This month will see the return of the Norwegian Manx collaboration - a Culture Vannin project involving well-known Manx traditional musicians Tomas Callister, Ruth Keggin and David Kilgallon, plus Norwegian traditional musicians Erlend Apneseth and Margit Myhr.
In conjunction with the IOM Department of Education and Children, Culture Vannin is bringing the Norwegian Manx Collaboration back together to deliver an educational tour to Manx schools, and to present an exciting public concert at the Peel Centenary Centre on Saturday 29th November at 8pm. Alongside the five musicians, there will be dazzling dance displays from Manx dancers Grainne Joughin and John Kilgallon, and Vetle Springgard – a top traditional dancer from Norway who is coming over to the Island especially to perform. Norwegian music and dance workshops will follow on Sunday afternoon from 2pm at the Philip Christian Centre in Peel [booking required].
The project celebrates the shared cultural heritage of our two countries in a vibrant, meaningful and creative way: it began in February 2013, when Manx fiddle player Tom and Manx Gaelic singer Ruth travelled to Western Norway to work with Erlend (hardanger fiddle) and Margit (voice). In this first stage, the four musicians worked with each other to explore the vocal and fiddle traditions of the other nation. The pilot stage of the project was completed in November 2013, when Margit and Erlend travelled to the Isle of Man and David Kilgallon (piano) became the fifth member of the collaboration. The group performed a sell-out concert in the Erin Arts Centre to rave reviews and have since performed at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient 2014 in Brittany.
This month’s concert promises to be an equally exciting performance so grab your tickets soon! Tickets for the concert are ?10 in advance (?12 on the door) and can be purchased from Celtic Gold, Shakti Man, Thompson Travel and Peter Norris.
Workshops in Norwegian song, fiddle music and dance will run at the Phillip Christian Centre during the afternoon of Sunday 30th November - access to each workshop costs ?4. Places on the workshops are limited and must be booked online. For more information about the concert and workshops, please email manxmusic@culturevannin.im.
