Rhapsody in abundance in Argyll

This is what the Irish call a mixumgatherum of creative activities – all human arts are here. Rhapsody rules. Within Argyll’s Homecoming 2009 programme, secondary school children from across Argyll will be taking part in music, photography, fashion, hair and make-up, modelling, choreography and performance skills.

The musical input to Homecoming Rhapsody is a development of the Argyll Rhapsody created by Donald Shaw in 2007 featuring a pupils’ orchestra which includes pipers, fiddlers, orchestral and band instrumentation, percussion and a 25 piece choir all accompanied by professional traditional musicians. The output will be a fusion of traditional and modern Scottish music.

As well as a composer of international repute, and director of Celtic Connections, Donald Shaw (pictured left) is also a performer, being a founder member of the band Capercaillie. Donald embraced the 2007 commission with enthusiasm and cultural integrity, immersing himself in the archives of the School of Scottish Studies collecting Argyll texts which he has set to music. The event includes Gaelic song and features an eclectic mix of instruments that have been sourced from the rich heritage of the established tradition within Argyll. The pupils have been working together to prepare for this event with their tutors, Donald Shaw and Gaelic singer Maeve Mackinnon.

Other tutors involved in the preparation of the musical element of the programme are Dunoon piper Craig Campbell, fiddler Patsy Reid and Fiddle Folk’s schools fiddle tuto, Sarah Naylor.

The music will have a great backdrop of projected images representing ‘Our Space’ – a photographic collection from pupils in Argyll and Bute Secondary Schools. Almost 200 young artists contributed to a video presentation and photographic exhibition which augmented Argyll Rhapsody 07. Award winning photojournalist Colin McPherson oversaw the project, and the resulting still images reflected and illustrated what Argyll meant to these young people.

Colin is back to help pupils build a portfolio of personal images. The first half of the evening featuring the musical element of Rhapsody will be accompanied by a projected image display  – a photographic collection from pupils across the area’s secondary schools who have worked with Colin McPherson in a series of school workshops. These school sessions included a presentation about his own work and a discussion on photography covering necessary skills and topics such as composition and editing – through to making storyboards, marketing photographs and displaying images.

Using skills learned from Colin, the pupils were then encouraged to expand and develop their chosen theme until they had a ‘portfolio’ of images. The still images will also be displayed as an exhibition at the concerts and will subsequently tour secondary schools.

Then there’s Art and Design Fashion students on a Homecoming theme. This is a rare chance for students to present their work in a forum supported by professionals. The fashion element of Rhapsody is new for 2009 and is a showcase of young innovation and style. Models will exhibit work by senior art and design pupils featuring hats, shoes, jewellery and garments created around the international theme of ‘Scottish influence abroad’. The show promises to be a ‘wild Scottish fashion show accompanied by some wild Scottish live music!’

Rhapsody Performance dates are:

• Wednesday 28th October 7.30pm at the  Corran Halls, Oban. Booking by phone to Box office at: 01631 567333 and by email at: info@corranhalls.co.uk
• Thursday 29th October at 7.30pm at Hermitage Academy, Helensburgh. Booking by phone at: 01436 672145 or by email at: enquiries@hermitageacademy.argyll-bute.sch.uk

Tickets from venues: £8 / £5 concessions and Young Scot card holders.

Mark Morpurgo: Folk and Traditional Music Editor