Play it again, Tam
Rolling Hills Chorus
21 June is Make Music Day, a global celebration of music making. Make Music is a free celebration, launched in 1982 in France as the Fête de la Musique and is now held on the same day in more than 1,000 cities in 120 countries.
Completely different from a typical music festival, Make Music is open to anyone who wants to take part. Every kind of musician — young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion. All of it is free and open to the public, and one of the main themes this year was music in Libraries.
Ceilidh Caleerie
Last Friday, Central Library came alive to the sound of music! Through word of mouth, contacts and some publicity we quickly put together the main part of a programme. We also invited our colleagues in the community libraries to take part and this call was answered by Stockbridge, Craigmillar and Morningside who put together programmes of local music makers.
At Central Library, we had a programme of, on the day, ten groups or individuals, some graduates of classes at the Scots Music Group, some library users and some who had heard of our involvement through the Make Music Day website.
Nigel’s Allstars
Magnus Turpie accompanied by Linda Cambell and Mike Turpie
On the Mezzanine, we were host to three choirs, two Ceilidh bands and a Button Accordionist. The three choirs were the Rolling Hills Chorus, The Gilmerton Singers and Sangstream. Our library visitors also enjoyed sets from the bands Nigel’s Allstars and Ceilidh Caleerie and a lovely slot featuring accordionist Magnus Turpie accompanied by Linda Cambell and Mike Turpie.
Louise Guy
In the Lending Library we had recorder player Louise Guy, Klezmerists, Kleyne Klezmer Trio, night class graduates Clarinite and Scots music group, Play it again, Tam.
The Gilmerton Singers
Kleyne Klezmer Trio
After the crowd in the lending Library had been completely entertained by the Kleyne Klezmer Trio, they were then treated to a surprise rendition of ‘Bring Me Sunshine’, the Morecambe and Wise hit and the anthem of Make Music Day. This was performed by a flash mob made up of Library staff from all departments.
Unfortunately due to a technical hitch this performance was not recorded, so you will just have to take our word for it that it was brilliant and very well received.
Clarinite
The Afternoon was brought to a close in Lending by Clarinite and on the Mezzanine Sangstream sung us home.
Sangstream
The reactions to the day have been very pleasing with many kind and useful comments left in our audience survey boxes and online and on our social media pages.
Asked – What have you enjoyed about Make Music Day in Central Library? – we got these responses:
“Lots of musical buzz”
“It has created a great atmosphere – it has been very uplifting”
“Enjoyed the variety and particularly the venues on both levels, interesting to watch staff and public ‘dancing’ ”
“Something different – brought people together – smiling faces”
“The surprise spontaneity of it”.
So finally, the Music Library Team, Natasha, Michalina, Bronwen and Douglas, would like to thank all those who came to watch, who helped us put the event on and a special thank you to all those who came and performed, who Made Music for us, simply because they could.
Natasha, Michalina, Bronwen and Douglas from the Music Library Team.
Tales of One City 