The Edinburgh International Book Festival is back – hereinafter referred to as thhe 'Book Festival' or simply EIBF. Back in 2013 James Robertson, he of And The Land Lay Still, set about writing 365 Stories, one each day and each 365 words in length. The collection was eventually published a year or so later.
A copy eventually reached fiddler Aidan O'Rourke, who was inspired to respond with a matching project of 365 tunes, and it was this 'matching' that was presented this evening at the New York times Theatre. O'Rourke had also enlisted the help of keyboard player Kit Downes, who accompanied both writer and fiddler on piano or reed organ.
Robertson's work was, naturally, the heart of the show. He has a wonderful voice, and the stories he selected were varied and well-paced. There was something for everyone here. I particularly liked the story about Jack and the Moon and the one about the Total Eclipse of Scotland, but they were all good. O'Rourke and Downes became a sort of sideshow, albeit a very good and welcome one, breaking up the performance.
I'm conscious that Robertson is (in my view) a bit hit and miss as a writer. I found The Testament of Gideon Mack hard going, for instance, so perhaps some of the other stories might not be so appealing. Still, this is a book I'll purchase, perhaps along with a download of the music. They'll get some money that way.
A copy eventually reached fiddler Aidan O'Rourke, who was inspired to respond with a matching project of 365 tunes, and it was this 'matching' that was presented this evening at the New York times Theatre. O'Rourke had also enlisted the help of keyboard player Kit Downes, who accompanied both writer and fiddler on piano or reed organ.
Robertson's work was, naturally, the heart of the show. He has a wonderful voice, and the stories he selected were varied and well-paced. There was something for everyone here. I particularly liked the story about Jack and the Moon and the one about the Total Eclipse of Scotland, but they were all good. O'Rourke and Downes became a sort of sideshow, albeit a very good and welcome one, breaking up the performance.
I'm conscious that Robertson is (in my view) a bit hit and miss as a writer. I found The Testament of Gideon Mack hard going, for instance, so perhaps some of the other stories might not be so appealing. Still, this is a book I'll purchase, perhaps along with a download of the music. They'll get some money that way.
