International recording of a Karen Steven composition will boost funds of Glasgow hospital charity
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A CAITHNESS musician is hoping an international recording of a tune she wrote will give a further boost to the funds of a Glasgow hospital charity.
Fiddler Karen Steven penned Angel Boy in memory of her two-year-old great-nephew, Iain Mackay, who died after being involved in a tragic car accident on the A99 at Occumster in August last year. The toddler passed away in hospital in Glasgow three days after the crash.
Karen, who lives and works in Aberdeen, has already raised over £300 for the Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity from part of the proceeds from her CD, The Stroma Swelkie, which was released last October and dedicated to her young relative. Iain is remembered on the inlay and a full page about him appears on the booklet accompanying the disc.
But she wants to continue to fund-raise for the charity and wrote Angel Boy for the toddler, who stayed in Wick. He was "bubbly and fun-loving"and his loss devastated the family, said Karen. She described the composition as poignant and said it also reflected the peaceful and quiet atmosphere in the hospital.
The tune, which is expected to be available on a MP4/video recording online, will feature a total of 35 musicians from Caithness, Orkney, Shetland, Aberdeen, Sweden, Canada and America. When it is completed it can be viewed on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram.
"So far 24 musicians have been recorded and it sounds quite orchestral. I am really humbled by how people bought into the idea and took it on board. It is evolving into something quite special with everybody's individual technique and style. I am really pleased with it," said Karen who is planning to set up a Just Giving page on social media.
A preview version of the unfinished composition was played on the Tartan Tunes online programme when Karen was a guest on the show – hosted by Peter Wood and Davie Hunter – at the end of last month.
She explained that some of the international musicians on the recording are people she taught or got to know through her online workshops.
Karen said the sound mixing is being done by Alastair MacDonald who is from Wick but now lives in Ontario in Canada while Caithness musician, Addie Harper, is not only featured on the recording but is co-ordinating the various performances which will culminate in a split screen video recording of the tune. Other Caithness musicians who feature are Darren Coghill (Neon Waltz) on drums and Grant Lyall on snare.
The musicians play a host of instruments, including fiddle, accordion, guitars, drums, bass, keyboard, piano and bouzouki.
Karen plays the lead fiddle which was recorded at Ruby Rendall's studio in Aberdeen.
"It is quite close to the the sound we want and we are hoping the recording will be available by the end of March, " she said.
Once it is finished it is likely to get another airing on the Tartan Tunes show.
Karen is delighted with "the great response" from the public to her CD The Stroma Swelkie.
"So far, over £300 has been raised for the charity and I would like to say a massive thank you for all the local support."
The charity is based in Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth Sick Children's Hospital. "Many patients and families of patients receive support from it," she added.
