Thursday, October 1, 2009

Tin whistle, Scottish Gaelic among workshop topics at Cape Breton festival

SYDNEY, N.S. — If you want to learn about the history of the tin whistle or pick up a bit of Gaelic, the 13th annual Celtic Colours International Festival is the place to be.
A tin whistle workshop will introduce beginners to the instrument, discussing basic scales and suitable music. And an introductory class taught by a singer/storyteller will help students understand Scottish Gaelic.
Other workshops cover subjects ranging from quilting and weaving to fabric dyeing, water colour painting and stained glass.
One session will be devoted to locker hooking - a craft that originated in Britain in the 19th century with six-ply yarn. Participants will use carded wool from a Cape Breton flock of sheep.
And a lecture by author Gerald Pocius will attempt to answer the question: What is Irish about Newfoundland architecture?
The festival, running Oct. 9 to 17, will present dozens of concerts at venues throughout Cape Breton Island.
On the web: www.celtic-colours.com.

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