Tom Anderson (fiddler)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Tom Anderson MBE, (1910-1991) was a renowned Shetland fiddle
r and teacher. He was affectionately known to his peers as "Muckle Tammie" (Big Tommy).
Dr. Tom Anderson was known to many in Shetland as the saviour of Shetland's musical heritage long before he died.
("Moorfield") at Eshaness in the north of Mainland
, Anderson learned to play the fiddle
from his grandfather. Although he made his living as an insurance agent, his paramount work was in the conservation of traditional Shetland fiddle style of playing - playing and passing the style on to younger generations. He was the oldest child of James Anderson (b. 26 Sep 1879, Hamnavoe, Northmavine
) and his wife Harriet Margaret Johnson (b. 24 Apr 1882, Avensgarth, Northmavine).
. They had one child, James John Laurence, who died while still an infant.
His career as a musical mentor really took off when he retired in the early 1970s and began teaching traditional fiddle playing in local schools. Today, hundreds of pupils all over Shetland have studied fiddle in school as a direct result of his efforts.
Tom was taught to play the fiddle by his grandfather. Although Tom worked as an insurance salesman, music was his passion. It's said that when he was out on his tours collecting premiums, he always had his fiddle in the back of the car so that whenever he came to a house where a fiddler lived, once the business was out of the way, out came the fiddles. In this way he got to know a great many players, and learned many tunes.
During the post-war years he dedicated much time to recording tunes from fiddlers throughout Shetland. In 1960 he was instrumental in the formation of the Shetland Fiddlers' Society
, and in the early 60's he brought together the best local fiddlers to form the The Forty Fiddlers
.
During this time he gave lessons to many young fiddlers, including Aly Bain
. When he retired in the early 1970s Tom started teaching fiddle in schools, passing on his knowledge and passion for traditional music to hundreds of children, many of whom have gone on to play in local bands, or just play for fun, while a few have taken the music further afield, but either way they carried forward Tom's passion.
in 1977, and an honorary doctorate in 1981 from Stirling University
.
In 1977 Tom was awarded an MBE in recognition of his contribution to music, and in 1981 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Stirling University. In 1981 Tom formed Shetland's Young Heritage
, a group formed from his pupils, to carry forward the music. From this group Catriona MacDonald
has gone on to achieve international acclaim.
"I was coming out of Eshaness in late January, 1969, the time was after 11 pm and as i looked back at the top of the hill leading out of the district, I saw so few lights compared to what I remembered when I was young. As I watched, the lights started going out one by one. That, coupled with the recent death of my wife, made me think of the old word ‘Slockit’ meaning, a light that has gone out, and I think that was what inspired the tune.” – From a tape recorded interview with Tom Anderson by a student in 1970.
.
Tom left a musical legacy to Shetland, not only in his archive of recordings and sheet music, but in the skill and passion which he brought out in so many of his pupils. He was also author of a number of books, including the seminal 'Da Mirrie Dancers', published by the Shetland Folk Society
in 1970.
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...
r and teacher. He was affectionately known to his peers as "Muckle Tammie" (Big Tommy).
Dr. Tom Anderson was known to many in Shetland as the saviour of Shetland's musical heritage long before he died.
Early life
Born on 29 August, 1910 on a croftCroft (land)
A croft is a fenced or enclosed area of land, usually small and arable with a crofter's dwelling thereon. A crofter is one who has tenure and use of the land, typically as a tenant farmer.- Etymology :...
("Moorfield") at Eshaness in the north of Mainland
Shetland Mainland
The Mainland is the main island of Shetland, Scotland. The island contains Shetland's only burgh, Lerwick, and is the centre of Shetland's ferry and air connections....
, Anderson learned to play the fiddle
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...
from his grandfather. Although he made his living as an insurance agent, his paramount work was in the conservation of traditional Shetland fiddle style of playing - playing and passing the style on to younger generations. He was the oldest child of James Anderson (b. 26 Sep 1879, Hamnavoe, Northmavine
Northmavine
Northmavine is a peninsula of Shetland in Scotland. It is in the north west of the island, and contains the villages of Hillswick, Ollaberry, and North Roe...
) and his wife Harriet Margaret Johnson (b. 24 Apr 1882, Avensgarth, Northmavine).
Adulthood
He married Barbara Morrison, a teacher, (b. 17 Oct 1901, Garderhouse, Sandsting) on the 10th of December 1929 at the United Free Church, OllaberryOllaberry
Ollaberry is a settlement on Mainland, Shetland on the west shore of Yell Sound. The land round here is fertile by Shetland standards....
