by AdminAFO | Jul 6, 2015 | International Tours, Reviews, South Africa 2015
Review from Cue, Newspaper of the National Festival of the Arts, Grahamstown Saturday 4 July Volume 29 No 3 Jeffrey Brukman Cue specialist writer “From lone bagpiper Andrew Spence’s first haunting reverie the stage was set for a celebration of Scottish (and a smattering of Irish) culture. Replete with references to national poet Robert Burns, some fine national dancing and a plethora of reels, jigs, slow airs, waltzes and marches, this concert showcased the best of Scotland’s fine young artistic talent. Irrepressibly enthusiastic conductor David Moore directed the youthful 80-strong orchestra with insight, precision and verve. His sensitive direction of My Love is like a Red, Red Rose, where spine-tingling vibrato intermingled with long-spun cello lines, highlighted the orchestra’s obvious appreciation for expressive music making. Likewise, the young players portrayed with poignant sophistication Neil Gow’s Lament for the death of my second wife. This was music-making from the top drawer. A homogenous group, this orchestra plays with studious concentration, a fine sense for ensemble, incisive bowing, tremendous fingerboard dexterity, and infectious rhythmical vitality. So it is surprising that more joyful abandon was not expressed in the players’ body language or facial expressions. All of the fast , intricate reels were played with clean phrasing, astounding accuracy for metrical detail and precise intonation, yet were mainly rendered without any obvious delight. However this did not detract from the intimate atmosphere that pervaded much o f this group’s performance, and a waltz composed for tour secretary Kathleen Terras produced a significantly poignant moment. Here, the music’s homophonic texture received transparent treatment with sensitive balancing of the underlying harmonies. Two references to...
by AdminAFO | May 20, 2015 | History
For a number of years, Wallace Galbraith has been the resident Fiddler at the Bachelors Club in Tarbolton where Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, attended, learning the arts of social intercourse including dancing. At that time, the dancing master was William Gregg who , as well as instructing his pupils in dance steps, would accompany on the fiddle. Burns, a capable fiddler himself, would have undoubtedly played on the Gregg Violin. The instrument was handed down through the generations but, as no members of the immediate family were interested in playing, the violin fell into disrepair and obscurity. In 1995, Wallace became aware of the violin’s existence at the farm near Mauchline of the then Chairman of the Bachelors Club, Major John Weir. He gave the instrument to Dr David Martin of Ayr, a retired lecturer at the Scottish Agricultural College at Auchincruive and talented violin restorer, who lovingly brought the violin back to its former glory. The Orchestra gave the violin to the National Trust for Scotland who now keep it in safe custody at Culzean Castle near Maybole. Wallace plays it at the Annual Burns Supper at the Bachelors Club every January and the National Trust has allowed the Orchestra to take it with them on some of their International...
by AdminAFO | May 20, 2015 | International Tours
In July 2015, the Orchestra will embark on its tour of South Africa, bringing Scottish music to the tip of Africa, and experiencing the excitement of southern African Music. Starting as guests of the Grahamstown International Festival of the Arts on 3 and 4 July, the 80-strong Orchestra will then travel down the Garden Route to George for their next performance. In Cape Town, the Orchestra are delighted to be guests of the Hout Bay Music Project for a day of workshopping leading to an exciting joint concert. On 9 July AFO will round off its trip to the Cape performing in concert with the Cape Town Youth Orchestra. In Johannesburg, concert highlights are a performance at the Linder Auditorium with the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra, and joining the service at Regina Mundi in Soweto. And when not performing and rehearsing, players will experience some of the many wonders of South Africa; highlight include Kariga game reserve, Robben Island, Table Mountain, the Cradle of Mankind and the Elephant Sanctuary. See the South Africa 2015 blog here...
by AdminAFO | May 15, 2015 | South Africa 2015
AFO players will post blog pages from their tour to South Africa – keep an eye on this space.
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