Simon Thoumire Make Good Art

Here's a wee experiment. This tune is featured in my latest vlog which you can watch here. https://youtu.be/G2iyeKsYeRA

This tune took me 7 years to write and I recorded it with fiddler Adam Sutherland and guitarist Michael Carr! Watch my vlog on how it came about https://youtu.be/MX1dDzJRqfs If you enjoy this content please support my Patreon http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire

This tune is taken from my vlog - On Being Curious - where I look into tunes with 'Devil' in the title. I found De'il Tak the War in The Caledonian Muse (1790) and then found out about it's history - it was written by Thomas D'Urfey in circa 1696. Thanks to the fabulous David McGuinness for 1. suggesting we perform it on harpsichord and 2. playing the harpsichord! If you like the content please consider supporting my Patreon http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire https://youtu.be/nEpaCRpVy88

This is St Mungo's Welcome to Scott Skinner played by me and great guitarist Michael Bryan. It's James Scott Skinner tune and was written for the Celtic Tournament at Glasgow 4th Nov 1889. It appears in his Harp and Claymore Collection of music. If you like this material and would like to help support my music making please check out my Patreon http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire

This tune - Yes Sir I Can Boogie - was written by Ian Carr and we recorded it in Sundsvall in Sweden! It's a funny tune! If you like this content please consider supporting my Patreon account http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire. Every little bit helps! Find out more about our music at http://www.thoumirecarr.com

I've started a new podcast on the Anchor.fm platform which means it is time to write a new theme tune! I'm very lucky to know some very talented musicians and piano player Ryan Corbett contributed some fabulous piano to this track. It's the best thing about it! You can listen to the podcast at https://anchor.fm/simon-thoumire

David and I got together to make a few vlogs and one of the outputs was the tune Coilsfield House by Nathaniel Gow. There are two version here - the first take and the second take - both subtly different. If you would like to find out more about the history behind the tune Coilsfield House watch this vlog https://youtu.be/Dv7n3KpplgM To watch my interview with David McGuinness click here https://youtu.be/gr-cOKI4Vi8 If you like this content please consider supporting my Patreon http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire You can get more information about me ➡️ http://www.simonthoumire.com ➡️ http://www.soundcloud.com/simonthoumire Twitter @simonthoumire Facebook @simonthoumiremusic Instagram @simonthoumire

Me and Mark went out to film a vlog on filmmaking in the Milngavie hills. We eventually found this log to sit on and record a couple of tunes. The jig is The Waterworks jig and the reel is Music in the Glen. If you like this content please consider supporting my Patreon account http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire Watch the whole vlog https://youtu.be/gKWZ_9CZek4 You can get more information about me ➡️ http://www.simonthoumire.com ➡️ http://www.soundcloud.com/simonthoumire Twitter @simonthoumire Facebook @simonthoumiremusic Instagram @simonthoumire

This tune is from my latest vlog 'Ask Me A Question'. Thanks for the idea @JosieDuncanSong! In this vlog I'm answering questions sent to me on Twitter and Instagram using #stquestions. Watch the whole video on YouTube here http://bit.ly/2EDcRDQ

I’ve been delving into the tune book The Airs and Melodies Peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland and The Isles this week. It’s full of tunes chiefly acquired during the period 1715 to 1745 and it was edited by Captain Simon Fraser. We play two airs from the book - Lady to Her Husband Who Was Killed at the Battle of Culloden and Hard is my fate with the fabulous David McGuinness on harmonium and dulcitone. Support me on Patreon ➡️ http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire You can download the tunes here ➡️ https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rbFmDUSyXQBPWoQFUYspkwWe_YG-luY7 Listen to Flora McNeil singing the first song - Mo Rùn Geal Òg (also known as Cumha Uilleam Siosalach) on Spotify ➡️ https://open.spotify.com/track/7C1upbfQ32hfpi6UB8q4XN?si=kTutXbkHSES1R5t43Dfi4g You can get more information about me ➡️ http://www.simonthoumire.com ➡️ http://www.soundcloud.com/simonthoumire Twitter @simonthoumire Facebook @simonthoumiremusic Instagram @simonthoumire

