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Music For A New Scottish Parliament

by Simon Thoumire Orchestra

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1.
Doom No Boom 01:57
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2.
Reflections 1 00:15
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3.
The Discussion Begins 02:46
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4.
Reflections 2 00:23
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5.
Your Eyes are Shut 04:26
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6.
Reflections 3 00:51
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7.
The Debate Continues 03:22
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8.
All Together Again 02:38
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9.
Yes Yes 04:23
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10.
Ceilidh for Everyone 04:48
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11.
Views 1: Rob Stokes 01:28
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12.
2 People 04:09
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13.
Views 2: Catriona MacDonald 02:20
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14.
4 People 02:41
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15.
Views 3: Aonghas MacNeacail 01:19
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16.
Counting Canons 06:53
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17.
March for a New Scottish Parliament 02:40
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18.
And Freedom Be our Guide 04:05
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19.
The Future's Bright 12:53
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about

The end of the nineties in Edinburgh was an amazing time. We as musicians were collaborating with each others, experimenting with different genres and different band sizes. I wrote this as I felt that a new Scottish parliament was a good change for us as a nation and now looking back 20 years it definitely has been.

This pieces was performed twice. Firstly in Edinburgh's Queen's Hall and the speakers were people campaigning to become the first MSPs. I am very grateful that they all agreed to take part. It was then performed again at the very first BBC Music Day in 1999. Thanks to the late great Stuart Cruickshanks for making this happen. The recording is a stereo mix of that concert which I added to afterwards to make sure all the parts were heard. Below are the original CD sleeve notes.

In 1707 the Act of Union was passed. This meant that Scotland was formally united with England to form Great Britain. In so doing, the Scottish Parliament voted itself out of existence. In 1999 under the UK Labour government Scotland got it’s parliament back.

This four act musical depiction of emotions, events, feelings and excitement is one man’s impressions of the events leading up to and including this very special occasion. The music is contemporary yet there is no mistaking that it is firmly rooted in Scottish tradition. This bold, imaginative, innovative, live musical experience, will in all probability become a collector’s piece. A performance of this piece was chosen by the BBC to open their Music Live festival and this CD was recorded at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on that occasion in May 1999.

This is a first-rate listen as well as charting a momentous new era.

credits

released March 10, 2021

Orchestra Personnel:
Simon Thoumire - concertina
Eilidh Shaw - fiddle
Aidan O'Rourke - fiddle
Anna-Wendy Stevenson - fiddle
Mike Katz - highland pipes, whistles
David Milligan - Piano
Colin Steel - trumpet
Tom MacNiven - trumpet
Phil Bancroft - saxaphone
Elspeth Cowie - vocals
Alyth MacCormack - vocals
Kevin Mackenzie - guitar
Neil Harland - bass
Tom Bancroft - drums & bodhran
Conductor - Russell Cowieson

Speakers:
Rob Stokes, Catriona MacDonald, Aonghas MacNeacail.

Recorded by BBC Scotland May 1999

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Simon Thoumire Glasgow, UK

Simon Thoumire is a concertina player, composer and the dynamic force behind the traditional music advocacy outfit Hands Up For Trad. A recognised virtuoso musician in his own right, Simon has performed all over the world, made many CDs with fabulous musicians including guitarist Ian Carr and pianist David Milligan. Find out more at www.simonthoumire.com ... more

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