Oor Projecks

Fundit Projecks in Geyin’ On

Researching the traditional music of Dumfries and Galloway is a projeck tae luik at the tradeetional music o a negleckit pairt o Scotland. We hae some aal collections o fiddle tunes frae aboot 1800-1920: the Hanning ms, a fiddler’s notebuik frae Gatehoose; the Dickson ms, a tunebuik frae Dumfriesshire; an the Frank Gilruth collection, 900 postcards wi tunes screivit oan the back. The researchers hae been diggin intae aa kin o sources tae fin oot mair, includin local libraries, archives an museums. We hae foun some gran tunes includin ‘The Auld Brig o Dumfries’, ‘Fleet Bridge’ an ‘The Galloway Quadrilles’. An there’s a wheen o information in aal newspapers aboot bands, concerts, teachers, dancin, an fowk whae made fiddles.

Anither pairt o the projeck his been daein fieldwork: talkin tae fowk aboot their memories o whae played, whit the dances were, an the social lives o faimlies an freens.

The researchers hae been giein talks aboot the projeck, and baith local fowk an ither researchers are aa gey interestit. There’s gan tae be a buik o tunes, wi stories an picturs, an a film showin the landscape associatit wi some o the music. Aa this is gan tae help pit the traditional music o Dumfries an Gallowa ‘oan the map’, an encourage fowk tae celebrate the music-makin o their ain communities.

Completeit Projecks

The Scots Sang an Leid Projeck wis a seeven-week eddication initiative deliverit at Newton Primary Schuil in Dunblane, aimed at deepenin the weans’ unnerstaunin o the Scots leid an cultur through tradeeitional sang. Warkin wi sax clesses—fae Primary 1, 4 an 6—the projeck used a mix o oral tradeetion lairnin style an specially designit warkbuiks tae introduce the bairns tae tradeeitional Scots sangs fae the local area.

Sangs sic as Heather Jock an Will Ye Gang Tae Sheriffmuir were choosen fer thair strang historical links tae Dunblane, sparkin interest an enthusiasm amang the pupils. The wee-est yins were lairnit simpler, repetitive nursery-like sangs in Scots, while the aulder weans explored mair complex songs ballads, sangs an vocabular. Aa sangs were taucht in a caa-an-response style, makkin them accessible tae bairns o aa learnin abilities.

The hale projeck culmintatit wi a concert that includit professional tradeeitional musicians—includin Adam Brown (Rura, Ímar)—wha performit an wrocht alangside the weans. An airt competition gied the bairns the chance tae engage wi the sangs in a creative wey, further growin their connection tae the material.

The ootcomes were gey positive. The weans showed better Scots vocabular, mair confidence in singin an performin in front o ithers, an a growin interest in local history. Teachers particularly noticed strong pairticipation frae bairns wi additional support needs. Helpful feedback will shape future runs o the projeck, including less sang choices an mair time set by for rehearsals. Completit weel wi in budget, the projeck turnit oot tae be a rare success as a model fer mixin music, leid, an heritage lairnin—a model that biggit pride in local identity an opened the door tae mair Scots leid eddication in time tae come.