By Fiona Grahame
“Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy” (Beethoven)
James Watson by Martin Laird
Orkney would usually be gearing up to host its annual music festivals now cancelled due to the Covid19 lockdown. The internationally renowned St Magnus Festival with its mixture of classical works through to the more experimental. The Orkney Folk Festival also of global significance sells out most performances before the tickets even go on sale to the general public. Orkney also hosts festivals for Jazz, Blues and Rock.
The Dirty Rotters – pic credit Claire Ann Ross
The success of the islands’ music festivals is no accident. From a very early age children are encouraged to take up an instrument. This can be done through the school system with highly skilled teachers and the provision of a free instrument for the selected student’s primary education. The schools provide opportunities to play in small groups and in orchestras bringing together students across the islands for a few days culminating in a packed out concert.
The Rendall Pipe Band by Martin Laird
Traditional music is not forgotten where all ages come together. The Traditional Music Project was founded in 1988 to support fiddle and accordion playing. The Reel, in Kirkwall, supports community musical groups and lessons. Orkney has pipe bands: Kirkwall City, Stromness RBL and Rendall. Singing is catered for too whether you want to sing as part of a choir or as an individual.
The standard of performance in Orkney is exceptional for such a small place. Musical theatre draws in the crowds and although these are amateur productions they are professional in their execution.
The Rendall Pipe Band in the Auld Motor Hoose by Martin Laird
The result is that for its size Orkney has supported an astounding number of musicians with an international recognition for excellence. Folk musicians like Ivan Drever, young bands like Fara and Master of the Queens Music the late Sir Peter Maxwell Davis.
In Orkney the importance of music is seen as an integral part of the community and of education. Across Scotland Local Authorities slashed the music budgets in schools and of instrumental tuition. In some places only those children who can afford to pay are able to take lessons.
UHI Applied Music Group Photo F Grahame
The language of music and rhythm: learning an instrument, reading notation, appreciating composition contributes to a person’s well being absorbing them into the creative process. When you play a musical instrument motor systems in the brain activate to control the fine and gross movements needed to produce a sound. Reading music employs the brain in deciphering the notation and converting it into physical movements. Responding to both the process and the music it creates produces an emotional reaction. To think that learning and playing a musical instrument is not an essential part of an educational programme reveals a stunted understanding of how we learn.
James Watson at the Auld Motor Hoose by Martin Laird
Einstein played violin, Edison the piano and Feynman famously the bongos. The mathematics and physics of music is a fascinating study in itself.
Perhaps most importantly of all is the satisfaction a person gets from playing an instrument or singing. The sheer joy of producing sound and rhythm.
Walter Gorman with the Hoodoomen by Martin Laird
The education decision makers who place importance on standardised tests in maths and language at the expense of other areas of the curriculum fail to understand the learning process. The one size fits all compartment that children in our inclusive schools are to squeeze into is counter to the founding principles of the Curriculum for Excellence where all areas of the curriculum should be equally valued.
Orkney has some of the highest performing schools in Scotland with 91% of school leavers having positive destinations. 57% will go onto higher and further education with the rest into employment. Being involved in music has not held Orkney students back and indeed some will go on to have successful careers in the industry. Involvement in music is why Orkney students are successful in whatever path they choose to follow.
“Music, when soft voices die, /Vibrates in the memory” (Shelley)
Art work by Martin Laird
A version of this article first appeared in iScot magazine.
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I’ll always be grateful to Orkney for personal music-making experiences- from a cappella folk orientated singing with Aimee Leonard, Emily Ward and Sarah Jane Gibbon’s Songshop, to the classically based St.Mag Fest Choir and latterly, Winter Festival choir. The level of musicianship and stagecraft in so many genres throughout the isles is one of its greatest assets and a terrific credit to inspired teaching and respect for both tradition and open mindedness.
Here’s an example of how music can make a difference…..
At the best of times, the word ‘Hospital’ makes us wince a bit – possibly painful associations and memories.
At the moment, even more so – ‘Hospital’ is where the worst of the bad stuff is happening. ‘Hospital‘ equals doom and gloom, to many of us.
But…cut to the Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall, Orkney, where two workers decided to lift the spirits of their fellow workers – and any nearby patient, too, while they were at it!
Ellen Grieve and Eamonn Keyes got together to duet, right in the middle of the hospital reception area, sending the good, positive vibes of their music out in all directions.
Keeping their distance, making music.
And, suddenly, a hospital becomes somewhere where all is not doom and gloom – the hard things are happening too, but there is also music and dancing and companionship.
And …babies are still being born there, and sick folk are still being made well there.
Good on you, Ellen & Eamonn – good on you. It’s a good thing, that you’re doing.