathspey and Surreal. Christmas Single is only available here!!!
It was a great privilege to perform with Kevin MacKenzie and Simon Thorpe. As you can hear from the recording, they are both brilliant musicians who play with empathy to the music. They also laughed at my jokes which was the best thing.
released March 22, 2021
00:00 Tremendus Fergus / State of the Art Jig / Aly Bain’s Reel / Major Mole (Live)
07:53 Fermanagh Curves (Live)
11:44 Overcast (Live)
16:55 Jim’s Jig / The Snuff Wife / Eileen MacDonald’s Jig (Live)
21:26 John’s Got School Tomorrow / The North Sea Chinaman / The Bus Spotter’s Reel (Live)
25:24 Eddy Kelly’s (Live)
29:16 Christmas Single (Live)
33:22 Martin Wynne’s No. 1 / John McCusker’s Reel / Woof Vicky Woof (Live)
37:12 Gloomy-Go-Round / Merry-Go-Round (Live)
40:12 Rusty Skullet (Live)
44:20 Fishers Hornpipe / Mark 2 / Easy Club Reel (Live)
Simon Thoumire – concertina
Kevin MacKenzie – guitar
Simon Thorpe – double bass
This music on this album was created around 2015 – 2016. I was making a new piece of music every week and at this time I was experimenting with electronics and drum machines. I was having a great time! I’ve enjoyed listening back to them and choosing a few of the tracks for this album. Most of the tracks feature concertina but there are some where it is only electronics!
The title Dream on Dreamer comes from a light board I saw in a shop in Sweden which simply said ‘Dream on Dreamer’. It immediately grabbed me as tune title and eventually became the album title. There is a track on my hard drive called Dream on Dreamer too. I’ll maybe release it at some point…
I’ve written a short description about each of the tracks which you can read if you click on each track link or visit www.simonthoumire.com.
Thanks for listening. It really is much appreciated. Thanks to my family and friends for allowing me to create music. Thanks also to Martin Green from Lau who always makes me feel better about releasing these tunes!
Released January 6, 2023
00:00:00:00 Bounce
00:02:21:20 Hurry Up
00:05:26:01 As Yet Untitled
00:09:02:01 All Thumbs
00:11:47:11 Bend it
00:14:13:00 Four in a row
00:15:51:15 For Stewart
00:19:18:14 Simply does it
00:21:38:07 Celtic Groovin
00:22:10:17 Caravan Bookie (with Ian Carr)
00:24:03:20 Defying Gravity
00:28:00:23 Loop Doop
00:33:23:22 First Person Shooter
00:36:22:17 Flutter
00:40:41:05 Two Subways Nearly Collide
00:42:31:04 Strathwobble
00:45:01:17 Musical Statues
00:45:57:04 Shuffle
00:48:47:00 Train Techno
All tracks performed and written by Simon Thoumire apart from
track 10 which features the amazing guitar playing of Ian Carr and track 13 which features my son Charlie Thoumire.
Portraits is the third album by Simon Thoumire and Dave Milligan, and is a new collection of original music, characteristic of the Scottish tradition but encompassing multiple styles and influences. Each track on the album was composed to try and capture the character of a particular person, and to reflect the connections in their lives.
credits
released May 19, 2023
Simon Thoumire: concertina
Dave Milligan: piano
Mixed by Andrea Gobbi at GloWorm Recording, Glasgow
Mastered by Andrea Gobbi at Carrier Waves Mastering
Produced by Simon Thoumire and Dave Milligan
Artwork by Van Gill Media
All music composed by Simon Thoumire, except tracks 2 and 6, composed by Dave Milligan
00:00:00 Come on, let us sway together
00:03:37 King Bill’s Hornpipe
00:09:18 Su-a’s 50th Year
00:15:21 Anastasia McAroe’s Waltz
00:19:47 Persephone Nichol-Bose
00:23:37 Misha
00:28:09 Sonny Jim
00:34:43 Caroline Anne Hewat
00:38:24 David Francis
00:45:02 Louis DeCarlo’s 70th Birthday Strathspey
00:49:03 Grace Campbell Grierson
