Childhood city visits inspired musician
A musician’s childhood visits to Stirling have helped to inspire a new folk musical which will premiere in the city next month.
A Mother’s Song – co-created by Finn Anderson – draws on Scottish folk song and story tradition and is partially set in 17th century Stirling.
It tells the story of three women at different times in history, tracing a fascinating journey of Scottish folk music across the Atlantic.
Finn’s mum and dad are originally from Dunblane, where his late grandmother, who was born in Bannockburn, lived.
On visits to the Stirling area from the East Neuk of Fife, where Finn was brought up, they would often go for walks around Airthrey Loch.
Finn said: “There are so many places we could have set the story. However, there is that family connection to Stirling. We liked to walk around Airthrey Loch. I’m interested in that landscape. My mum was born in Airthrey Castle.
“The Stirling location came more from a personal connection, rather than a specific historical story that we found.”
The musical, which will be staged at the Macrobert at the end of February, was conceived by Finn and Portuguese theatre director Tania Avezedo and uses Scotland’s rich songwriting and storytelling tradition.
The main body of the story takes place in modern day America as a character looks back at her family tree to unearth stories from the past - one from Scotland and the other northern Ireland.
Finn, who plays piano and accordion, commented: “I am really interested in the migration of folk song and music and in particular how songs travel and change over time - and in particular how Scots ballads and songs have travelled and migrated over time.
“Many Scottish songs are still alive in the Appalachian Mountains of North America today. They are still being sung there today generations later. That tradition which began here is still really alive. I was really fascinated by that - and the stories that might be found in that migration path and the ways in which songs changed and evolved.”
Ballads that originated in Scotland which feature in the musical include ‘Let No Man Steal Your Thyme,’ ‘The Four Marys,’ ‘Handsome Molly’ and ‘I Wish My Baby Was Born’.
Finn and Tania have been working on the musical since 2017 and with a band of musicians over the past year: Shonagh Murray on piano, Laura Wilkie on fiddle, Signy Jakobsdottir on percussion and Jenny Clifford on guitar.
Finn added: “It’s the first time I have created a project that revolves round a specific element of Scottish culture and tradition. I grew up with a lot of Scottish folk music and I’ve always been interested in the ballads and the drama that is inherently in those songs and stories.
“We’re all really excited where the musical is at. In particular in the way that the music has evolved over this past year working with the band. They all really bring different things to the musical. They have really elevated the music and allowed us to hopefully create both an authentic and theatrical interpretation of the ballads and their links to Appalachian music, Bluegrass and Old-time music too.”
The world premier of A Mother’s Song: A New Folk Musical will be at the Macrobert from Thursday February 23 to Sunday February 26.
Tickets: £25.50 / £23.50 / £21.50 for Thursday February 23 and £27.50 / £25.50 / £23.50 on Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26.