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Some more photos from the Aberdeen FluteFling weekend November 2024 See the blog post about the weekend here. Click on the photos to enlarge. Credits: Linda Harkness, Gordon Turnbull; captions to follow.
The Aberdeen FluteFling took place 1-3 November 2024 and featured workshops with Claire Mann, Freya Rae and Laura MacKenzie, plus Dougie Pincock in conversation with flute maker George Ormiston.
Aberdeen FluteFling musicians celebrating a fine day of music together. Photo (c) Linda Harkness
Thanks to all participants, guests, tutors, organisers and venues including Ruthrieston Community Centre, the Blue Lamp and Rishi’s Indian Aroma! FluteFling will return to Aberdeen in November 2025.
The weekend opened with a lively session in the upstairs lounge of The Blue Lamp in the Gallowgate. Thanks to Lewis Brown for providing the venue and continuing to support live music in Aberdeen.
The Friday night session at the Blue Lamp (c) John Crawford
It was interesting to find ourselves sharing the facilities with a Halloween party; some of revellers in fancy dress got lost on their way to the big downstairs lounge. Re-directing them Claire Mann said:
The Saturday workshops at Ruthrieston Community Centre this year were something very special with all three of our first all-female tutor line up teaching in Aberdeen for the first time.
The teaching resources provided by the tutors delivered an intriguing mix of traditional and contemporary music from Scotland, Ireland and Sweden for participants including some wonderful and mesmeric countermelodies.
During the day Flute-maker George Ormiston had a pop-up space that allowed people to try out various models of his instruments and there was a constant flow of people in and out all day.
Dougie Pincock demonstrated the importance relaxation in a flute player’s daily regime.
Dougie Pincock finds a quiet moment to rest during the Saturday workshops (c) John Crawford
In Rishi’s Indian Aroma Freya provided an important lesson in nutrition for flute and whistle players and made sure she had a snack for the train journey home. (c) John Crawford
Saturday evening saw a return to The Blue Lamp for some essential rehydration and work on what had been learned during the day.
Flutes in full flow (c) John Crawford
The session warms up… (c) John Crawford
Laura MacKenzie (left) introduces a Stateside tradition to Scotland — of flute players linking arms to make a chain. (c) John Crawford
Pipe tunes on the whistle (c) John Crawford
Three flute players on their other instruments: L-R Rachel (clarsach), Claire Mann (fiddle), Freya Rae (fiddle) (c) Kenny Hadden
The Saturday session in full flight (c) John Crawford
Whistle and flute from Claire and Freya (c) John Crawford
A fine brunch at “Cup”, in little Belmont Street, delivered on Laura’s need to sample the vegan breakfast including haggis and restored the remainder of the survivor’s for the Sunday session. Altogether a more sedate outing than Friday and Saturday but still good craic and tunes!
The Sunday session always has a more relaxed vibe (c) John Crawford
More pipe tunes flying off the whistles (c) John Crawford
More photos from the weekend can be found here.
What did people say they enjoyed about the weekend? This is some of the feedback we had.
Loved the mix of ornamentation, technique and tunes. Every tutor had a very different approach and I took a lot which I’m excited to use to go further with my playing in future.
Another well organised and valuable weekend. Thanks to all concerned. Oh and thanks for the rain free weather!
Inspiring… Will always recommend
Enjoyed it lots. Would certainly recommend it to others, and look forward to the next one! Thank you!
[I learned] that the flute playing world takes on many shapes and styles and no one should turn their back on new forms and ideas. The sharing of knowledge is a great aspect of the flute playing fraternity.
After drawing breath, the team are now looking towards making the 2025 Edinburgh event a success. The event will take place 4-6 April 2025, so look out for news of tickets going on sale. We’re also making early plans for Aberdeen 2025.
Please let us know if you have any specific ideas or suggestions for future events. As always, make sure you are signed up to the mailing list to hear about it all first before tickets go on general sale.
About the author: John Crawford is a long-co-organiser with FluteFling. John enjoys exploring the forgotten pre-revival Scottish flute manuscripts that reside in online libraries and collections, such as this Scottish fife player’s manuscript from 1799.
A great turnout for the Edinburgh FluteFling in April (c) Gordon Turnbull
Well, we did it again! The 10th Anniversary Weekend was a great success, with our biggest ever concert and sold-out workshops. The sun shone for us too!