This is a version of Irish Polka The Rakes of Mallow. it comes from my vlog where I look at how to put together a solo performance that will stand out from the crowd. ➡️ Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/6gYJwGxMHA8 ➡️ Support my Patreon account: http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire ➡️ Play the tune: https://thesession.org/tunes/85 ➡️ Website: http://www.simonthoumire.com Twitter @simonthoumire Facebook @simonthoumiremusic Instagram @simonthoumire

This is my ensemble Class on the 10th February 2019 as part of the IMBOLC festival in Derry. The tunes are The Raft Race (Hamish Napier) and Stinger Pinger. It was a lovely time with lots of very talented young people. Our trad future is in safe hands! Read more about IMBOLC festival here http://www.imbolcfestival.com If you like this content please support my Patreon account on http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire

I got together with fab cellist Su-a Lee to record this version of Nathaniel Gow's Largo's Fairy Dance that was written in 1802 for the Fife Hunt. The 2nd tune - The Fairy Dance - has turned into a classic of Scottish traditional music and is played across the world. The first section is not so well known and we wanted to play it for you as it is beautiful! If you like this content please consider supporting my Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire

This track is the music part of my latest vlog with Mhairi Hall. If you would like to watch the whole thing where Mhairi talks about accompaniment you can watch it here https://youtu.be/TnMggTOddPE If you like this content please consider supporting my Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire. Every little bit helps!

Here is the hornpipe The Poppy Leaf from my YouTube vlog Easy Concertina Repair - Fix that note! I've played the Poppy Leaf for years now and I still love it! If you live my content please consider supporting my Patreon http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire

I wrote this set of music based on Jim Sutherland's classic reel The Easy Club for the participants of Meitheal Summer School. The brief was to write a piece of music that could be memorised and be fun to play. Needless to say the young people were fabulous and did an amazing job. Check out Meitheal Summer School at https://tradweek.com. If you like this content please consider supporting my Patreon http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire

Here's a great reel I learn from the playing of virtuoso fiddle Liz Caroll! If you like this content please consider supporting my Patreon http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire This tune was played on my video about New Years Resolutions watch it here https://youtu.be/6G2R6UzD094

This tune was written in October 2018 in Braemar at a Live Music Now Scotland and St Margaret's Braemar teaching week. I worked with the young people to come up with ideas and we put this tune together. It's great! The musicians performing this recording are myself, Ellie McLaren (fiddle) and Brian McAlpine (piano). We used the tune as the theme tune for the 2018 FRADS Awards. If you like my content and would like to help me create more please consider supporting my Patreon account http://www.patreon.com/simonthumire

I was revisiting some old tunes the other day and I happened across Margaret's Waltz by Pat Shuldham-Shaw. It's never been one of my favourites (stupid I know) however I read up on the tune and its amazing journey to reach Scotland and it is now one of my favourite tunes! I visited fab pianist Mhairi Hall in Dunblane and we played it with the Pat's companion tune Farewell to Devon. If you enjoy my videos and music please consider supporting my Patreon on http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire This set is a video where I talk about the tunes. You can watch it here https://youtu.be/-W4xynBWkWA If you want to try the two tunes - you can find them here https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rYiCGq26KCrs5DIE2CzWBbTjI6AGQagC You can get more information about me http://www.simonthoumire.com http://www.youtube.com/simonthoumire1 http://www.twitter.com/simonthoumire http://www.facebook.com/simonthoumiremusic http://www.soundcloud.com/simonthoumire http://www.instagram.com/simonthoumire

Hands Up for Trad have a new TV programme on Facebook and YouTube and it needed an intro theme! I wrote this wee tune and recorded it with my son Charlie on bodhran and asked the fabulous Ryan Corbett to contribute a piano part. Here is 11s of music!

