Review by Jennie Macfie
Celtic Connections 2010 – BBC Young Trad Musician of the Year
Grand Hall, City Halls, Glasgow, 31 January 2010
PART OF the fun of Celtic Connections is spotting the stars of tomorrow. The feeling of anticipation and excitement at the 2010 BBC awards is not unlike standing round the saddling enclosure before the Derby.
Daniel Thorpe (© BBC Scotland)
The audience in the intimidatingly imposing Grand Hall includes new Minister for Culture Fiona Hyslop, some stellar names in traditional music, sundry reviewers, promoters from around the world, and the Head of Radio Scotland, who are broadcasting the whole show – live. For the young runners backstage, waiting to be introduced by Mary Ann Kennedy, the pressure is definitely on.
Not that Kyle Warren, who was first of the six on stage, showed it. A veteran of the estimable Scottish Youth Pipe Band and a relaxed, engaging stage presence, his choice of tunes included masters like Fred Morrison and Allan Macdonald of Glenuig. The sustained notes in the latter’s beautiful, poignant ‘We’re a Case, the Bunch of Us’ are a test of piping skill which Warren passed with flying colours.
A hard act to follow, unfortunately for Mairi Chaimbeul from Skye. Despite lovely strong harp playing and a confident choice of tunes rooted in widely different cultures, her voice betrayed the weight of pressure on her 16-year old shoulders.
Accordionist Paddy Callaghan from Glasgow, on the other hand, appeared completely comfortable with both the audience and accompanists Adam Brown and Julia Reid as he delivered a rousing set. A long successful career seems certain.
Hannah Phillips looked every inch the clarsach diva, corsaged in white with silver tights which sparkled as brightly as her playing. Only the last tune, which felt somewhat hurried, let her down. Lorne MacDougall was last on, another very likeable piper whose gracenotes were jawdroppingly fabulous, but not quite enough to see off Daniel Thorpe.
Thorpe’s apprentice piece of fiddle styles ranged widely from a Grappelli-esque ‘Nana’s Walkabout'; Cape Breton and Jonny Hardie through that most eldritch of Riddell tunes, ‘Lament for King George V'; ending in high style with some Fraser Fifield, Shooglenifty and the Earl of Craufurd. The judges had an unenviable task, but the eventual winner, Daniel Thorpe, has potential stretching far beyond Scottish traditional music.
He and MacDougall had been in even more impressive form the previous day in a concert featuring the TMSA Young Trad musicians of 2009, all of them names we will be hearing from for a long time to come. They were preceded by current students at Plockton High School who opened with a bravura pipe trio.
These self-confident youngsters then demonstrated superb instrumental and vocal skills, managed the hitherto impossible feat of making ‘Auld Lang Syne’ sound fresh and exciting, and are a credit to all their tutors, including Marc Duff and Andy Thorburn.
Despite starting at 1pm in the Strathclyde Suite, this concert had all the excitement and energy of a major evening event – a real highlight of Celtic Connections for many of the promoters and professional musicians in the audience.
The Future of Our Past the previous Saturday showcased students at the RSAMD with a strong showing on the vocal front, particularly third year Claire Hastings who made Richard Thompson’s ‘Vincent Black Lightning 1952′ entirely her own.
The ebullient third years apart, the RSAMD students lacked some of the confidence and polish of their guests, Catriona Macdonald’s fiddle group from the renowned Newcastle traditional music course.
Entirely at home on stage, this multinational group delivered beautifully crisp ensemble playing. Bouquets all round, especially to Chloe Merriott, an elegant cellist who is also a dab hand – or should that be foot? – at clog dancing.
© Jennie Macfie, 2010