Thanks to everyone who helped to make this a success, and we look forward to seeing you at the next one.
The weekend opened with a stellar concert headlined by the award winning Calum Stewart with Luc McNally accompanying on guitar and Sophie Stephenson bringing her Scottish step dance footwork for percussive and visual interplay.
Dougie Pincock performing solo at Edinburgh FluteFling 2024. (c) Gordon Turnbull
There was a veritable buzz and a sense of occasion as people gathered in the atrium and the hall beforehand. The first half of the evening saw Dougie Pincock take the stage in front of a packed hall to promote the humble D whistle with a versatile and dazzling performance that included tunes in keys that normally wouldn’t be played on the instrument. The audacity and dexterity brought audible gasps from an audience that included many musicians.
Freya Rae (flute) and Siannie Moodie (clarsach) performing at Edinburgh FluteFling 2024. (c) Gordon Turnbull
Freya Rae took the stage next, accompanied by Siannie Moodie on clarsach. A multi-instrumentalist, Freya is known in Edinburgh for her Boehm flute playing of traditional music and we were treated to some recent dynamic compositions that went down well with the audience. If the duo were at all nervous, it wasn’t apparent in an assured and tight set. Hopefully we will all be hearing more of their music together, as their interplay and sound was perfect for what was to come.
Luc McNally, Sophie Stephenson and Calum Stewart in concert (c) Gordon Turnbull
The main concert lived up to its promise, with an energetic and vibrant performance from Calum, Luc and Sophie, three performers at the top of their game, complementing and playing off each other throughout. The uilleann pipes were crisp and clear, the flute rich and sonorous as Calum presented new material alongside more familiar tunes from earlier recordings.
Luc McNally and Calum Stewart (c) Gordon Turnbull
A mix of newly composed tunes with older ones from his native Moray, the blend was finely balanced. Luc’s guitar alternated between rhythm and melody, the bell-like tones augmented by a bass octave pedal to give a sudden sonic depth to the music. The top end of the sound was provided by Sophie’s intricate percussive steps, sometimes highlighting the beat, at other times playing off the melody line.
One the strands of FluteFling is participation, and after the encores, the room was turned around to create a session space for the many musicians in the audience, and continue the music into the night.
Edinburgh FluteFling Friday night session (c) Gordon Turnbull
The workshops were the busiest yet, the Anchor Hub building buzzing with activity as people caught up with each other in between immersion in flute talk and playing. The relationship between the pipes and the flute, Boehm system, keyless systems and whistles were all explored.
Workshop with Dougie Pincock (c) Gordon Turnbull
Workshop with Sharon Newton Creasey (c) Gordon Turnbull
Flute-maker George Ormiston had a pop-up space that allowed people to try out various models of his instruments and there was a constant flow of people in and out all day.
Sharon and Kenny try out George Ormiston whistles. (c) Gordon Turnbull
While the flute workshops were taking place, Sophie Stephenson also held a couple of dance workshops and joined Calum for a demonstration and talk on the relationship between dance and music in what became a celebration of two reviving traditions, Scottish step dance and Scottish flute.
Calum Stewart and Sophie Stephenson demonstrate aspects of playing for dancing. Host Peter Saunders looks on. (c) Gordon Turnbull
Everyone reconvened later that evening for another session into the night at the Heart of Newhaven Community.
The Saturday night session at the Heart of Newhaven Community (c) John Crawford
We tried a new venue for the Sunday farewell session, having outgrown the Sandy Bells space, which struggled to accommodate the numbers last year. Thanks to Marie-Elaine Maguire for suggesting Leith Depot, which is on main public transport routes and has good food and drink. The atmosphere was relaxed and the tunes mellow.
Leith Depot Session (c) John Crawford
Leith Depot Session (c) John Crawford
Leith Depot Session (c) Gordon Turnbull
Leith Depot Session (c) John Crawford
What did people say they enjoyed about the weekend? This is some of the feedback we had.
Meeting other flute players
New ornamentation techniques, a fantastic session experience and a sense of community.
Varied and interesting teaching sessions
There were some great pieces of advice in the workshops… Reminders of various techniques for practising tone… relationship between Scottish piping & fluting… a more general understanding of the flute in Scottish trad.
An inspiration to look out more in the way of resources on the internet, and a resolution to: pay more attention to embouchure and tone; and to pick up the flute every day.
…inspiration and new musical connections
Would certainly recommend it.