. They had one child, James John Laurence, who died while still an infant.
His career as a musical mentor really took off when he retired in the early 1970s and began teaching traditional fiddle playing in local schools. Today, hundreds of pupils all over Shetland have studied fiddle in school as a direct result of his efforts.
Tom was taught to play the fiddle by his grandfather. Although Tom worked as an insurance salesman, music was his passion. It's said that when he was out on his tours collecting premiums, he always had his fiddle in the back of the car so that whenever he came to a house where a fiddler lived, once the business was out of the way, out came the fiddles. In this way he got to know a great many players, and learned many tunes.
During the post-war years he dedicated much time to recording tunes from fiddlers throughout Shetland. In 1960 he was instrumental in the formation of the Shetland Fiddlers' Society
Shetland Fiddlers' Society
The Shetland Fiddlers' Society was formed in 1960 following a concert of massed fiddlers brought together to entertain an organised party of Shetland exiles from the colonies, known as da Hamefarin. At that time there were 40 members and the society was affectionately referred to as 'Da Forty...
, and in the early 60's he brought together the best local fiddlers to form the The Forty Fiddlers
The Forty Fiddlers
The Forty Fiddlers, or Da Forty Fiddlers, was a group of Shetland musicians. The group was formed by Dr. Tom Anderson MBE in the late 1950s when he realised that there was a danger of the traditional style of Shetland fiddle music dying out....
.
During this time he gave lessons to many young fiddlers, including Aly Bain
Aly Bain
Aly Bain MBE is a Shetland fiddler who learned his instrument from the old-time master Tom Anderson. Bain is now considered one of the finest fiddlers in the Scottish tradition. In the early days of his career he formed part of the band The Humblebums with two other ‘unknowns’ Gerry Rafferty and...
. When he retired in the early 1970s Tom started teaching fiddle in schools, passing on his knowledge and passion for traditional music to hundreds of children, many of whom have gone on to play in local bands, or just play for fun, while a few have taken the music further afield, but either way they carried forward Tom's passion.
Recognition
Anderson's passion for his life’s work earned him international renown, an MBEOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1977, and an honorary doctorate in 1981 from Stirling University
University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
.
In 1977 Tom was awarded an MBE in recognition of his contribution to music, and in 1981 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Stirling University. In 1981 Tom formed Shetland's Young Heritage
Shetland's Young Heritage
Heritage Fiddlers is a group of Shetland fiddle players who originally formed in 1981 under the guidance of the late Dr Tom Anderson MBE, who put the group together from the young pupils that he tutored. The group was originally called Tammy's Peerie Angels, then Shetland's Young Heritage...
, a group formed from his pupils, to carry forward the music. From this group Catriona MacDonald
Catriona MacDonald
Catriona McDonald is a musician and teacher from Shetland and is considered to be one of the world's leading traditional fiddle players.- Background :...
has gone on to achieve international acclaim.
Compositions
From an early age Tom was writing music, and throughout his life wrote roughly 500 tunes, mostly dedicated to Shetland place and people. Perhaps one of his most famous tunes was 'Da Slockit Light' which was inspired by the depopulation of the area of Eshaness where he was born. Each time the occupants of another croft moved out, or died, another light was 'slockit', (Shetland for extinguished)."I was coming out of Eshaness in late January, 1969, the time was after 11 pm and as i looked back at the top of the hill leading out of the district, I saw so few lights compared to what I remembered when I was young. As I watched, the lights started going out one by one. That, coupled with the recent death of my wife, made me think of the old word ‘Slockit’ meaning, a light that has gone out, and I think that was what inspired the tune.” – From a tape recorded interview with Tom Anderson by a student in 1970.
Death and legacy
Tom Anderson died on the 20th of September, 1991 at the Montfield Hospital, LerwickLerwick
Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland...
.
Tom left a musical legacy to Shetland, not only in his archive of recordings and sheet music, but in the skill and passion which he brought out in so many of his pupils. He was also author of a number of books, including the seminal 'Da Mirrie Dancers', published by the Shetland Folk Society
Shetland Folk Society
The Shetland Folk Society was created in 1945 as a heritage group, to gather, record and support all aspects of Shetland's cultural history. The first president was T. A. Robertson , who served until his death in 1973, after which John J. Graham took on the role...
in 1970.
External links
The sheet music for 'Da Slockit Light' is available @:- http://mmcconeghy.com/RIMUSIC/images/daslockitlighttomanderson.pdf