It has been a loooong time since I've posted. And this post is a month late. I'm terrible.
Anyhoo, I'm living in Edinburgh, and doing my teacher training at Moray House School at the University of Edinburgh. I had high hopes of immersing myself in the musical community here, but studies and work have prevented me from accepting my offer of a place in the Edinburgh Festival Chorus. However, I did get the chance to revisit my celtic repertoire this January, during the annual celebrations of Robert Burns, the Scottish bard. The school where I work does an annual Burns Supper, complete with haggis, poetry recitations, and ceilidh dancing. Another standard part of the celebrations is singing Burns songs. Knowing my musical history, they asked me to contribute a performance. I don't have my harp with me in Scotland, but luckily the school owns one, so I was able to accompany myself, just like the old days on the Victoria causeway. For the occasion I learned "Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonny Doon", which I first heard years ago on Kathleen Ferrier's iconic album "Blow the Wind Southerly". I was very glad to finally have an excuse to learn this song, as I've always thought the soaring melody has the potential to really show off the voice. I was asked to reprise my performance a few weeks later at the Junior School's Scottish Week assembly, at which time I also sang "My luv's like a red, red rose", which has been in my repertoire for years. The first time I heard that song was on an episode of "Road to Avonlea", which was one of my favourite Canadian TV shows as a child.
I have been missing singing and playing the harp since arriving in Edinburgh, so this was a lovely chance for me to set some time aside for practicing!
