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Simon Thoumire

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Clàr Ùr! Sgàth Fhras (New album!) le Anna-Wendy Stevenson, Muriel Urquhart, Simon Thoumire agus Tom Bancroft.

Filed Under: News

Chaidh mi a dh’Uibhist a Dheas airson a’ chiad turas anns a’ Mhàrt 2025. Bha mi air airgead fhaighinn bho Creative Scotland (mòran taing!) airson ceòl ùr a sgrìobhadh agus bha mi a’ coimhead air beachdan. Bha mi nam shuidhe anns an taigh aig Scott agus Jessica (Bornais) agus cha robh beachdan sam bith agamsa. An uair sin thug Màiri NicAonghais dhomh an leabhar ‘Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist’ le Margaret Fay Shaw (1955). ‘S e leabhar sgionneil a th’ ann! Chosg mi an uairsin làithean leis an leabhar agus ag èisteachd ris na h-òrain air website Tobar an Dualchais. Lorg mi òrain gu leòr agus thog mi dealbhan de na fuinn air am fòn agam agus chlàr mi fuaimean air an computer agam. Abair seachdain a bh’ agam! Fhuair mi puirt gu leòr airson an ceòl ùr agam agus an clàr seo!

Seo clàr ‘improvised’. Thug sinn sùil air na seann òrain seo agus an uair sin dhùin sinn a-rithist ar sùilean! Tha e cudromach gu bheil cuimhne againn gur e seann òrain a th’ annta ach tha iad beò fhathast agus feumaidh an t-saoghal a chluinntinn. airson a’ chiad turas anns a’ Mhàrt 2025. Bha mi air fhaighinn airgead bho Chreative Scotland (mòran taing!) airson ceòl ùr a sgrìobhadh agus bha mi a’ coimhead air beachdan. Bha mi nam shuidhe anns an taigh aig Scott agus Jessica (Bornais) agus cha robh beachdan sam bith agamsa. An uair sin ghabh Màiri NicAonghais dhomh an leabhar ‘Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist’ le Margaret Fay Shaw (1955). ‘S e leabhar sgionneil a th’ ann! Chosg mi an ath làithean leis an leabhar agus èisteachd ris an òrain air website Tobar an Dualchais. Lorg mi òrain gu leòr air an do thog mi dealbhan air an fòn agam agus chlàr mi fuaimean air an computer agam. Abair seachdain a bh’ agam! Fhuair mi puirt gu leòr airson an ceòl ùr agam agus an clàr seo!

Seo clàr ‘improvised’. Thug sinn sùil air na seann òrain seo agus an uair sin dhùin sinn a-rithist ar sùilean! Tha e cudromach gu bheil cuimhne againn gur e seann òrain a th’ annta ach tha iad beò fhathast agus feumaidh an saoghal (mòr) an cluinntinn.

1 Gur tu mo nighean donn bhòidheach 7:21 GXA8R 25 00001
2 Màiri NicAonghais, Banrigh Bhornais 5:09 GXA8R 25 00002
3 A’ ghaoil, lig dhachaigh gu m’ mhàthair mì 3:10 GXA8R 25 00003
4 Till an crodh, faigh an crodh 2:39 GXA8R 25 00004
5 Cholla, mo rùin 8:52 GXA8R 25 00006

This is a new album of improvised music based on the songs collected in Margaret Fay Shaw’s 1955 book ‘The Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist.’ The improvisation and harmony work is rooted within the language of Scottish traditional music. Available in both Gaelic and English, this groundbreaking release marks the first free improvised album of Scottish Gaelic music.” Sgàth Fhras is a Gaelic phrase meaning small rain showers – the kind of light shower that doesn’t soak you too much! The initial idea behind the album was small vignettes of impro of Gaelic songs just like a short rain shower. 

When I (Simon Thoumire) received funding from Creative Scotland to write new music for a show at Celtic Connections festival (Dol Fodha Na Grèine) I came to South Uist to find inspiration. It wasn’t happening through until Màiri MacInnes brought her copy of Margaret Fay Shaw’s 1955 book ‘Folk Songs and Folklore of South Uist. I knew of the book but had never read it before. I started going through it and at the same I looked the songs up on the Tobar an Dualchais website. I took photos of the songs and recorded the audio from the website so I could reference it. I got so much material that as well as the Celtic Connections piece I had enough left over for this album and more!

