Twenty Years of Music: A Retrospective Concert at the Edinburgh International Festival

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I’m delighted to share that this August, I’ll be presenting a special retrospective concert as part of the Edinburgh International Festival, marking twenty years of my work as a composer.

The Hub, Edinburgh — Monday 24 August 2026, 8.00pm

The programme will look back across two decades of composition, drawing together pieces that trace my ongoing exploration of Gaelic language, Scottish traditional music, and the stories and landscapes that have shaped my writing. It’s a rare chance to hear this body of work brought together in one concert.

This celebration of my work features virtuoso fiddler Patsy Reid and award-winning clarsach player Ciorstaidh Beaton, alongside a stellar line-up: Alice Allen, Seonaidh Aitken, Kristan Harvey, Mairi MacMillan, Graham Mackenzie, Dave Milligan, Eryn Rae, Jack Smedley, Adam Sutherland, and Laura Wilkie — with several pieces performed by the Strathspey and Surreal Orchestra.

We’ll also be celebrating Patsy’s new album, I Am Disposed to Mirth, which features a number of my fiddle compositions and reflects our long-standing musical collaboration.

As part of the evening, I’m especially excited to share the world premiere of a new clarsach concerto, Itealaich an Dòchais, performed by the wonderful Ciorstaidh Beaton.

Programme for the evening

• Deil Amang The Fiddlers — performed by Strathspey and Surreal Orchestra
• Earl of Louden’s Strathspey — fiddle/cello duet performed by Patsy Reid and Alice Allen
• An Useag (The Skylark) — clarsach solo, Ciorstaidh Beaton
• A’ cheud luan do’n raidh (The First Monday of the Season) — fiddle duet, Patsy Reid and Jack Smedley
• Traditional Gaelic Psalm — sung by Mairi MacMillan
• Itealaich an Dòchais — Clarsach Concerto, performed by Ciorstaidh Beaton and V3rsus String Quartet
• Cluny Castle — performed by Strathspey and Surreal Orchestra
• Bloobell Polka — performed by Strathspey and Surreal Orchestra

I hope you can join me for what promises to be a very special night. Tickets are available here https://www.eif.co.uk/events/simon-thoumire-scots-fiddle-clarsach#overview

Dà Chòmhlan Ciùil De Cheathrar – Watch the performance!

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The world premiere of Dà Chòmhlan-Ciùil De Cheathrar — “Twa Quartets” — composed by Simon Thoumire, performed live at the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (NAFCo) in the Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen.

The piece brings together eight musicians — the Thistle String Quartet and the Cuan Quartet (a folk quartet of piano and three fiddles) — in four connected sections: all eight together, then the string quartet alone, then the folk quartet alone, before everyone reunites for the finale.

At its heart is a Highland lament, ‘S trom leam an àirigh (“I find the shieling a difficult place”), collected by Elizabeth Jane Ross at Raasay in 1812. The melody becomes common ground between the two quartets, passed between classical and folk voices, transformed as it travels.

Written from a belief that we share far more as human beings than divides us — and that music shows what’s possible when we choose to listen, share, and learn from one another.

🎻 Thistle Quartet: Coralie Usmani & Megan Cormack (violin), Laurie Rominger (viola), Emily De Simone (cello)
🎻 Cuan Quartet: Rachel Henderson, Kathleen MacDonald & Ruby Whitaker (fiddles), Ally Forsyth (piano)
🎼 Composed by Simon Thoumire
📍 Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen
🎪 North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (NAFCo) 2026

With thanks to Laura and Kirsty at NAFCo for believing in this piece.

Choimhead mi tro do shùilean (I looked through your eyes) by Simon Thoumire – new composition

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A Ceilidh for Fiddle and Clàrsach

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.

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Composition by Simon Thoumire (PRS / MCPS)
Performed by Laura Penman and Anna Robertson

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World Premiere: Dà Chòmhlan-Ciùil De Cheathrar (Twa Quartets) at Aberdeen Art Gallery – 9 April 2026 – North Atlantic Fiddle Convention Teaser

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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.

I am Disposed to Mirth – The Fiddle Music of Simon Thoumire by Patsy Reid

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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. 

BUY THE ALBUM

Patsy Reid

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

New Christmas Single – Shandy and Mousetta’s Waltz

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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.

Strathspey and Surreal Orchestra 15th November 2025

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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

All arrangements by Simon Thoumire 2025
Find out more at www.simonthoumire.com

Ceilearadh – 3 brand new bagpipe sonatas premiered at Piping Live

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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 Performance

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.