These were two small but perfectly formed or should I say select evenings i.e. there were only four of us, the same four (Katy, Dave, David and Eliza) on each occasion giving us time to enjoy the craic etc. Pipes, guitar and voice featured on each occasion and suffice it to say a selection of tunes and songs the like of which were ne'er....etc.
A flavour of the two evenings follow:
January Tunes - on pipes 'Lugaren,' 'Lads of Alnwick,' 'All the Neet I Lay wi' Jackie in my Arms,'
and on guitar, 'Loch Tay Boat Song' and 'Dark Island.'
Burns, Robert, of that name was celebrated from the get-go with Dave's 'Ae Fond Kiss...' and Eliza's 'Ca the Yows.' Dave also gave us 'Will you come by the Hills.' and 'Where have the Years Gone Between.' Katy gave us some instruction on the link between greenery and year-round festivals with 'Candlemas Eve.' Ribaldry was a prevailing theme among the women's songs with Katy's 'As I came over the Curly Mount' as a card to trump Eliza's 'Dainty Davy' the unexpurgated version. Katy also sang the curious 'Codling Tree'
There were others, too numerous to name... not quite.
February Tunes - on pipes 'Baillez- li,' 'Waltz a Cadet,' 'Pawkey Adam Glen,' 'Mount your Baggage' and 'Old Drops of Brandy'
Songs: Dave gave us 'All the Tunes in the World' to the tune of 'South Wind' and 'I'm a Rover' to which Eliza responded with the supernatural version of same, 'The Grey Cock' and Katy a riposte, 'Why Should I...' There followed a discussion of night visiting songs usually involving a cock that crows, sometimes before the dawn, and generally disrupts proceedings natural or otherwise, the discussion ranging as far as the Provencal 'Alba,' a very vibrant form, as Katy outlined. Katy also gave us a feisty version of 'Barbara Allen.'
There were others including a notable 'Ever Since the Dog Ate Aunt Bella' from Katy, Dave's heartfelt rendering of 'On a Monday Morning,' and 'The Rose of Allendale' and David's 'Mek a Good Hound' by Cisley Fox Smith.
All in all good sangs and tunes and good company. Join us next time!
