manx celtic music and dance

Manx Fairy Tales Concert for Ramsey National Week

02 Aug 2012

Mike Boulton and Share na Veg
Mike Boulton and Share na Veg

by Sue Woolley

The audience arriving for Ramsey National Week's Manx Fairy Tales concert felt as though they were stepping back in time and entering an old fisherman's cottage, complete with a fire blazing in the chiollagh and 'pot dogs' on the mantlepiece. This was thanks to a stunning backcloth painted by Deborah Taubman. Annie Kissack introduced each item, explaining how it linked-in to Sophia Morrison's folk story collection, published just over 100 years ago, featuring such familiar characters as the Buggane of St Trinian's and the Moddey Doo of Peel Castle. Annie and Clare Kilgallon opened the programme with their haunting duet, Arrane y Lhondoo (Blackbird's Song). The programme continued with lively dancing of Hunt the Wren by Auldyn Infants and an instrumental medley by Scoill Ree Gorree's Share na Veg, showing that the tradition is well and truly alive. Cliogaree Twoaie choir took up the story, singing Manannan's Song, based on legends of the Sea-God, Manannan Mac-y-Leir. After a break for a Manx 'tay' provided by members of Ramsey Heritage Trust, the second half opened with Fantasias on Manx Folk Tunes for clarinet and piano by the talented Tim Price, who will shortly graduate from Bangor University with a 'fi rst' in Composition. Tim was accompanied on piano by Frank Woolley. Although a departure from the familiar, the music was greeted by warm and enthusiastic applause. Continuing the folk tale theme, the choir sang Snieu Qheeyl Snieu, from 'The Lazy Wife' and Ushag Veg Ruy (Ballad of the Little Red Bird). Choir member Marlene Hendy stepped out of the ranks to give a plaintive solo in Manx, 'Padjer Columb Killey' (St Columba's Prayer), which was a fitting way to end the evening.

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