Did you know that the music of early colonial Australia was heavily influenced by Scottish music? These two dance tunes date back to 1788! Listen to Evergreen Ensemble's new album now: https://abcmusic.lnk.to/CaledoniansID Evergreen Ensemble continues their fascinating journey into the sound world of colonial Australia with this enchanting album of instrumental and vocal music drawn from the music collections of Sydney Living Museums and the State Library of New South Wales. Bringing together Australia and Scotland’s finest Early Music talent and iconic folk artists, Evergreen Ensemble weaves stories back through time, rediscovering the sounds of folk melodies performed on period instruments. For their new album 'Curious Caledonians', ensemble director and violinist Shane Lestideau has invited four renowned guest musicians to bring their specialised knowledge of nineteenth-century performance styles to the recording. With the help of a Scottish researcher, they have delved deep into the nation’s musical archives to discover treasures hidden in the personal music books and manuscripts lovingly bound together by their owners for safe-keeping. Much of this music bears the unmistakable flavour of Scotland: strathspeys and reels, haunting Gaelic airs and arrangements of favourite Scottish songs and tunes. It gives us the chance to ‘listen at the window’ of a Scottish-Australian house in the 19th century and consider what place these songs, piano duets and quadrilles may have had in their lives. The album features the dulcet tones of mezzo-soprano Allegra Giagu and soprano Claire Patti, with Claire also appearing on Celtic harp. Australian violinists Shane Lestideau and Ben Dollman (Australian Brandenburg Orchestra) are joined by Aaron McGregor of the renowned Scottish Baroque ensemble Concerto Caledonia, with acclaimed Australian Baroque cellist Daniel Yeadon completing the string section. Performing on an authentic 19th-century Collard & Collard square piano are historical keyboard specialists Neal Peres Da Costa (University of Sydney) and David McGuinness (Concerto Caledonia). 'Curious Caledonians' offers a rare insight into domestic and public music-making in Australia since 1788, honouring the extraordinary contributions of Scottish culture to Australian society and exploring Scottish music’s unique ability to reinvent itself in new surroundings. Part classical, part folk, part Scottish, part Australian, this album captures the musical – and emotional – landscape of the early Australian settlement. Evergreen Ensemble Shane Lestideau violin Ben Dollman violin & viola Allegra Giagu mezzo-soprano Claire Patti soprano & Celtic harp Guest Artists Aaron McGregor violin Daniel Yeadon cello Neal Peres Da Costa 19th-century square piano David McGuinness 19th-century square piano & harpsichord

From the Baillie Collection: two traditional Scotch tunes from the repertoire of Scottish-Australian fiddle virtuoso Robert Ballantyne Baillie, recreated by violinist Shane Lestideau and pianist Donald Nicolson. Buy and stream the album | https://bit.ly/3MIazVQ Subscribe | https://bit.ly/3C7BfdR Facebook | https://bit.ly/3IPkE2g Twitter | https://bit.ly/3OTk8E5 Instagram | https://bit.ly/3MP2ejb

EVERGREEN ENSEMBLE Shane Lestideau - baroque and classical violins, direction Ben Dollman - baroque violin and viola Rachel Johnston - cello Claire Patti - Voice and Celtic harp Emily-Rose Šárkova - piano and piano-accordion Extracts from the album One Hundred Days Away, available through ABC Classics. The project came about through a research fellowship granted to Shane Lestideau, and is supported by the National Library of Australia and the National Folk Festival. For more info: www.evergreen-ensemble.com

