The Folk from the Wind Wound Isle > The Gift of Music
page 21
There are several themes that keep reappearing in the lives of Robertson descendants in Australia. These include music, handicrafts, religion and alcohol. l explore these themes as interludes between other sections.
Music, singing and dancing were an important social activity during the long dark Shetland winter, even though the Calvinist ministers who came from Scotland sometimes frowned on such frivolity. The most important instrument was the fiddle, with the gue - a two stringed fiddle of Norse origin - replaced by the modern violin in the 18th century. Greenland whalers carried at least one fiddler to entertain the crew on their long voyages away from home. 1
We know, that as well as being a seaman and a crofter, Arthur Robertson was a musician and teacher of music. Marjorie Mathieson believes the Wards had custody of Arthur's violin, but whether it is still in existence, I do not know.
Robert Robertson writes about the importance of music as part of the family’s religious devotions and I have copies of hymns and poetry written by him and other members of the family. One piece by Neil Saunders is dedicated to his mother Frances, “for her ministry of song in the General Hospital, Brisbane". (See Appendix 5.) Her father, James Robertson, gave Frances an autoharp on her eighteenth birthday in 1894. As a married woman living in Queensland she would play this to patients at the Brisbane General Hospital. One of Frances’ grand daughters has become a music therapist.
Music keeps being mentioned in the information and stories coming back to me from different sections of the family. My own mother had a fine contralto voice and sang at social and charity functions, and my Uncle Arthur’s singing of ‘The Mountains of Mourne’ has stayed with me from childhood. It was intended that my brother Neil would learn the violin. Being left handed, Neil insisted he should be allowed to use the bow in his left hand. Between lessons, he re-strung the violin accordingly. The teacher was not impressed and Neil's violin lessons did not continue for very long.
Rheita Mott’s Autoharp >
See Chapter 14. The player is Margaret Powell and her sister Dot Geary looks on.
There are many musicians in the family - singers and instrumentalists, professionals, amateurs and teachers of music. The gift of music carries right through to younger generations. When l am aware of the musical skills of individuals, I mention these in the potted biographies. l have been given copies of hymns and poetry written by family members and some of these are included in Appendix 5.
Of course not all the Robertson's descendants are musical. Rutherford Robertson told me that although his father could sit down at a piano and play almost anything asked of him, Rutherford did not inherit his ability. Peter Hogan, an uncle on his mother’s side, would try to get Rutherford to imitate his singing - ‘Up laddie, up the scale’. Uncle Peter’s efforts were doomed to failure. 2
Portable organ used for the tent revivals run by Robert Robertson
Now in the custody of Pixie Robertson.
1. J. Nicolson, Traditional Life in Shetland
2. Interview with R.N. Robertson, March 2000
Garry Gillard | New: 5 March, 2019 | Now: 5 September, 2022