A Explanatory Note About My Scottish Compositions....

[Matthew Heumann]

I will be posting a great number of Scottish tunes in the future, so a quick background explanation is in order. Though I've been composing since 1974, the early years were mostly Irish tunes. But starting around 1979 after exposure the the "The Scottish Violinist", a book of Scott Skinner tunes, I became fascinated with Scottish music (partly because of my mom's uninterrupted Scottish lineage). But I really got immersed in the musical styles of Scotland in 1982 when I gave up my position (due to new baby) as accompanist to Bones-virtuoso & friend Percy Danforth. My replacement was a local young violinist & future world champion Scottish Violinist by the name of Bonnie Rideout. We met and she loved my Scottish compositions and even arranged one for her Master's Recital at the University of Michigan. When she moved away to the Alexandria, VA area, I took her place at the famous Rideout Family Burns Night Dinner & Concert. Each year I composed 16-20 original Scottish pieces for the concert, performed by me and her mom, Betty Rideout, a master piano accompanist of Scottish music. Our very last concert was January 2020, just months before the COVID-19 lockdown. This last year, Doug Rideout, patriarch, master of ceremonies and spirit of Burns Night, passed away and Betty is preparing to return to her native Maine near the rest of the family. So I'm motivated to release as many of the Burns Night tunes as possible (probably over 500 were written, I'll only post my favorites). Because of her recording contract legalities, I made Bonnie co-owner of all my compositions years ago with the understanding that as long as I live, I may share and distribute the original compositions as I see fit------that would be with the Concertina.net and NESI community. I will also be posting some Scottish compositions from my 3 volume work "The Braeburn Collection" of about 240 Irish, English, Old Time American, & Scottish tunes. And in case you are wondering, yes, the music is being played in Scotland (stayed for a while with musicians on South Harris in the Hebrides). I still email tunes there. I hope this explains where I'm coming from and why I am so immersed in Scottish music.

---Matt Heumann

 

PS-I also learned a great deal about Scottish music from friend & World Champion Highland Pipe Major named Frank Edgley (such a waste that he took up the Anglo).

 

Edited June 21, 2024 by Matthew Heumann
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