about elspeth
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Elspeth has been playing, singing and composing for the Scottish harp for 18 years.
She also studied piano from the age of nine onwards.
Elspeth originally studied ceramics at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee graduating in 1978.
In the early eighties Elspeth moved to the Scottish Borders where she set up her own
ceramics workshop. She started playing the harp in 1983 as music has always been
her first love. This eventually replaced ceramics full-time in 1985.
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theatre
Here are some examples of theatre productions Elspeth has been involved with:
| 1985: |
Ettrick Shepherd Festival (Scottish
Borders), Bowhill Theatre. This is the first production I worked on
composing and performing the music for a poem, KILMENY, from 'THE
QUEEN'S WAKE' by James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd. |
| 1987: |
The Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh:
'THE WIZARD LADY OF BRANXHOLM'. A play written by Judy Steel. I
composed and performed the music. |
| 1989: |
Borders Festival, Bowhill Theatre:
'THE MINSTREL AND THE SHIRRA' , a one-man play about the life of Sir
Walter Scott written by author Alan Massie (his first play). Composed
and performed the music. Toured on the Isle of Skye. |
| 1990: |
Mull Little Theatre (Isle of Mull,
Argylleshire):' ADVENTURE, LOVE AND MAGIC'. A performance of poetry,
music and prose, based on the Border Reivers, written by Judy Steel.
Composed and performed the music. |
| 1990: |
Edinburgh Festival Fringe: 'ADVENTURE, LOVE AND MAGIC'. |
| 1991: |
Festival of Ballads and Legends: 'A
SONG FOR YARROW' , a show based on a book of poetry about the Borders
landscape, history and people written by Walter Elliot . Worked with
two other musicians (Border pipes, bassoon and flute.) Directed
stage-managed, composed and performed. Also 'LADY JOHN SCOTT', a
one-woman play about her life. Composed and performed the music. Toured
with both the plays. |
| 1991: |
Edinburgh International Festival, Physicians' Hall: 'THE MINSTREL AND THE SHIRRA'. |
| 1992: |
Callanwolde Arts Centre, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.: 'THE MINSTREL AND THE SHIRRA'. |
| 1992: |
Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh: 'THE MINSTREL AND THE SHIRRA'. |
| 1993/4: |
Rideout Theatre Company: 'BRIDGES'
& 'BRIDGING THE TWEED'. A play about the source of the Tweed
written by Anne Plenderleith (Director of company). Composed, acted and
performed the music. Toured the Borders. |
| 1995: |
Tron Theatre, Glasgow: 'THE MINSTREL AND THE SHIRRA'. |
| 2000: |
'FUSION OF FABLES': A one hour show
with a central theme of Thomas the Rhymer, written by Tom Bryan. A mix
of music and characters, traditional, country and blues. Directed,
composed, acted and performed the music. Toured the Borders, Highlands
and Tula region, Russia. |
concerts
Some examples of concerts Elspeth has played at:
| 1983-86: |
Member of WHEELANS, a Borders-based traditional band. Played throughout the Borders and Queens Hall Edinburgh. |
| 1988: |
The Celtic Festival, St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, Solo concert. |
| 1993: |
Played at the celebrations for the DALAI LAMA'S visit to Eskdalemuir, Scotland. Solo concert. |
| 1993: |
Became part of the band 'O'ER THE
BORDER'. Played at the Piping Festival, Galashiels. A mix of Border
pipes, bassoon, flute, whistle, harp and voice. |
| 1994: |
O'ER THE BORDER: Played the Crewe and Nantwich Festival; Litchfield Music Festival and Zurich, Switzerland. |
| 1996: |
'FOLKEST '96' in N.E. Italy and Croatia. Solo and with 'O'ER THE BORDER'. |
| 1997/8: |
Formed the all-women trio, B*E*L. A
mix of our own compositions and traditional. Bassoon, flute, rebec,
violin, viola, whistle, recorder, harp, drums and voice. Toured
throughout the Borders and Edinburgh. |
| 1999: |
B*E*L: Toured the Highlands. |
| 2001: |
Formed duo with JULES HORNE (cello,
whistles and guitar.) Mix of jazz/swing, contemporary and traditional.
Mainly our own compositions. Played Flipside Music Festival, Edinburgh
Fringe. |
corporate events
Elspeth has played at many corporate events. Here are some examples:
| 1990s: |
Played for various big hotels:
HILTON (various places), NORTH BRITISH (Edinburgh), CALADONIAN
(Edinburgh), HOLIDAY INN (various places) |
| 1992: |
SIMPSON'S OF PICCADILLY, London, as part of Borders Promotion Week. |
| 1996: |
Played for 5 Heads of State from various countries at Aikwood Tower, Scottish Borders. |
| 1997: |
SIMON CROUCH ASSOCIATES in association with Scottish Borders Tourist Board: SIR WALTER SCOTT LITERARY WEEKEND. |
| 1997: |
Played at a private dinner for 8 Commonwealth Prime Ministers during the Edinburgh Commonwealth Conference. |
| 1998: |
ST. ANDREW'S GOLF CLUB, Fife: Played and sang for a Swedish company. |
| 2000: |
HERIOT WATT UNIVERSITY, Edinburgh. |
| 2001: |
CHAMBERS STREET MUSEUM, NEW BUILDING: Edinburgh. |
| 2001: |
SCOTSMAN NEWSPAPER, new building: Edinburgh. |
teaching
| 1989: |
onwards: Started teaching privately. |
| 1996: |
onwards: Taught first harp workshop. |
| 1998: |
HOWGATE PRIMARY SCHOOL, Midlothian. |
| 2000: |
ST. MARY'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL, Melrose, Scottish Borders. First school in the Borders to teach Scottish harp. |
| 2001: |
LORETTO SCHOOL (private) , Musselburgh, East Lothian. |
| 2001: |
SELKIRK HIGH SCHOOL, Scottish Borders. First Traditional Music School in the Borders. |
recordings
| 'KELTS WELLS' (Yarrow Records 1987 cassette) with the band WHEELANS.
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| 'A SONG FOR YARROW' (Traditional Records 1992, cassette.) Music from the show. |
| ' WILD ABOUT WOODS' (Woodland trust Scotland 2000, CD) Appeared on the CD. www.woodland-trust.org.uk |
| 'BREAKING DOWN THE BORDERS' (produced by Icon Publications 2000, CD) Appeared on CD with B*E*L. www.jamonline.org.uk |
| 'ATTITUDE ELSPETH' (Scottish Harp Records 2000, CD) Elspeth's first solo CD of her own compositions. www.scottish-harp.com |
television
| WEIR'S WAY, STV |
| ABOUT BRITAIN, ITV |
| HIGHWAY, BBC |
| SEVENTH HEAVEN, STV (Border Television) |
| LANDWARD, STV (Border Television) |
| ECHOES OF THE ETTRICK, STV (Border Television) |
radio
BBC WORLD SERVICE
RADIO SCOTLAND: 'Mr. Anderson's Fine Tunes', 'The Scottish Connection', 'A Case for Packing'. |
| RADIO TWEED |
| RADIO BORDERS |
| RADIO 4: 'Loose Ends' (Ned Sherrin), ' Kaleidoscope'. |
| RADIO 2 |
For any further information please Contact me
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