Unsuspecting shoppers in Strand Shopping Centre may have a big surprise on Saturday 18 May, when they find themselves surrounded by fiddles galore and a medley of lively Manx tunes! To celebrate ‘World Fiddle Day’, the Manx Heritage Foundation is inviting fiddle players of all ages and abilities to take part in the first ‘Manx music flash mob’ to be staged in the Isle of Man. Players of any member of the violin family, including viola, ‘cello, double bass, hardanger and viola da gamba, are welcome to meet at 1.30pm in Unit 6, downstairs on the right of the Strand Shopping Centre to take part. The set of tunes will be led by David Kilgallon and will consist of Peter O’Tavy, Three Little Boats (Bm) and Car y Phoosee (three times each). The sheet music can be downloaded from www.manxmusic.com along with transposed versions for other clefs and simplified parts for beginners.
Violin players of all ages and abilities are then invited to stay on from 2pm for free traditional music workshops in Unit 6 with two of the Island’s leading players and composers, Katie Lawrence and David Kilgallon. More information on the workshops at www.manxmusic.com
World Fiddle Day events are happening all over the world, including Ireland, Germany, Holland, Cuba, Canada and the USA.
To be part of this exciting event in the Isle of Man, just turn up with your fiddle or contact Dr Chloe Woolley for more information: manxmusicspecialist@mhf.org.im