This is an improvised album. We listened to the original recordings and then turned the sheet music over to create something new in the moment. The arrangements were not thought about beforehand and happened spontaneously during the recording session. It was fun! I think it is important to remember that these songs maybe old but they are just as important nowadays in a complicated world. They remind us that preserving our traditional culture and languages is just as vital as embracing new ideas and welcoming new voices. These songs aren’t just echoes of the past – they’re living bridges between generations.

I hope you enjoy this album. It’s been a lot of fun to make and to create new versions of these beautiful songs.

Fiddle: Anna-Wendy Stevenson, concertina: Simon Thoumire, vocals: Muriel Urquhart, drums: Tom Bancroft 

1. Gur tu mo nighean donn bhòidheach
Anns an òran luaidh seo tha am bàrd ag innse mar a bha e ag èisteachd ris na diùcan a’ moladh tè bhòidheach, agus na h-iarlan a tha ag iarraidh a pòsadh. Bidh e muladach mura faigh e i. Rachadh e an ear agus an iar leatha. Rachadh e tro Chaol Ìle agus tro Chaol Mhuile, agus gu Glaschu far am bi na fasanan. Às a sin, bheireadh e i do dh’Uibhist far am buidhicheadh an t-eòrna.

2. Màiri NicAonghais, Banrigh Bhornais
Tha Màiri NicAonghais air a bhith gu math coimhneil Shìm a h-uile turas a dh’fhuiricheas e ann an Uibhist a Deas. Leugh Sìm leabhar a bha a-staigh aice le Mairead Fay Shaw air an robh ‘Folksong and Folklore of South Uist’ bhon leabhar seo fhuair e greim air fuinn a chòrd ris agus rinn e ath-sgrìobhadh dhen na puirt seo airson ceòl ùr air a bheil: ‘Dol Fodha Na Grèine’. Chaidh am fonn seo a sgrìobhadh le Alana NicAonghais agus Sìm Thoumire.

3. A’ ghaoil, lig dhachaigh gu m’ mhàthair mì
‘S e còmhradh a th’ anns an òran seo eadar nighean agus each-uisge. Tha an nighean ag iarraidh tilleadh gu a màthair, ach chan eil an t-each-uisge deònach a leigeil air falbh. Tha e follaiseach on rann mu dheireadh gun do rinn i an gnothach air teicheadh.

4. Till an crodh, faigh an crodh
‘S e òran bleoghain, aig a bheil ceangal ri pìobaireachd, a th’ anns an òran seo. Tha e ag ràdh:

“Till an crodh, faigh an crodh,
Gheibh thu a’ bhean bheadarrach.
Till an crodh, faigh an crodh,
Gheibh thu a’ bhean bhòidheach.”

5. Cholla, mo rùin
‘S e òran pìobaireachd a tha seo anns a bheil pìobaire ag iarraidh air Colla an caisteal a sheachnadh. Tha e ag innse gun deach e fhèin a ghlacadh.

Dol Fodha Na Grèine – The notes!

Filed Under: News

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.

Thank you to the Vaughan Williams Foundation for their support

— Filed Under: News

We would like to thank Vaughan Williams Foundation for their support of our Dol Fodha Na Grèine project which will receive it’s first performance on Sunday 26th January at Celtic Connections festival.

In difficult times for the arts we are really appreciative of the foundation’s support of our new piece of music. We would love to see you at the concert on the 26th!

https://www.celticconnections.com/event/1/blazin-fiddles-with-simon-thoumire-dave-milligan-alana-nicaongais

Dol Fodha Na Grèine Crowdfunder

Filed Under: News, Newsletter

I’m excited to introduce “Dol fodha na grèine” (Gaelic for Sunset), a musical suite blending centuries-old Scottish tunes with new compositions. This project is created as a companion piece to Aly Bain’s groundbreaking “Follow the Moonstone,” celebrating its 30th anniversary. It’s a crowdfunder to raise £5000 to help with rehearsal costs to pay the musicians.

https://igg.me/at/dol-fodha-na-greine

Our new work brings together renowned musicians Dave Milligan (piano) and Alana MacInnes (bagpipes, whistle), along with a string quintet. Your support will directly fund the crucial rehearsals for our premiere performance at the Celtic Connections festival in January 2025. By contributing, you’ll help bring this unique celebration of Scottish culture to life, ensuring our musicians are fully prepared to showcase our rich musical heritage on an international stage, while honoring a pivotal work in Scottish traditional music.