Really enjoyed the workshops… Already recommended it to a friend.
Loved it, can’t wait til the next one
Excellent event and would definitely recommend it
Positive & reinforcing. Just good to hang out with other flute players who have similar enthusiasms. Always good to see younger people as a part of the whole thing. Would and have recommended to others.
After drawing breath, the team are now looking towards making Aberdeen a success. The event takes place 1-3 November 2024, so look out for tickets going on sale later in the summer. We’re also making plans for Edinburgh 2025 and will reveal more towards the end of the year.
As always, make sure you are signed up to the mailing list to hear about it all first before tickets go on general sale.
In Scotland when the clocks are turned back in October, you know you’re getting deep into Autumn, with darker days and longer nights. Which makes the thought of being indoors with others to play music so much more inviting, as it was for the first FluteFling outing to the Granite City since 2019.
Niall Kenny takes a group at the Saturday workshops (c) Gordon Turnbull
Niall Kenny and Munro Gauld had previously taught at FluteFling in Edinburgh but this was the first time Tina Jordan Rees had taught with us, so it was a departure from our previous outings. Indeed, this was the first time that none of the core tutors were teaching.
This year we were based at Ruthrieston Community Centre, with sessions at The Blue Lamp (Friday and Sunday) and at Cults Bowling Club (Saturday). The latter was unusual for us and made necessary by the lack of available venues in the city, a problem we found when organising the Edinburgh weekend in May and part of a wider problem across the country. However, we were made very welcome and had the space to ourselves.
Storms Babet and Ciarán had battered the NE of Scotland and made travel plans for many a bit tricky but we were all there to enjoy a well-attended event — the highest numbers we have had for the Aberdeen weekend.
The Friday night session at The Blue Lamp in Aberdeen. (c) Malcolm Reavell
With familiar faces gathering at the Friday night session, we eased ourselves into remembering what these gatherings are all about. Where else can you be in the company of such great flute players and fellow aficionados without apology? Digging out the musical gems from the back of the mind, sharing knowledge and news together. It was an informal way to warm ourselves up and reorient ourselves to the flute world.
FluteFling at Ruthrieston Community Centre, Aberdeen (c) Gordon Turnbull
The Saturday venue at Ruthrieston was new to us and well-scouted by John Crawford, who once again had done a great job to ensure that a FluteFling weekend could go ahead. Sadly, John wasn’t able to attend in person until the final session, but we hope he is on the mend and in good fettle for the next outing. Kenny Hadden was of course on hand throughout the day and Coralie Mills returned to the front desk to ensure everything ran smoothly from registration to packing up and all things in between.
Tina Jordan Rees leads a workshop. (c) Gordon Turnbull
Once again, we rotated three groups around the three tutors so that everyone got a range of different perspectives and focus. The longer breaks were a great chance to catch up, try out flutes and clarify teaching points. We were joined just before lunch by flute maker George Ormiston, who was great company and had brought some of his flutes and a whistle for people to try.
George Ormiston during on the breaks between workshops (c) Gordon Turnbull
We were struck by the fact that almost all of those attending the weekend were playing modern flutes and only a handful of older flutes were being played. It’s a sure sign of how flute making has come on in recent years that so many high quality instruments are now available to musicians. We didn’t do a survey, but as well as numerous Ormistons, there were examples by Aebi, Gabriel, Windward, Lehart, Thomson, Wilkes and certainly others. Maybe next time we should do a survey.
Munro Gauld (L) and Dougie Pincock (R) in conversation. (c) Gordon Turnbull
The talk at the end of the day was an interview with Munro Gauld led by Dougie Pincock. The focus was Munro’s work in exploring some of the vast archives of Scottish traditional music, in particular rediscovering the lost music of the Gàidhlig Highlands.
In particular, Munro stressed the importance of connecting the music to place, people and story. This roots the music in history and directly connects the present day musician and listener to people, events and emotions of the past, giving it an additional depth and heft that might otherwise be missing. Munro went on to describe how we can all do this for ourselves, digging where we stand. It is clear that there is much to be unearthed and brought to light, and that many were clearly inspired to do so.
Personally, I felt that there was possibly a natural synergy in rediscovering forgotten Scottish music on flutes, an instrument long forgotten in Scotland, now becoming remembered.
I have been aware of Munro’s work for a while and his talk was originally going to be at Edinburgh in 2020, which of course fell foul of Covid. For those who were not there on this occasion, the interview was recorded by Peter Saunders for The Scottish Flute Channel on YouTube and will be published in due course.