Three reels by the late great fiddler Hector MacAndrew. Burnside of Forglen is a small farm near Turiff, Aberdeenshire and belonged to Mr and Mrs George Morrison. Sandy Edmonstone who performed with Hector's dad lived in this cottage in Carradale and Bob Munro was fiddle enthusiast from Thurso.

My version of The Bluebell Polka (written by Frank Stanley) and J. F. Dickies Reel (written by J. Murdoch Henderson) and performed by the Strathspey and Surreal Society on Saturday 4th February 2017 at Celtic Connections.

This is my fiddle concerto based on Alexander Troup's tune Cluny Castle. I wrote it for our Strathspey and Surreal Society project and it was performed by Patsy Reid at Celtic Connections 2017. Patsy Reid is an amazing fiddler and demonstrate's her virtuosity and skill in this piece.

Here's a special track recorded in memory of musician Alasdair Slessor who sadly passed away last week at the young age of 29. These tunes were written in Tollcross Primary School for our Wednesday Feis Class. This was part of our tune writing phase probably on the way to pizza Hut. In the class room was a Blue Radiator that we admired and also a Peters Projection map with really loooong countries that we used to chat about. I'm sure Alasdair came up with the first phrase of Peters Projection! Oh these were the days :-)

Three reels from the pen of Robert Macintosh. What an amazing composer. His tunes are very varied, challenging and beautiful! Lady's Baird's New Reel / Honbl. Mr Fraiser (of Lovat's) Reel / Miss Farquharson (of Invercauld's)Reel

A couple of delights and a fancie! Here are 3 jigs from the same book as last weeks tunes - The Malcolm McDonald Collection (performed with my son Charlie). Mrs Muir's tune was written by Mr Sharp of Hoddom. I think this might be Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe of Hoddom Castle (Dumfries and Galloway) born May 1781. He wrote songs that were featured in Sir Walter Scott's 'Minstrelsy of the Scottish Borders' A relative of his, Miss Sharpe was 'a patron and friend of Niel Gow and contributed a few pieces to one or more of his collections'. (From Baptie). Miss Graham's Delight / Mrs Muir McKenzies Fancie / Mrs Muir Mackenzie's Delight

Two strathspeys from the Malcolm McDonald Collection (first published in 1788) and one from Twitter! The Twitter tune (The Falls of Divach) was actually written by J. Scott Skinner's daughter - Jeanie (aged 12) so always worth a play! Miss Drummond Megginsh's Strathspey was written by John Bowie who was originally from Perth and 'a famous teacher of the violin, and a composer of dance tunes'. He published a set of reels, etc in 1786 which this one might have featured in. I must find the book! This info about Bowie came from David Baptie's late 19th century opus.

I found this little tune at the back of J. Scott Skinner's The Logie Collection. It's a pretty wee tune but on playing it I recognised Paul McCartney's interest in the Scots fiddle tradition. There is no other way that The Beatles would recorded a similar type tune on their White Album without hearing this first. Well done Paul! I've also tried to emulate McCartney's singing on this track as well.

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Here are two reels from the pen of 18th century fiddler and composer Robert Mackintosh (c 1745-1807). Known as "Red Rob", he was born in Tulliemet, Perthshire and has long been recognised as one of our foremost composers of Scottish dance music. There are 4 collections of his music containing 350 tunes. You can play them all in the amazing Highland Music Trust book 'The Mackintosh Collections' http://www.heallan.com/mackintosh.html When I was learning these tunes I was amazed at the dexterity needed to play them especially Miss Jessy Dalrymple's Reel. I think I might be playing them at a more modern reel speed (!) but all the same they're difficult! Concerto Caledonia made a lovely album of Macintosh music in 2013 entitled Robert Mackintosh - Airs, Minuets, Gavotts and Reels which is well worth a listen. http://www.concal.org/albums/9-albums/7-robert-mackintosh-airs-minuets-gavotts-reels

This I have learnt two William Marshall minuets from volumes 1 and 2 of his collections. The first minuet is called Mr Hoy - Gordon Castle and the second is Chapel Keithack. Mr Hoy (born 1747) is mentioned in Dr Currie's memoir of poet Robert Burns where he says that "Mr James Hoy was librarian to his Grace The Duke of Gordon at Gordon Castle. He was in many respects a singular and original character... with goodness in heart, and simplicity of manners."