Extracts from Evergreen Ensemble's 2018 album release "Snow in Summer". Information on the 'Snow in Summer' Australian tour and album launch can be found at: www.evergreen-ensemble.com The program is based on the music of Northern Scotland and Scandinavia, with ancient vocal and instrumental melodies interspersed with new compositions inspired by rugged northern landscapes. Featuring four female musicians from Melbourne, Sydney and Geelong, the ensemble is composed of; baroque violin (Shane Lestideau), theorbo and baroque guitar (Samantha Cohen), Celtic harp and voice (Claire Patti), and acoustic and electric viola da gamba (Jenny Eriksson). One of the pieces featured on the album is a recent composition by the Sydney-based musician, Alice Chance. It is the 2nd of three pieces Evergreen Ensemble has commissioned her to write for the 'Australian Baroque Sonatas Project'. For more information visit: www.evergreen-ensemble/absp Winter is a time of solitude, but also of festivity and story-telling. This program gives us the space to reflect on the passing of time, the seasons, memories and loves lost, and connections to the land. Alongside 18thC sonatas you’ll hear arrangements of folk songs - sparse, ambient string textures, plucked notes resonating like stars in a clear nights sky, a voice soaring high above. Shane Lestideau: Baroque Violin, Direction Claire Patti: Voice, Celtic harp Jennifer Eriksson: Viola da gamba Samantha Cohen: Theorbo www.evergreen-ensemble.com

Beautiful Scottish fiddle tunes with a uniquely Australian flavour: Shane Lestideau and Donald Nicolson bringing to life the music of travelling showman Robert Ballantyne Baillie from early 1900s Queensland. Buy and stream the album | https://bit.ly/3oQc50p Subscribe | https://bit.ly/3N0ZIXd Facebook | https://bit.ly/3N4ZYoh Twitter | https://bit.ly/3P8iPRY Instagram | https://bit.ly/3N55187

'Strike the Viol' by Henry Purcell, arranged for instrumental ensemble. Live recording of Evergreen Ensemble playing "Music of the British Isles" at the Melbourne Recital Centre, August 2016. Shane Lestideau: Baroque Violin/ Direction. Anna Webb: Baroque Viola. Hannah Lane: Triple Harp. Rosanne Hunt: Baroque Cello. Miranda Hill: Baroque Double Bass. Matthew Manchester: Small pipes, Cornetto.

Evergreen Ensemble perform 'The Emigrant Highlander's Wife' from their 2019 album 'Curious Caledonians' at Elizabeth Bay House, Sydney. Released through ABC Classics, the album explores the sounds of Scottish music from the early days of the Australian colony performed on period instruments. Guest musicians on the album include two members of the Glasgow-based ensemble, Concerto Caledonia (David McGuinness, keyboards, and Aaron McGregor, violin) and Neal Peres da Costa (keyboards) and Daniel Yeadon (cello) from the University of Sydney. www.evergreen-ensemble.com/albums The Emigrant Highlander’s Wife Allegra Giagu, mezzo-soprano, Shane Lestideau & Aaron McGregor, violins, Ben Dollman, viola, Daniel Yeadon, cello, David McGuinness, 19th–century square piano & arrangement Unlike the other repertoire recorded on this album this piece did not come to the project from an Australian library or museum, but was brought directly from Scotland by members of Concerto Caledonia after having been discovered by Jeanice Brooks of the University of Southampton. The lyrics were taken from a letter written by John Marriott (1780-1825) while he stayed at Dalkeith Palace, Scotland in 1807 and it describes the emotional journey of Scottish Highlanders leaving their homes for foreign shores; O turn thee, Donald, turn & view The valley we are leaving… Marriott set his words to Since First I Saw Your Face from Thomas Ford’s Musick of Sundrie kindes (1607) which appeared in many 19th-century collections of ‘ancient music’. The melody fits the words well, being mournful and reserved in character yet quietly defiant in its final cadence.

Stand & Weep forms part of Andrew Ford's Red Dirt Hymns project. www.andrewford.net.au/red-dirt-hymns Andrew asked Jill Jones to write the poetry for Stand & Weep and he set the words to music following a commission from Evergreen Ensemble. Claire Patti (voice/ harp) arranged the work for Evergreen Ensemble and her 5-voice a cappella group, Thursday's Child. Poetry - Jill Jones Music - Andrew Ford Arrangement - Claire Patti Direction - Shane Lestideau Soprano - Claire Patti Alto - Mel Searle Tenor - Robin Parkin Baritone - Luke Stevenson Bass - Tim Matthews Staindl Viola d'amore - Shane Lestideau Viola da gamba - Laura Moore Uillean Pipes - Matthew Horsley Sound and Mix - Mischa Herman Video - Darren James Artwork - Darrah Lestideau EVERGREEN ENSEMBLE www.evergreen-ensemble.com THURSDAY'S CHILD www.tcband.com.au