Traditional Notes

This week, I’d like to tell you about a very special service I attended yesterday, in First Larne Presbyterian Church, which, among other things, was a celebration for a great servant of the Church, & a good friend of mine too, one Nathaniel A. Magee, who has not only been Clerk of Session for 37 years at First Larne, but is also a fine Hammered Dulcimer player into the bargain.
Nat, as he is known by most folk, was ordained as an Elder way back in 1966 and then appointed Clerk of Session in 1968, a truly wonderful record of reliability & dedication that very few people today would even come close to matching, in any walk of life.
The Order of Service had a lovely quote about Nat, from the ‘Carrickfergus Presbytery Visitation Finding’, which read – “Affectionately known as “The Boss” he clearly has earned that title by dedication, wisdom, leadership and by his rejection to all temptation to an authoritarian style.”
This service, which was carried out by the Minister, the Rev. Colin D. McClure, also remembered the many loyal years of service by the late James Ian Duffin J.P., and was attended by the Right Reverend Dr. David Clarke, Moderator of The General Assembly and his wife.
Another feature of this service was the official welcoming of the church’s new ‘state of the art’ Audio Visual System which now means that: “Words of Praise and sermon visuals can be displayed on the screens: instruments, vocalists and readers can be amplified; and because of the digital recording technology, CDs or DVDs of services can be produced and distributed, thus bringing the message of the Gospel to the housebound and others.”
Unfortunately, Nat has suffered from ill health for some time now, but it was wonderful to see him so nearly back to his old, humorous self yesterday. So much so that, following his presentation, he actually joined the musical group and played his Hammered Dulcimer with them while they played a delightful version of that beautiful old air, ‘Over the Sea to Sky’.
Interestingly, the Dulcimer Nat plays was actually made by his father, Alec Magee, who also made the Dulcimer Antrim & Ireland’s most famous Dulcimer player, John Rea of Glenarm, played in concert with the Chieftains, on TV & Radio here and on his two very fine recordings.
Sadly, the Hammered Dulcimer is a rare instrument in Antrim today, but it was wonderful to see no fewer than four Hammered Dulcimer players together at the very tasty buffet lunch which followed the service, for not only was Nat present, but being a Dulcimer player myself, I found myself in the company of Nat’s son, young Nat, and William Rea too.
I would just like to add my congratulations to Nat. It was heart-warming to see the huge warmth and affection with which the folk of Larne so clearly have for this great servant of the people of Larne. In the age we live, when so many people are clearly so self-obsessed, it is very refreshing and humbling to see that we still have in our midst, people like Nat who are able to dedicate so much of their valuable time to the service of others. He is indeed, an example to us all.
If you would like to see photos of Nat & William playing their Dulcimers, and learn a little more about this old and rare Co Antrim instrument, then you should visit: http://www.causewaymusic.co.uk/cdf06.html
This was my first visit to ‘First Larne’, and I was delighted to see how Nat, quite apart from the many family members who were there, was clearly in the midst of so many, many friends and neighbours who obviously also treat him as quite simply, one of the family.
Anyway, I just had to investigate this historic Church further, so once I got home, I surfed onto their website, where I found some very interesting information, some of which I’d like to share with you here, now.
In the site’s “Short History of First Larne Presbyterian Church 1715 - 1965 by Rev. Eric V. Stewart”, it says:
“The history of Presbyterianism in Ireland dates back to the Plantation in Ulster during the beginning of the 17th century. The Ulster of these by-gone days was a land of swamps and forests, and where there had been signs of advancement, there had also been the ravages of war. Apart from a few fertile coastal areas, such as the hinterland of Larne, and several fortified towns and castles, Ulster in the early 1600’s offered little but hard work and a new beginning.
Because Antrim was relatively close to the Scottish Coast, it was natural that many of these early Lowland Scots should settle here, and of course there was the attraction of a fertile hinterland, a sparse population, and a safe harbour. A large number therefore settled in the Larne district, and from thence, spread out along the coast.
As well as bringing with them their distinctive traits of character, these Scottish settlers brought the practises and customs of their Scottish Kirk which was Presbyterian, and they, regarded the Scottish Church as their mother Church. The only Protestant Church in Ulster during the early part of the 17th century was the Episcopal Church which until 1870 remained the Established Church in Ireland. It would therefore appear that if these early settlers in Larne took part in public worship, it must have been in the local Episcopal Church, for the earliest record of a Presbyterian Church in or around Larne is that of Ballycarry in 1613.”
As well as lots of interesting information on the Church, this site also has a number of interesting photos posted from various past events and I have no doubt there will be photos posted too, from this very special day, yesterday, in the life of First Larne Presbyterian Church. I believe you can also order a DVD copy of yesterday’s service from this site.
Anyway, congratulations Nat, I’m looking forward to sharing many more years of wonderful Co Antrim Dulcimer music with you.

'Traditional Notes'

