Whistlebinkies at Haddo – The Whistlebinkies

The Whistlebinkies have thrilled audiences at music societies, festivals and folk clubs for many years. Stages around the world – from Beijing to Binghamton – have echoed to their rich blend of instruments and harmonies as they present their spectrum of compositions and traditional music. Their CD recordings on the  Greentrax label (Albannach, Timber Timbre and A Wanton Fling) have been widely praised and their CD Anniversary (on Claddagh Records) sums up the best of their LPs. James MacMillan was special guest on the Timber Timbre CD – singing his own composition ‘The Tryst’. Their sound of lowland pipes, lever harp, flute, fiddle, concertina, bass and bodhran (or side drum) has become legendary. 

The group grew into its current form during the 1970s and by 1991 had become the first Scottish ensemble to tour China and in 1995 had received the accolade of being Artists of the Week (January 23 – 27) on BBC Radio 3. As well as in traditional music individual members are highly experienced in their own musical fields – Peter as leading solo and pipe band  drummer, Stuart as winner of a Glenfiddich Award, Iain as member of the BBCSSO and the Alastair Savage Trio, Rhona as ex RSNO, freelance harpist and member of the Rhona MacKay Trio, Rab as soloist and Principal of the College of Piping and Eddie as composer. In 2004 he won a Creative Scotland Award for his project to create a ballet for the group and the Chinese  group Harmony Ensemble (in which Eddie plays bamboo flute) to perform at Celtic Connections. One of the group’s adventures was to Hong Kong where they performed a full concert with the Hong Kong City Chamber Orchestra and members of The Hong Kong Police Pipe Band.  They have collaborated with Sax Ecosse and Alba Brass in a new suite by Eddie for the 40^th anniversary of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in. And a new work for organ and folk group A Kist O’ Whistles – commissioned by Stuart. They are currently editing their recording of John Cage’s Scottish Circus for New York based Mode Records, a 30 minute piece they commissioned and premiered at the Musica Nova festival in 1990. 

 “What a joy to hear each of these instruments played so beautifully – it was like the sun coming out”  The Orcadian

 “they are fine examples of using the tools of the tradition to create vivid, original music”  The Herald

 “Well, they’re just lovely.”  John Cage