>There is still a group called The Whistlebinkies, and I was listening just
>yesterday to their 1999 album "Timber Timbre". They just finished doing a
>tour of the US. However, none of the folks you listed on your album are on
>this one, Nigel. I don't know if this is still the "same" group, as
>Battlefield Band is the "same" group from one decade to the next, or if this
>is just a coincidence of name.
Off their website at http://www.sol.co.uk/w/whistlebinkies/band.htm
Formed during the great surge of interest in traditional and Celtic music and song in
the late 1960s, the group quickly evolved into a leading
force in the field.
The Whistlebinkies led the revival in the use of the bellows-blown bagpipes in
Scotland and were the first to combine the three national
instruments: the fiddle, bagpipes and clarsach (small Scottish harp) in regular
performance.
Only authentic traditional instruments are used and where possible, the group prefers
to play in an acoustic setting.
The repertory is drawn from all periods of Scottish music and from all regions of the
country. Members contribute new compositions within
the tradition and the group is always ready to explore connections with other
cultures. Arrangements evolve in a workshop situation with
each member contributing his or her own skills and ideas.
The Whistlebinkies have toured extensively taking Scottish music to France, Germany,
Italy, Finland, Iceland, Taiwan, Estonia and all the
Celtic countries. In 1991 they were the first Scottish music group to tour The Peoples
Republic of China. Recent festival appearances include
the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Glasgow Mayfest,
the Hong Kong Folk Festival and the Festival
Interceltique at Lorient, Brittany.
In March 1996 the group made a highly successful contribution to the Scotland:
Cultural Counterpoint festival at the Anderson Centre for
the Arts, Binghamton University, New York State.
In January 1995 the group were featured as the BBC Radio 3 'Artists of the Week'.
August 1998 saw performances in Texas, at the Festival Interceltique, Lorient,
Brittany and a show at the Edinburgh International Festival
Fringe.
The Whistlebinkies frequently work with others on special musical projects. Recent
collaborations have included a joint performance of
Scottish fiddle music with Yehudi Menuhin, tours with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra
and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra,
collaborations with Capella Nova and a major project with the Glasgow Festival Strings
and Scottish Ballet in Eddie McGuire's ballet The
Spirit of Flight. The group have recorded with David Essex and The Cutting Crew. The
band commissioned, premiered and broadcast
Scottish Circus by the late John Cage. The Whistlebinkies have contributed much music
to feature and documentary film, television, radio
and stage drama productions.
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