A collection of 16 songs reflecting the landscape, language and history of the area and the feelings they evoke.
Book and CD Launch, 23rd September at 7pm, Catstrand, New Galloway.
Things have been very exciting in the world of the Catstrand Singers over the last two years. The group has been working on ‘Singing the Galloway Glens’, a project comprising a book of music, local history, writings, drawings and anecdotes, with an accompanying CD.
The songs vary in style, from traditional to modern, all written and/or arranged by choir leader Nicola Black. Nicola has crafted new songs, some from her own fertile imagination, some from poems and fragments of writing from other writers, based on the area, its people and wildlife. You’ll also find arrangements of some well loved, familiar Galloway songs including some from weel kent characters not with us any more, Tommy
Edgar MBE, Bunty Scott and Logan Patterson, as well as present local writers Christine Rae and Debra Hall and members of the Ken Writers Group.
The CD of harmony versions by the Catstrand Singers and book are available at local outlets and via choir members or buy a CD or download at www.singingthegallowayglens.bandcamp.com
Also available from that address (in the Merchandise section) is a download of harmony parts for the songs. There is a small fee, and they are free to copy for choirs to use.
The Catstrand Singers have been meeting for twelve years and are a self-selecting community choir. There are no auditions and anyone can join. New members are always welcome. The first performance of the songs will take place at The CatStrand on the afternoon of Sunday the 16th October at 4 pm. Tickets £5 from the CatStrand.
It was great to see this excellent project come to fruition with the beautifully illustrated book and the CD. I was particularly delighted that one of my late father!s poems was put to music and included in the collection! I’m looking forward to hearing the songs performed live at CatStrand soon.
McNabb Laurie, Galloway Glens Team leader, said:
“We are all so excited to see the project reach this stage! The Galloway Glens Scheme, supported by partners including the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Drax, the owners of the Galloway Hydro Scheme, has been exploring every different angle of how to connect people to our heritage, and this project is unlike anything else we have supported. The legacy of the project will be the book and CD, but the work of the group in remaining
active and together through the pandemic is worthy of praise in its own right.”Local choir leader and composer Kate Howard says,’I can’t wait to share these songs with my choirs and singing groups.’
Choir leader Nicola said, ‘The group really bonded during lockdown when we all met online. The singers have worked so hard to produce such a quality book and CD and I’m really proud of what we have achieved.’
