Preparing Phyllis for Scotland
The Scottish Canadian Connection
"Writing about the soldiers who placed the
Stones of Signal Hill, was the beginning of a rich Canadian history unfolding
before me.
And it is indirectly the
reason for my trip to Scotland. The Stones led me to David Argo, after the
Museum of the Regiments asked me to archive his letters
(WW1) to his wife Mae back here in Calgary. To find out that his nephew, born a
month after David died on the front lines in France, was still alive, named
David Argo and still living in Tillymaud, Scotland - well, I knew I had to go
and deliver David and Mae's songs.
(Update: I will use my Canada floor map, stories and songs to
illustrate what it was like for the pioneer in the 1800's in Canada.
To date, I am booked in Ellon Academy, Inverurie Academy,
Turiff Academy, Meldrum Academy, Fraserburg Academy and
Tobermory School (just 45 minutes away from Calgary Bay, our
namesake) on the Isle of Mull, Scotland.)
It has grown,
miraculously from there...
Not Scottish, and not knowing anyone in Scotland, these
events combined with others, were unfolding leading me there.
Here are some of the people who were and are making it possible -:"
I met Joyce Mann through the Calgary Adult Community Choir. Within weeks she was taking a trip to Scotland where she gave Anne Pack a CD of mine. This is Joyce and her Piper son Braydon who will be Piping at the fund raiser on August 27.
An instrumental force leading me to Scotland, Joyce Mann
and her son Braydon.
I received a beautiful letter from Anne Pack soon after with the closing line, “I hope I can help you take a step across the Atlantic.” Anne Pack has released 8 CDs to date. You can visit her website at
http://www.annepack.co.uk/. It will be exciting to sing with her at a ceilidh.
AnnePack
Bobby Burns supper - Piping in the Haggis.
Robbie Burns supper.
Learning to drink beer at James Joyce pub.
Lots to read and listen to.
City of Calgary, Alderman Madelaine King poses with me in front of the
wall photo of Calgary Bay, in Calgary City Hall atrium.
When the Calgary Folk Festival announced Boot Camp workshops featuring Scottish traditional band Back To The Moon, I knew this was another omen that I was on the right track. What a great workshop - they taught us traditional Scottish folk songs, dances, about Scottish history and instruments!
Visit them
here at
http://www.backofthemoon.co.uk and tell them Phyllis sent you!
Back to the Moon
Clint, owner of T.A.Verns is a strong
promoter of original music. He offered to let me take a photo and let his chest
be the template for our poster - we were going for the Scottish warrior look!
Thanks Clint!
A week before tonight's concert, the walls at
T.A.Verns were bare of about a dozen promotional posters for this event.
So we have printed off a few more posters, (in case you didn’t get yours)
and Clint will even sign them for a $5.00 donation to the cause.
Because this is my first trip to the UK and no one knows me, I will be playing some venues for free. To offset costs of hiring musicians, travel and renting equipment I am fund raising here in Calgary. I have really cool tee shirts available for $20 if you would like to support my efforts.
Just email me at
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Our Fund Raiser Concert is August 27 at 8 pm (come early).
Braydon Mann will lead the evening with his Bag Pipes!
Being held at T.A. Verns 622-8 Ave SW 237-8376
or call me for tickets 714-5405.
This concert is a step by step musical account of the omens and miracles that are leading me to Scotland!
Featuring Tom Poole (mandolin, banjo, guitar, vocals)
Cathy Buchanen, vocals
Tommy Hamilton, Fiddle
and an 8 minute slide show called The Stones of Signal Hill and the actual soldiers photos from
1915 who arranged the stones. (courtesy of the Museum of the Regiments)
Through Anne Pack and Red Barn Studios in Scotland came
Heather Inness and Ciaran Dorris. Ciaran will be working with me in
schools and Heather will be a driving companion as well as a vocal partner.
Anne Pack, Ciaran and Heather have sent a message on CD for our concert August
27! Visit Heather's website at
http://www.musicinscotland.com/ClunieMusic/heather.htm.
Ciaran Dorris and Heather Inness
I hope I can get this map into my suitcase - it is a big part
of my school presentation called "The Scottish Canadian Connection."
This is Tom Poole and I, in the middle of a 15 foot
map of Canada. In schools the students role play the pioneers as
they walk across Canada. The children at Colonel Walker school
enjoyed the 90 minute story/song presentation and said they learned
a lot about pioneer life.
Concert and Fundraiser Night, August 27, 2006
Sheila and Dan open the evening
Braydon Mann pipes us in
Tom Poole, Tommy Hamilton, Cathy Buchanen and I on stage
Our Audience was awesome!
Links to
others who made this trip possible:
It was unbelievable to learn about and
email Wesley Argo who researched the Argo family and wrote "Milestones In
The Heather" about the Argo families of Scotland and their world wide
Immigration. He followed this up with "Argo Families Revisited" including
David Argo and his family. If you are interested you can contact Wesley at
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or click
here.
A teacher at Ellon Academy, Elaine was
instrumental in giving me early contacts.
As well as teaching Elaine is an amazing
seamstress. Visit her web site at :
http://www.elaineadamsonbridal.co.uk/
Red Barn Studios were the good people who
connected me with Heather Innis and Ciaran Dorris.
It will be a treat to visit their studio and
send you back some photos, while I record a song there, September 15
http://www.redbarn.co.uk/main.html
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