Sophie Stephenson interview on CBC Radio, Prince Edward Island.

Gaelic waulking song.

Steps: Sophie Stephenson & Mairi Britton 
Vocals: Eilidh Munro & Mairi Britton
Sound engineer & guitar: Hector MacInnes

Mile Marbhaisg Air A Ghaol

Step dance: Sophie Stephenson

Pipes: Christian Gamuaf 
Fiddle: Jamie MacDonald

Pipe Slang

The Step Dancer Reels

This beautiful poem, by Sir Alexander Gray, was introduced to me by my mother (who had been introduced to it by her mother when the family were living in Angers, in France, where my Grandmother was teaching at a University). My mother sat her O-Grades whilst living in Anger and she used this poem for her English exam. The poem evokes an image of Scotland, not only a nation and a homeland, but a stern and loving mother to her people. This poem resonated the deep rooted feeling of belonging my mother felt towards Scotland. At the end of the exam paper she wrote, “L'Ecosse me manque”. 

This poem has become my own, personal, favourite. I wanted to share this humble and heart-warming reflection of our land and our people, as we celebrate our nation on the feast day of our patron Saint, Saint Andrew.   

[I recorded this track earlier in my kitchen here, in the wild and windy spaces of South Uist, using an Olympus LS-5 Recorder, balanced (rather precariously) on top of two cardboard boxes and wee, £1.99, tripod!]


'Scotland' by Sir Alexander Gray

An interview with Alasdair Fraser during his visit to Benbecula last week for the University of the Highlands and Islands' symposium and workshop on Scottish fiddle music. 

I caught up with Alasdair for a chat about the relationship between dancer and musician and his top tips for keeping dancers on the feet. We discussed how jigs, strathspeys, reels, waltzes, which make up a big part of the repertoire of Scottish fiddle music, are essentially dance tunes, or tunes for dancing to, and how important is it that musicians have an awareness of the dance traditions in Scotland when they are learning the tunes. We also discussed his own journey in the world of Scottish fiddle music and he reflected of the sense of oneness which can be created as the bow of the fiddler engages with the feet of dancers and they resonate together.

Read my blog for more: http://www.sophabulous.co.uk/4/post/2013/05/the-fiddle-world-of-alasdair-fraser.html

Sophie Stephenson

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