Wingert-Jones Publications

Program Notes James Scott Skinner (1843-1927), was the leading performer of Scottish fiddle music in his day. He was born in Banchory, a village 20 miles from Aberdeen, and was a key figure in Scottish traditional music. Beginning his musical life as a dancer, he later devoted his energies to the art of fiddle music, bringing it to a new height through his playing and his compositions. His name lives on, and many of his works are still popular. He is quoted as saying; ���The great work of my life has been composing music for the people of Scotland. The music that reaches and lives in the hearts of the people is the music that they whistle or sing at their daily toil or in their hours of recreation, that the mother croons o'er the cradle, and that accompanies her children, a joyous companion, through life.��� Named for their commander Simon Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat, the Lovat Scouts were a company of Scottish marksmen formed in 1899 and served honorably as sharpshooters and gatherers of intelligence through the end of World War II. Skinner���s quickstep march was composed in the style of a Scotch reel and could be played effectively by a bagpiper among the troops in parade or in battle. This arrangement lies so perfectly under the fingers, it is hard to believe that it is played entirely in first position through the ensemble. About the Arranger Ben Clinesmith, cellist, conductor, arranger, and educator, received his formal musical training at the University of Kansas, Indiana University, Hartt College of Music, and Manhattan School of Music. As a young professional cellist, he was a member of the Houston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli and Andr�� Pr��vin, and the American Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski. For fourteen years Ben was the cello instructor at Bates and Bowdoin Colleges in Maine, and also conducted a youth orchestra made up of select players from throughout the southern half of the state. Ben earned his MA degree in elementary education from Bank Street College of Education in 1992. In addition to teaching music at Calhoun, he is the producer and originator of Calhoun���s five Kids for Kids CD compilations, featuring music by Calhoun students.

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