Kathryn Tickell
Encyclopedia
Kathryn Tickell is an English player of the Northumbrian smallpipes and fiddle
. She has recorded over a dozen albums, and toured widely.
, Joe Hutton, Richard Moscrop, Billy Pigg
and Tom Hunter. By the time she turned thirteen in 1980, Kathryn had won all the traditional open smallpipes competitions, and was also making a name as an accomplished player of the Shetland fiddle style
which she learned from the Shetland fiddle master Tom Anderson
at Stirling University's traditional folk summer school. Tickell has also incorporated the Border pipes
into her traditional ensemble. Her family is from the North Tyne Valley area of Northumberland
.
Her first album, On Kielder Side, was released in 1984. In the same year she was named the official piper for the Lord Mayor
of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Tickell turned professional in 1986. She has since toured Europe regularly and has recorded with international performers such as The Chieftains
, The Boys of the Lough
, and Sting.
In 1990 she formed the Kathryn Tickell Band. As of 2005, the band consisted of her brother Peter Tickell (fiddle), Julian Sutton (melodeon), Ian Stephenson
(guitar, acoustic bass guitar), and herself (Northumbrian pipes and fiddle).
Two ex-members of the north-eastern
traditional music group the High Level Ranters have appeared on her albums: Tom Gilfellon on On Kielder Side and Alistair Anderson on Borderlands (1986). The latter album included to a tribute to Wark football team.
Several other pipers have appeared on her albums: Troy Donockley
on Debatable Lands, Patrick Molard on The Gathering and Martyn Bennett
on Borderlands. Debatable Lands included "Our Kate", a composition by Kathryn Tickell dedicated to Catherine Cookson
. Jazz saxophonist Andy Sheppard
wrote a piece with her in 2001. It was premiered at the opening of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge
.
In 2002 Tickell became director of "Folkestra
North", a project to develop young talented musicians, aged between 14 and 19.
In 2009, she was awarded The Queen's Medal for Music
.
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
. She has recorded over a dozen albums, and toured widely.
Life and career
Tickell took up the smallpipes aged nine, inspired by her family—especially her father Mike, who was heavily involved in the local traditional music scene—and by the music of an older generation of traditional musicians such as Willie Taylor, Will AtkinsonWill Atkinson (musician)
Will Atkinson started off as a player of the English diatonic accordion, but became a harmonica player and a contributor to the Music of Northumbria...
, Joe Hutton, Richard Moscrop, Billy Pigg
Billy Pigg
Billy Pigg was an English player of Northumbrian smallpipes. He was a Vice-President and an influential member of the Northumbrian Pipers Society from 1930 until his death.-Life and music:...
and Tom Hunter. By the time she turned thirteen in 1980, Kathryn had won all the traditional open smallpipes competitions, and was also making a name as an accomplished player of the Shetland fiddle style
Scottish fiddling
Scottish fiddling, even to many an untrained ear, can be distinguished from other Celtic and folk fiddling styles by its particular precision of execution and energy in the delivery. The style has a very large repertoire consisting of a great variation of rhythms and key signatures, arguably more...
which she learned from the Shetland fiddle master Tom Anderson
Tom Anderson (fiddler)
Dr. Tom Anderson MBE, was a renowned Shetland fiddler and teacher. He was affectionately known to his peers as "Muckle Tammie" .Dr...
at Stirling University's traditional folk summer school. Tickell has also incorporated the Border pipes
Border pipes
The border pipes are a type of bagpipe related to the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe. It is perhaps confusable with the Scottish smallpipe, although it is a quite different and much older instrument...
into her traditional ensemble. Her family is from the North Tyne Valley area of Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
.
Her first album, On Kielder Side, was released in 1984. In the same year she was named the official piper for the Lord Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Tickell turned professional in 1986. She has since toured Europe regularly and has recorded with international performers such as The Chieftains
The Chieftains
The Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish musical group founded in 1962, best known for being one of the first bands to make Irish traditional music popular around the world.-Name:...
