THE CELTIC CONNECTION • MAY 1992
Page 3
Traditional Music by Wandering Gaberlunzie
By MAURA McCAY One day, late in April, on a typically frenzied day at The Celtic Connection, as were were preparing to go to press with our May issue, Mike Paul, of the Scottish Cultural Centre in Vancouver, brought in two beggermen named Robin Watson and Gordon Menzies, otherwise known as Gaberlunzie, to meet us.
GORDON MENZIES
The relaxed style of these two tinkers reflects a lifetime of travelling and touring together. Obviously speaking from a depth of experience, they talked about a lifestyle which includes summers touring around the Scottish Highlands and Islands playing traditional folk music.
It sounds idyllic, but according to these boys, it has its drawbacks. I'm sure it does, but I can think of worse ways to earn a living. These two performers have been touring together for over 20 years and have produced 12 albums, four or five singles, a video and several CD's in their impressive lineup.
Gaberlunzie is an old name which means beggerman. According to Robin and Gordon, James the V of Scotland was known as the Gaberlunzie King. He would dress up (or down) as a beggerman and go out among his people singing and playing music. Apparently, he was a songwriter about whom many gypsy rover/noblemen songs were written.
Although following an old tradition, Gaberlunzie are not stuck in the past but, rather, represent a new style of minstrel. High tech ones!
In the music world, where so many vulnerable artists are exploited and rejected, Gaberlunzie are survivors. They have taken their careers into their own hands and produce their own material, record in their own studio and promote themselves through an enormous database of contacts. Obviously, this type of organization isn't created overnight.
Gordon is the songwriter who writes most of the original music they perform. Robin is the computer whiz. He graduated from Glasgow University after studying classical music and computer programming. Some combination! He is the engineer who produces their music and wrote the program for the database which is custom designed to meet their needs.
Every few months they send out a newsletter to over 3,000 of their loyal fans, updating them on upcoming events and inviting everyone out to join them. Many people who began socializing through the Gaberlunzie concert circuit are now old friends.
It's all kept in the family. Robin's wife, Wilma, acts as their manager and takes care of business at home in Scotland while the boys are out touring. It's always good to have an anchor.
This will be their tenth trip to North America and, after playing the Scottish Cultural Centre in Vancouver, they headed for Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer and then on to Ontario.
GABERLUNZIE RELAXING AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF VANCOUVER'S HARBOUR.
Seasoned musicians, they began their tenth Canadian tour on the West Coast for variety this time.
ROBIN WATSON
We had a nice, if somewhat formal chat, until they mentioned having played in Montreal many years ago at a wild Irish pub called Molly McGuire's. I had to laugh because, Molly McGuire's was run by my father, Tom McCay. They remembered once when they were playing and the undercover police came flying in with sub-machine guns and ordered everyone up against the wall. Gordon recalls saying to Robin, "Play faster!" That's the kind of place it was and the scene in Montreal in those heady days. After we had established each other's pedigrees it was like meeting old friends. These gypsy rovers have demonstrated staying power in a world that is often as up and down as any rollercoaster.
For further information regarding tapes, records or booking Gaberlunzie, write to Wilma Watson at The Haven, Glenfarg, Scotland PH2 9NW or call 011-44-5773-355 or 5774-597.
Photos: Tania Conley
Salthill Music Festival
GALWAY — This year's Salthill Festival will take place from June 28 to July 5 and will focus on traditional music. Each night, there will be a free open-air concert in the car-park on the sea front. The timing seems to be just right for those of you who will be attending the Conference on Irish Studies at UCG at that time.
— Liam Ferrie
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