Allow Aberdeen Folk Orchestra to take you on an eclectic exploration of folk / acoustic music from around the world. The concert features music both new and old, celebrating previously unheard tunes and well-known favourites.
Programme
Tarantella & Pachelbel’s Reel
Tarantella (Italian, Trad.) is a traditional Italian folk tune which is also known as “the dance of the spider”. In 15th to 17th century Italy it was widely believed that frenzied dancing to tunes such as this would cure the bite of the “tarantola” (or “tarantula”). This Tarantella was used in the film “The Godfather”.
“Pachelbel’s Reel” is an adaption of the well-known classical piece, Pachelbel's Canon, by German born composer Johann Pachelbel and is also known by many other names including “Joe’s old Peculiar” or “Pachelbel’s Frolics”.
Slow Airs : Father’s Song, Night In That Land & Donald McLeod of Furlongs
“Father’s Song” by Jonathan Wilson was written for the Midmar Players production of Beauty and the Beast and arranged for orchestra without the lyrics.
“Night In That Land” by Johnny Cunningham is a beautiful waltz-time air written after a visit to the Isle of Skye.
“Donald McLeod of Furlongs” by Jonathan Wilson was written to celebrate the wedding of Donald McLeod and Victoria Wilson in 1995. “The Furlongs” is a housing estate near the racecourse in Hamilton where they lived at the time.
Norman McLeod’s Welcome to Waipu & Kiwi Reel
“Norman McLeod’s Welcome to Waipu” by Iain Fraser was written in memory of Norman McLeod, a 19th Century Highland preacher who was disaffected by the Church of Scotland and emigrated with his congregation first to Nova Scotia, then to Australia and finally to Waipu in North Island, New Zealand. This piece forms part of the “Koterana” suite.
“Kiwi Reel” by Shetland fiddler, Willie Hunter, follows on in the “Koterana” suite as part of the New Zealand section.
Moldavian Hora (traditional)
The word Hora originates from Romanian and is an ancient term for a circular folk dance although it now refers to a specific dance.
Just for Joe: An experimental piece for Kalimba (thumb piano) and Orchestra by Jonathan Wilson based on a lullaby for his son. The Kalimba features mainly in African music with the symmetrical arrangement of notes driving a distinctive form of melody.
Letter to Peter Pan
From Irish American fiddler Liz Carroll’s 2000 album “Lost in the Loop”.
Accordeon Samba
A lively Samba written in 1947 by French composer Jean Peyronnin.
