Back from Bonn

by Karen Marshalsay - 20:10 on 23 November 2006

Well I got home from Bonn last night, tired but very happy (and weighed down by all the leibkuchen und dominosteine in my baggage!!) There were 8 people in my two day workshop at Michael Klevenhaus's amazing centre for Scottish Gaelic in Bonn, just over the road from the Kunstmuseum where I managed to catch the very modern art in the Guggenheim exhibition.

Everyone worked very hard, but we had great fun too, working on 3 tunes: Da Day Dawn a Christmas tune from Shetland; Iain Sinclair of Skaldister, a slow air by fiddler Louise Mackenzie; and my own recent composition The Rhymer's Reel. We also looked at Scottish music in general, music theory and decorating and arranging a Scottish style. And we had great cookies!

Saturday night found me back in Brotfabrik, the wonderful arts centre which has transformed the old bread factory in Bonn. I had a very warm audience and enjoyed playing on a Camac harp borrowed from Bonn harpist Konstanze Jaychek. 

Monday found me doing my bit for the Germany economy and almost but not quite getting all my Christmas shopping done!  Tuesday was the start of Film Alba 2006 - the amazing festival of Gaelic films in Bonn. Bha sinn ma dha riribh gu dearabh, a Mhichael!

And so to home. Thanks to Micheal and Klaus for the hospitality and organsiation, Ursula for the transport and Juergen for the Brotfabrik gig. Hope to see you all next year!

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