The evening session was slightly out of town, where Cults Bowling Club made us feel very welcome, giving their space over to us entirely. Lots more tunes, some Bb flutes and an A flute as well.
The Saturday session at Cults Bowling Club (c) Gordon Turnbull
Gordon Turnbull (L) and Peter Saunders (R) playing Bb flutes. (c) Chris Cracknell
Overall, there was a good turnout from Aberdeen and the surrounding area, but people had also travelled from Inverness, Stirlingshire, Dunbar, Edinburgh, Perthshire, Glasgow, Lancashire, Germany and Sweden. It was particularly delightful to finally meet Joel Hagen from Gothenburg, who had been trying to attend a FluteFling weekend since 2020. Joel plays with the Swedish group Jaerv, which are definitely worth checking out. As hoped, he treated us to some Swedish tunes, while Chris Cracknell introduced us to some German tunes as we made common cause with the flute as a lesser-known instrument in other traditions.
The Sunday Survivors’ Session at The Blue Lamp (c) Gordon Turnbull
The Sunday Survivors’ Session was well attended, with two sittings. Making the most of the daylight for driving meant that I only briefly saw John Crawford to thank him for the successful arrangements, and was literally heading out of the door when Peter arrived with George Ormiston and Munro, fresh from interviewing for the Scottish Flute Channel. From conversations with Peter, I think we are in for a treat over the rest of the winter as the interviews are published.
Thanks to everyone who helped to plan the weekend and ensure that it ran smoothly, in particular John Crawford, Peter Saunders, Kenny Hadden, Coralie Mills, Lorna Aucott, Dougie Pincock and George Ormiston, plus of course the three fine tutors themselves. Thanks too, to all of the venues for accommodating us so well.
Munro has since shared a link on Facebook to a blog on some of his work. He writes:
Here is the second blog of research from the An Cuinneachadh project looking at C18th music connected with Fort Augustus. This episode focuses on the then owners of the land at the southern end of Loch Ness – The Lovat Frasers. Their story is “colourful” and encompasses bigamy, treason and beheading, as well as Royal recognition and great honours for victory in the battles of Britain’s emerging empire. These events were captured at the time by music and song (the social media of their day). Playing these reels, strathspeys, marches and Gaelic songs helps us journey back 250 years to get a sense of a very different Scotland …
The blog is available in either English or Gaelic.
The next FluteFling Weekend will be in Edinburgh to celebrate our 10th Anniversary 19-21 April at the Heart of Newhaven Community. We’re already making plans and I’m sure it will soon be upon us.
Wintertrad, led by FluteFling supporter Tom Oakes with Shetland fiddler Ross Couper, is 24-26 November in Edinburgh, again at the Heart of Newhaven Community and around Leith Walk. Highly recommended, with great concerts, workshops and sessions. Flutes are a big focus of course.
Tradwinds afternoon workshop on Saturday 2nd December 1-4pm. Come along to work on Scottish tunes and techniques for flute and whistles with Gordon Turnbull. Some experience is needed, but it is a mixed and supportive group, teaching material supplied in advance. Fisherrow Community Centre, Musselburgh.
Ali Hutton and Tom Oakes perform at FluteFling 2023 (c) Gordon Turnbull
FluteFling returned to Edinburgh with a great full weekend in May, featuring Tom Oakes and Ali Hutton in concert and workshops with Davy Maguire, Sharon Creasey and Tom Oakes.
The sun shone on a sell-out event at our new venue in the north of Edinburgh, the Heart of Newhaven Community, for our first post-lockdown weekend in Edinburgh. Just West of neighbouring Leith, it proved to be the perfect setting. (See this blog post for peek behind the scenes).
Tom Oakes had initially been invited to perform at the cancelled 2020 event, so we were delighted that he was able to take to the stage with Ali Hutton in a new duo. Support came from Sharon Creasey on her Böhm system flute, with Tom’s delicate bouzouki underpinning her strong, brilliant sound as she treated us to some of the tunes from The FluteFling Collection. It’s always a treat to listen to other flute players that we don’t always get to hear, so kudos to Niall Kenny for stepping into the other support slot despite a long shift in his day job as agricultural vet. His tone shone through as he got into the groove.