What We Need & What You Get:

We’re aiming to raise £5,000 to support the final stages of our project. Here’s how your contribution will be used:
– £3,500 for musician fees during our rehearsal period in January
– £1,000 for venue rental and equipment
– £500 for promotional materials and documentation

Perks:
£10: Digital download of a single track from the rehearsal
£25: Early access to a rehearsal video clip + Your name listed as a supporter on our website
£50: All £25 perks + Digital sheet music + Digital booklet about the project’s music
£75: All £50 perks + A real postcard from South Uist, signed by Simon
£100: All £75 perks + Behind-the-scenes digital photo album + Personalized thank you email
£250: All £100 perks + Access to exclusive online Q&A + Digital certificate of appreciation
£500: All £250 perks + Signed digital poster + Virtual meet-and-greet with musicians

The Impact:
Your support will:
1. Create new Scottish music that respects tradition while being innovative
2. Give work to skilled Scottish musicians
3. Make a lasting piece of Scottish cultural heritage

https://igg.me/at/dol-fodha-na-greine

New album! Glasgow Concert by Simon Thoumire and Dave Milligan

Filed Under: News, Newsletter

I’ve just released a new album with pianist Dave Milligan. The second one in two years! Recorded in 2020 at Celtic Connections festival, just before lockdown was a thing and we all became distracted. It took til 2024 for the album to arrive. Both Dave and me are massive Moscow Art Trio fans and one of our favourite albums is their Hamburg Concert. We decided to name the album Glasgow Concert in homage to them.

The thing I like about this album is it features live versions of the tracks that were on our first two albums – The Big Day In and Third Fight Home. Typically when we record a new album the tracks haven’t been performed before and they start to change as soon as we play them live! These are these live versions plus 2 tracks which haven’t featured on any other albums!

The album has 9 tracks and last approx 35 minutes. You can read about the tracks here. (download). You can listen to the album on the link above and here.

Thoumire – Milligan: Ardkinglas, Loch Fyne 7.00 pm Saturday 20th April 2024

Filed Under: News

Simon Thoumire and Dave Milligan have each performed at Ardkinglas before in different duos but this is a welcome chance to hear them together. They have an intuitive musical understanding of each other’s great talents, having recorded three albums together. Since winning the BBC Radio 2 Young Tradition award in 1989 Simon Thoumire has built a unique place for the English concertina in the world of Scottish
traditional music and beyond. His music has encompassed folk, jazz, improvisation and his own compositions, and he is also a tireless advocate for traditional music with the organisation Hands Up For Trad and the Scots Trad Music Awards. See www.simonthoumire.com

Dave Milligan is a musician of remarkable versatility. As well as his own bands and projects he has worked with a wide array of musicians including Art Farmer, Larry Carlton, Trilok Gurtu, Mark Knopfler and the McCrary Sisters to name just a few. See www.davemilligan.co.uk

Places (£15.00, students £7.50) must be booked in advance from Ardkinglas Estate Office
Tel. 01499 600261 email: info@ardkinglas.com

Please give a contact phone no. when booking.
If you are not already on our mailing list, or have friends who would like to join, please
send details to the Estate Office. If you wish to be removed from the list please inform us.

My concertina after Steve Dickinson spent a week with it

Filed Under: News

I thought you would like to see this photo of my concertina after Steve Dickinson, concertina repairer took it away from West Country Concertina Players in Somerset and did some work on it.

I’ve never given my concertina away before so it was slightly daunting however when I showed it to Steve he said that he could take it away for a week and fix a few things on it. It was quite a sight! The thumb straps were wrecked as I hadn’t got round to replacing them – just added more tape, I had a red hanky stopping one of the sides from clicking as they rubbed together, my top Bb was missing completely and the button levels were all higgledy piggledy (is that how you spell that phrase?). It still sounded beautiful of course!

As you’ll see from the photo it is now looking beautiful. I’ve got a bit of practice to be doing to soften the thumb straps and get used the instrument in its new state. But that’s an exciting prospect in itself. I’ll have to get on to writing the music for my new piece a’ dol fodha na grèine and having the concertina all fixed up will make a difference.

Found this interesting post on the history of Wheatstone Concertinas!

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