Local Music Composer Scores with Scottish Musicians
VANCOUVER - Scottish-born Mike Paul has written numerous musical compositions and he is thrilled by the response to one of his recent compositions. The composition entitled The Mount Seymour Strathspey was dedicated to Dorothy Hargeaves, a Scottish Country Dance teacher from North Vancouver.
Dorothy, who loved the tune, decided to write a 3-32 strathspey to accompany the music. Last summer the dance and accompanying music were submitted to the Vancouver Branch of the R.S.C.D.S. in a competition to choose dances for a dance publication to be published by the Branch in 2005. This publication will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Vancouver Branch.
This composition was originally picked up by a well-known fiddler and teacher in Scotland, James Alexander, where a demo CD was made to distribute to dance band groups. Copies are in the hands of various dance bands in Scotland and two of those dance bands have been in touch with Mike indicating a desire to commercially record the strathspey.
The strathspey is a dance with deep roots in Scotland having what the dancers call a “Scotch Snap.” It is one of the most graceful and intricate set dances possibly ever devised.
Mike, who is president of Island Music Distributors in North Vancouver, has already had 10 of his writings commercially recorded in the UK including The Chilliwack Barndance which has been recorded by at least a half dozen dance bands in Scotland, including the late Sir Jimmy Shand, Andrew Rankin and Will Starr. The latest release was made by Bill Black and his Scottish Dance Band.
The Voice of My Island was recorded by three groups: The Garioch Blend dance band and folk groups The McCalmans and Gaberlunzie. Organizers of Expo 86 also chose two numbers written by Mike to be performed in 1986. At present, Mike is working on A Continental Waltz which he intends to send to well-known European orchestra leader Andre Rieu.
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