Curious mole tale gets a new version in Scots
The Inspiration Orchestra will be playing a fabulous free concert next Friday, December 1 at St Matthew’s Church in Perth at 7.30pm.
The group is well named - they are musicians from Perth’s Upper Springland Centre who have worked hard to become a harmonious, enthusiastic ensemble. Despite a range of disabilities, they wanted to be active in creating a sound, not to always be in the audience.
They are led by Ian White, a professional musicician who has involved himself in Home Visits, a charity offering one -to-one music instruction for people with severe or complex disabilites.
The Inspiration Orchestra has emerged out of the music students he has been teaching at Upper Springland.
Sarah, speaking for the group, said: “I play the keyboards. I like the discipline regular practice gives you. Inspiration Orchestra has certainly changed my life.
“I don’t read music, but Ian showed me a way round this with patterns and sequences.
“Next Friday we really hope people will come along and enjoy our show.” A Perth High School teacher was pleased to help translate a light-hearted children’s book into Scots.
Perth-based publisher Tippermuir Books has just brought out ‘The Tale o’ the Wee Mowdie’ - in which a mole gets a shock when something unpleasant lands on his head.
The Wee Mowdie was originally written for German kids.
Now, like Julia Donaldson’s book ‘The Gruffalo’ and ‘The Billionaire Boy’ by David Walliams, ‘The Tale o’ the Wee Mowdie’ is the latest children’s book to be offered in Scots.
Matthew Mackie from Perth contacted not-for-profit Tippermuir Books, introducing publisher Paul S Philippou to the story - which dwells happily on the origin of a pile of poo.
An extract reads: “... stramash befaws the wee mowdie, yin bricht sunny morn. It looks a bit like a link sasser, an the warst o’t is – it faws richt ontae his heid. Oor gallus wee hero gangs oot tae speir wha’s keeched on his heid.”
Matthew told the PA: “This little book has been out for a while and it caused a bit of a fuss when it first appeared - some were reluctant to tackle the subject.
“I knew of it and I immediately thought how well some of the words would translate into Scots, making it fun to read it in the Scots language.
“For cow there’s the pretty obvious ‘coo’, not everybody knows a horse is ‘cuddy’, and plenty of children giggle when you say ‘keeched on his heid’.”
Matthew went on to read a little of the playful story, which begins on a sunny morning with a short-sighted mole, who while just minding his own business, gets splattered with something nasty from above.
He continued: “‘Aw…keech!’ cried the wee mowdie. ‘Wha’s done this on ma heid?’ But he wis that short-sichtit, he coudna see onybody aboot.
“Did you dae this on ma heid?” he speirt at the cuddy, that wis gressin in the field.
“Me? Naw, hou coud I? I dae it like this!” answert the cuddy.
“(An flump – five great muckle cuddy-
The Inspiration Orchestra will perform their next concert in St Matthew’s Church
The children’s story about a mole was translated into Scots language by Matthew Mackie, a computing teacher at Perth High School aipples duntit doon juist a midgie’s “We’re really hoping to see it available whisker frae the wee mowdie. He wis in libraries and picked up in primary gey impressed.)” schools. There are plans to work with the
Matthew Mackie hopes the book Scots Language Centre to that end. And could be part of the OnePlusTwo we are producing free support material language section in schools, where to go with it.” Scots is taught to pupils as an additional ‘The Tale o the Wee Mowdie’ costs language. £6.99, see http://tippermuirbooks.co.uk