A tuning issue between Ali Hutton’s pipes and Tom’s flute at warm-up meant a last minute change as Ali took a back seat and accompanied Tom. What followed was a flute masterclass in technique, control and tone, from fast-paced cascades of newly penned tunes in tumbling time signatures to slow airs with minimal foot pedal live effects. (“The best foot pedal control from a non-driver I have ever seen”, according to Ali Hutton). Underpinned by Ali’s sympathetic guitar, sometimes driving, sometimes holding back to provide more space to the music, the packed audience were mesmerised and appreciative. For more of that considered and thoughtful control, see Tom’s album Water Street. Look out for more of Ali and Tom in the future.
Tom and Sharon were to be teaching the following day and third tutor Davy Maguire arrived from Belfast during the concert. He joined them both on stage for a rousing set of tunes to wind up the concert and preface the session in the concert hall that followed.
Tunes after the Friday night concert. (c) Gordon Turnbull
Flute players going through the paces during an afternoon workshop. (c) Gordon Turnbull
The sun really shone for us on the Saturday, with blue skies marking the end of a cold spring. It contributed to a special day, as we had taken over the Anchor Hub at Heart of Newhaven Community and people were able to spill out into the sunshine at the breaks between the sell-out workshops.
It was great to see so many new and familiar faces, with people catching up with each other, reconnecting and making new friends.
One big difference was the space that we had and in the middle of it all, a desk run by Coralie Mills and Linda Harkness who kept things running smoothly on the ground.
Kenny Hadden speaking on the traditional flute revival in Scotland. (c) Gordon Turnbull
As in previous years, the teaching was rounded off with a talk. Kenny Hadden gave a presentation on the history of the flute in the Folk Revival in Scotland.
Updated from the one he gave at the book launch in Stonehaven in 2022, it was an illustrated form of the introduction he wrote for The FluteFling Collection and introduced many people to a subject that is little known or misunderstood.
One highlight was the presence of Dougie Pincock, who had arrived during the day to give a talk in the evening. As a member of The Battlefield Band, Dougie had a significant part to play in the Scottish flute revival himself.
Dougie Pincock then and now, standing in front of a photo taken during his time in The Battlefield Band (c) Gordon Turnbull
Davy Maguire and Sharon Creasey listen closely as Dougie Pincock performs a set of tunes on the Highland pipes. (c) Gordon Turnbull
After a now-traditional group curry, Dougie went on to give a talk and demonstration in the hall on Highland piping and the flute.
Always a particularly engaging and entertaining speaker, Dougie is a contributor to The FluteFling Collection. Take-aways included a better understanding of the role of bagpipes in the Folk Revival, the need to learn correct versions of tunes and the importance of grace notes or articulation in Highland pipe tunes.
Following the talk, the remainder of the evening saw another session take place before we all had to make our ways home.
Some of the contributors to The FluteFling Collection. L-R: Rebecca Knorr, Davy Maguire, Sharon Creasey (back), Kenny Hadden (seated), Gordon Turnbull (c) John Crawford
With another return to our previous traditions, brunch was in town near Sandy Bells. Rebecca Knorr joined us and we had a photo opportunity to have a gathering of tunebook contributors. Not the complete set, but the biggest number yet in the same place.
The session in a near-empty Sandy Bells was as good as any previously, with a great sound produced by all in the back space of the pub. As ever, we were joined by Cathal McConnell (also a tunebook contributor) who has become like a patron saint of the organisation.
The Sunday session in Sandy Bells. Clockwise L-R: Cathal McConnell, Sharon Creasey, Ann Ward, Martin Duckworth, Davy Maguire, Rebecca Knorr, Gordon Turnbull, Richard Elliot, Kenny Hadden.
While people had to make a move for the road home, there was still time for a final fling as a handful of us joined the excellent Waverley Bar session regulars for a short while.
The Waverley Bar session: L-R: Davy Maguire, John Martin, Geoarge Duff, Allan MacDonald (c) Gordon Turnbull
It wound up a fine weekend of music and togetherness, much needed by all of the FluteFling community after the difficulties of the past few years.
Now that we have broken the ice and found a way to do this kind of thing again, we have plans to do so again.
Not only do we have the Aberdeen weekend dates in place (3-5 November), we are already working hard for 2024, which will be the 10th anniversary of FluteFling, which we hope will be very special.
Thanks again, to all of the contributors, participants and well-wishers. In the meantime, sign up to the newsletter to keep up with these and other FluteFling activities.