My project for this week was to make a set of music written by female composers in the 18/19th century. As you can imagine society and fiddle playing was quite male dominated and there is not too much music written by lady composers around. I did manage to find out about Lucy Johnston of Hilton who was included in Niel Gow's and the Scottish Musical Museum collections. Also Miss Magdelina Stirling has a collection c1812. The strathspey Lady Lucy Ramsay in the set was written by 'A Female Amateur'! Miss L. Johnston's Complements to Niel Gow (Lucy Johnston of Hilton), Lady Lucy Ramsay (A Female Amateur), Lord Torphican's Strathspey, Perthshire Hunt (both Miss Magdelina Stirling)

Here are 2 jigs and a reel. The two jigs - The Duke of York's Camp / Mrs Roy of Nenthorn's Favourite are sourced in Hardie's 'A Fiddler's Book of Scottish Jigs' and 'The Reel of Tyrie' came from the Highland Music Trust's 'Highland Collections'. I recently purchased a copy of David Baptie's Musical Scotland, Past and Present: Being A Dictionary of Scottish Musicians From About 1400 Till The Present Time. Present time is 1894!!! Using the book I found out that John Clark who wrote The Duke of York's Camp was born circa 1740 and published a collection called Flores Musicae in 1773. Robert Mackintosh wrote Mrs Roy of Nenthorn's Favourite. He was also known as 'Red Rob' and was born in circa 1745. He published four collections of music - the first in 1792. The Reel of Tyrie was written by dancing master, violinist and composer William Christie. He was born in 1778 and he published a collection of seventy-one pieces - sixty eight which were his own!!

This beautiful tune was written by fiddler Alexander Troup from Ballater, Aberdeenshire. Troup was a contemporary of J Scott Skinner (he played in a band with Skinner's brother). He judged violin competitions at Grantown-upon-Spey with Charles Grant (student of Marshall) in 1880s and was David Baptie's source for a lot of info about fiddlers in the book Musical Scotland, Past and Present: Being a Dictionary of Scottish Musicians, from about 1400 Till the Present Time (1894). Thanks for all this precious information Ronnie Gibson (@scat4230), Dr Karen McAuley (@karenmca) and Stuart Eydmann (@EydmannHeritage). Cluny Castle, situated in the tranquil undulating farmland of Aberdeenshire known as Gordon Country, is hidden from view by over two hundred acres of landscaped policies. Dating back to 14th century it continues to be a much loved home of the Gordons of Cluny. Between 1820 and 1870 a smaller castle was transformed into the magnificent crenellated mansion that exists today. The name “Cluny” originates from the Gaelic word for ‘meadow’, and at Cluny Castle superb exuberant architecture and beautiful grounds of a great Scottish castle combine perfectly to create a secluded and romantic pastoral retreat.

Here are three strathspeys from the pen of legendary fiddler Angus Fitchet (1910-1998). The tune are Miss Jessie Moreen, Allan Gibb, Strong Tea (for Norrie Whitelaw). I learnt them from the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs publication 'The Music of Angus Fitchet Volume 2). If you would like to read more about Angus follow the link below. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame/angus-fitchet-1910-1998/

This is three reels from the fabulous Scottish tune book - The Athole Collection. Its compiler, James Stewart Robertson of Edradynate, Perthshire, was a founding member of The Edinburgh Highland Reel and Strathspey Society and its president from 1881. He published his collection of 870 strathspeys, reels, jigs, hornpipes and country dances in 1884. The collection was reprinted in 1961, but for many years was out of print, and although scholars and players were aware of the book, it was difficult to obtain direct access to it. It was later reprinted in 1996 by Inverness's Balnain House and reprinted again by Highland Music Trust where you can still buy it here! http://www.heallan.com/athole.html The reels are: The Yetts of Muckart, John Angus and Mrs Duncan.