by Dick Glasgow

This is the time of year when students graduate and we usually see their photographs, in all their graduation splendour, in our local newspapers, so, as our own young fellow Kevin graduated last week, I thought you might like to hear a little about his musical career to date, with all the local connotations his story has.
However, instead of showing you one of those rather predictable graduation photographs, I thought it might be more interesting if I showed you this old one of young Kevin James Glasgow.
Also, for anyone who has just left school with no A Levels, his story might be of particular interest, especially if they are nurturing a desire to eventually reach University themselves. Just remember, there is always more than one way to ‘skin a fox’ and I should know, after all, I was a Gamekeeper for a few years!
I’m sure it will come as no surprise to anyone who knows us, to hear that Kevin’s degree is a musical one, a BA Hons (2:1) in Popular Music, and I suppose the fact that he is now a professional musician is no surprise either, for, being born to two musicians, he was hearing live music daily, long before he was even born.
The fact is, before Kevin could even walk he used to bounce his way across the slab floor of our old Speyside kitchen, in one of those ‘bouncy chairs’, to the sound of Fiddles, Harps & Bagpipes as we regularly had kitchen sessions of music and also took him to many musical gatherings, festivals and the like.
Our homes, both here and in Scotland have always been cluttered with loads of musical instruments lying around, and we always hoped that he would take to music, but we never ever forced him.
We did try him with a few piano lessons but the piano was quite simply not his cup of tea. However, he did come round to music on his own when he started attending the beginners sessions I used to run many years ago in ‘Kerry Joe’s’ Central Bar in Ballycastle. He used to play the Bodhran there with his good friend, fiddlin’ JD Hamill, but eventually got bored with the drum and moved on to the Guitar, which he taught himself.
Like many teenagers though he was drawn to Rock and Roll Music and our old ‘diddly-dee music’ was quickly forgotten as he moved from my simple acoustic Guitar to the Electric Guitar and inevitable started forming rock & roll groups with his friends. Any of our old Ballintoy neighbours will, I’m sure, well remember him & his bands practicing in our front room there – in fact I’m sure the whole village could hear them! Ah, the joys of Rock and Roll parents!
Anyway, leaving Ballycastle High School with only O Levels it looked like Kevin would never reach University, but fortunately Ballymoney Tech started a BTEC Popular Music course around that time, which Kevin jumped at, and two years later, when he picked up his Certificate, he found he was now able to move on to University.
Edinburgh, my home town, was the natural choice and fortunately the Ian Tomlin School of Music at Napier University were happy to give him a place after hearing his talents at the audition, on his instrument of choice, the Bass Guitar.
I must confess I used to think a Bass Guitar was just for thumping out a steady beat but Kevin has, over the years, introduced me to some amazing Bass players and I quickly realised that the Bass is actually an incredibly versatile instrument, in the right hands.
Well, having a useful talent meant that Kevin was able to supplement his student loan and so instead of having to do some menial shelf stacking part time work in a supermarket, he actually earned extra cash by playing gigs, mostly Jazz, all through his student years.
As a working musician he can now turn his hands to most music but he seems to have a penchant for Jazz, and as two of his Jazz Improvisation practical exams resulted in marks of 99% & 100% I guess he must also have a flair for it.
Anyway, unlike many students we hear of these days, Kevin has been very lucky and not only has he landed a job but he also started work before he even finished Uni. and now finds himself teaching Bass & Guitar one day a week at Edinburgh’s ‘Academy of Music and Sound’.
Kevin is very busy now with his two bands, one in Glasgow, the ‘Green Goblins’ and the other in Bristol, ‘KAM’S Palace’. He has already performed at the Shetland Festival, the famous Glastonbury Festival and also at the UK’s Mecca for Jazz, ‘Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club’ in London. He also plays regularly throughout Scotland and holds down a couple of residencies in Edinburgh too.
That Kevin and his music is already making an impression on the music scene is clear, for he was approached recently by the finest Bass makers in the UK who want to make a custom Bass for him, which is an honour in itself. After visiting their premises Kevin, after playing Six String Basses, both fretted and fretless for the past few years, has decided to go for an eight string Bass, which believe me is one scary instrument!
Now of course this success to date wasn’t just handed to Kevin on a plate and believe me he has certainly had to work very, very hard for it and I know for years he has been totally dedicated to learning his instrument, which has meant practicing between 5 & 6 hours every day, seven days a week for years. Now I know that not everyone is prepared to be that focussed and dedicated, but Kevin’s story just shows that if you are prepared to make the effort, then anything is possible.
So Kevin is indeed very lucky to be fulfilling his dream and I’d just like to finish by saying to any youngster out there who has a dream, that they should first and foremost believe in themselves and then, don’t hold back but go for it 100%.
If you are interested, you can actually listen to some of Kevin’s music at: http://www.myspace.com/kevinglasgow where you will hear four solo Bass tracks from Kevin.

Enjoy yer Music.

Through mony a cottage roof o’ thatch,
When passin’ by the soun’ ye’’ll catch,
And fain would lissen at the latch,
Tae hear the country Fiddlers.

Or, if when danderin’ doon the glen,
Or passin’ by a loanin’ en’,
Ye hear the chirl, ye’r bound tae ken,
Ye’r near a Country Fiddler.

Near any village you pass through,
Glenarm, Cairncastle, or Raloo,
Craigs, Owencloughy, Ballee, too,
Ye’ll hear the Country Fiddlers.

The Feis, of course, is close at hand,
Tae wun the cup they a’ ha’e planned,
So be prepared tae mak’ the jaunt
Tae hear the Country Fiddlers.

Ye’ll no’ hear Minuets in G,
Beethoven nor Pader-ewski,
Nor mournful Bach tae moist your e’e,
Frae any Country Fiddler.

But hornpipes, jigs and saucy reels,
Tae glint your e’e and itch your heels,
Ah! did ye ken what like it feels
Tae be a Country Fiddler.

We maybe dinny strict adhere,
Tae a’ the sharps and flats sae dear,
Tae them that has nae got the ear,
Tae be a Country Fiddler.

We term such music pure humbug,
Mair like the yoolin’ o’ a dug,
For maist we ken we learnt by lug,
Did we, the Country Fiddlers.

So we’ll foregather yince again,
And dae oor best wi’ might and main,
The reputation tae maintain,
O’ every Country Fiddler.

Tae satisfy ye yin and a’,
Jist meet us at Victoria Ha’,
And pass yer judgement there ad. Val.
On us the Country Fiddlers.

by John Clifford.

Enjoy yer music.