This week saw the launch of the Singing the Galloway Glens project which will see (or hear!) the CatStrand Singers celebrate the cultural and natural heritage of the Galloway Glens region through song.
The project will research songs which herald from the Ken/Dee valley region whose melodies and lyrics will connect people to our heritage through learning and understanding of the landscape, culture, local dialect as well as the social and natural history of the Galloway Glens region. The CatStrand Singers aim to provide performances at local concerts and events across the Galloway Glens region as well as recording a CD and developing a songbook, ensuring these important songs have a permanent record, leaving a legacy for years to come.
The CatStrand Singers are open to anyone who would like to sing with others and does not rely on musical ability. They meet every Thursday from 11am to 12pm at the CatStrand in New Galloway. If you would like to get involved, please contact Susan, Anne or Lis at [email protected] or follow them on their Facebook page @CatStrand Singers. http://www.catstrand.com/workshops
The ‘Singing the Galloway Glens’ project has been supported by a grant of £5,000 through the Galloway Glens ‘Our Heritage’ Small Grants Scheme. The Galloway Glens Administrator, Jude Crooks, met members of the CatStrand Singers at the CatStrand Arts Centre in New Galloway to present the cheque to the Choir.
Lis Lewis, CatStrand Singers Member, said: –
We’re really excited about this project. Many of us are not originally from this area, but we all love living here and this gives us the opportunity to celebrate that. I hope it’ll also give us a deeper understanding and appreciation of music which tells stories of life in Galloway, now and in the past. Best of all, we’ll have a lot of fun learning and performing the songs.
Nicola Black, CatStrand Singers Musical Director, said: –
I’m excited to be leading of this project, arranging existing songs and writing new ones based on the writings and experiences of people past and present in the community. At the end of the project, performances, book and CD, will hopefully take it to a wide audience.
Jude Crooks, Galloway Glens Scheme Administrator said:
Bringing together the heritage of the Ken/Dee valley through song will truly allow people to connect to the heritage of the region. Songs are like time capsules, the language, dialect, culture, celebrations and much more can provide an indicative social commentary and can tell the story of what makes the local landscape special and how we can celebrate this. Many thanks as always to the National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland for the funding and for the support from partners including Dumfries & Galloway Council and the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere.