, The Boys of the Lough
The Boys of the Lough
-The early years:Their first album, called Boys of the Lough consisted of Aly Bain , Cathal Mc'Connell , Dick Gaughan and Robin Morton ....
, and Sting.
In 1990 she formed the Kathryn Tickell Band. As of 2005, the band consisted of her brother Peter Tickell (fiddle), Julian Sutton (melodeon), Ian Stephenson
Ian Stephenson (musician)
Ian Stephenson is a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist from Selby in Yorkshire, United Kingdom.Ian Stephenson first became known as part of the young folk band the pack, and soon afterwards with 422, a folk group who were the winners of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 1999...
(guitar, acoustic bass guitar), and herself (Northumbrian pipes and fiddle).
Two ex-members of the north-eastern
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
traditional music group the High Level Ranters have appeared on her albums: Tom Gilfellon on On Kielder Side and Alistair Anderson on Borderlands (1986). The latter album included to a tribute to Wark football team.
Several other pipers have appeared on her albums: Troy Donockley
Troy Donockley
Troy Donockley is an English composer and multi-instrumentalist most known for his playing of uillean pipes.- Early life and career :...
on Debatable Lands, Patrick Molard on The Gathering and Martyn Bennett
Martyn Bennett
Martyn Bennett was a Scottish musician who was born in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
on Borderlands. Debatable Lands included "Our Kate", a composition by Kathryn Tickell dedicated to Catherine Cookson
Catherine Cookson
Dame Catherine Cookson DBE was a British author. She became the United Kingdom's most widely read novelist, with sales topping 100 million, while retaining a relatively low profile in the world of celebrity writers...
. Jazz saxophonist Andy Sheppard
Andy Sheppard
Andy Sheppard is a British jazz saxophonist and composer. He has been awarded several prizes at the British Jazz Awards, and has worked with some notable figures in contemporary jazz, including Gil Evans, Carla Bley, George Russell and Steve Swallow.-Biography:Sheppard was born in Warminster,...
wrote a piece with her in 2001. It was premiered at the opening of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge
Gateshead Millennium Bridge
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist tilt bridge spanning the River Tyne in England between Gateshead's Quays arts quarter on the south bank, and the Quayside of Newcastle upon Tyne on the north bank. The award-winning structure was conceived and designed by architects...
.
In 2002 Tickell became director of "Folkestra
Folkestra
Folkestra, formerly known as FolkESTRA North is The Sage Gateshead’s youth folk ensemble, formed in 2001. It is led by their Musical Director Kathryn Tickell, one of England's premiere folk musicians....
North", a project to develop young talented musicians, aged between 14 and 19.
In 2009, she was awarded The Queen's Medal for Music
The Queen's Medal for Music
The Queen's Medal for Music is an annual award, instituted in 2005, for contribution to the musical life of Great Britain. The expenses of the award come from the Privy Purse.The Medal may be awarded to people of any nationality...
.
Discography
- On Kielder Side (1984)
- From Sewingshields to Glendale (1986) compilation album with Alistair Anderson, Joe Hutton, Willy Taylor, Will Atkinson, Mike Tickell and others
- Borderlands (1987)
- Common Ground (1989)
- The Kathryn Tickell Band (1991)
- Signs (1993)
- The Gathering (1997)
- The Northumberland Collection (1998)
- Debatable Lands (1999)
- Ensemble Mystical (2000)
- Music for a New Crossing (2001)
- Back to the Hills (2002)
- Air Dancing (2004)
- The Sky Didn't Fall (2006)
- Strange But True (2006)
- Instrumental (2007)
- Durham ConcertoDurham ConcertoThe Durham Concerto is a classical work composed by Jon Lord. It was commissioned by Durham University and was first performed in Durham Cathedral on October 20, 2007, as part of the university's 175th anniversary celebrations....
(2008, with Jon LordJon LordJonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
) - What We Do (2008, with Peter Tickell)