I'm back for more weekly music and I think I'm going to stick to Scottish traditional tunes for a while. These two tunes from Book 3 of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. They are St Patrick's Day (Gow) and The Rock And The Wee Pickle Tow. It says in the book that they were both originally sourced from Allan's Ballroom Guide from 1905. You can read about that here! http://copac.jisc.ac.uk/search?title=Allan%27s+Ballroom+Guide#.V7sdojb2HVE.twitter I'm very lucky to be joined by my son Charlie on bodhran for this set.

Here's simple wee tune. That's it really.

On Friday night me, Rua MacMillan and Mark Maguire were very lucky to be invited down the Lapraik Poetry Festival in Muirkirk. We had a great night of poetry, song and music in the village. This is a strathspey and two jigs we performed on the night. Read about our visit here https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/handsupfortrad/lapraik-festival-muirkirk/

I set myself a goal of recording / writing something new every week and sometimes Thursday arrives and I have no new ideas. I still make myself sit down and work something out and this is it!! I got out my marimba and came up with a little tune. I then (hopefully) complement it with another little tune on the concertina backed by my mellotron.

I was planning a track to record this week when the The East Neuk of Fife sprang to mind from J. Scott Skinner's 'The Harp and Claymore' Collection. I was just going though the variations when I noticed the tempo - 136bpm! It is ridiculous. I actually think it is too fast - I preferred 130bpm but in homage to the great man and composer here it is at 136 :-)

A couple of weeks back I was lucky enough to be teaching at Feis Rois Adult School. What a great bunch of people. Anyway in our morning groupwork class we were learning an old tune of mine - starjump and whilst we were talking about arrangement I came up with this little bridge. It has now become its own entity and I hope you enjoy it!

Last Sunday I played with my son Charlie at the All Scottish Fleadh where lots of young people (and some older) compete to win through to the All British Fleadh. This is one of the tunes we played in the bodhran competition. All players in the competition were great but I was chuffed to see Charlie win!

This is a wee noodle of a tune that came to me very quickly! It's a wee conversation between myself and the concertina. Sometimes I know what to say sometimes I don't!

This is a version of an air from my piece The Merry Lads of Ayr which is being premiered tomorrow night (Friday 8th April) in Stirling Tolbooth as part of the Distil Showcase. I put this together for last Saturday's concert in Ennis, Ireland. If you would like to come along and hear this and many other new pieces performed by Mr McFall's Chamber you can get the details here http://tolbooth.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth/whatson/april2016-3/distil16.htm

As I practice for my Saturday concert and workshop at CONSAIRTÍN (http://consairtin.ie) in Ennis this weekend I thought I might play Atom Blaster. It's an old tune by jazz guitarist Barney Kessel and I recorded it on YouTube a few years back. Not that I was thinking it at the time but with today's announcement by UK Govt that they are planning on sailing 700kg of Nuclear Waste from Dounreay across the Atlantic Ocean without heed to any of the dangers a spillage could cause - Atom Blaster is probably quite a fitting tune.

After a week of writing my string quintet for Mr McFall's Chamber (to be performed at Distil Showcase on 8th April, Stirling) I still felt I should make something different and totally rockin... So here it is - 32 seconds of pure rock. At last here is something to compete with the 140k streams of Dave Milligan and my's Freedom Come All Ye Track.

This is an idea for a new piece I'm writing based on reel The Merry Lads of Ayr from the Athole Collection. If you listen carefully you will hear the alarm telling me to turn the chicken...

This is a track I wrote last year in a caravan in Pitlochry. Ian Carr and I have been playing it on our tour this week. I really like it - he's not so sure... More music at www.simonthoumire.com

A tune about a goat's house.

Here are a couple of reels from Neil Gow's book. Can't beat a bit of Bb and F in reels. I can't see a concertina in this picture - it must be outside the picture.