Scottish Culture and Traditions (SCAT) recently made a presentation to whistler and flautist Kenny Hadden. Kenny has worked very hard over many years to enable people to learn and enjoy our music. He was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame a few years back. You can read about him here. Below is the speech that was made in his presentation on Sunday 4th December from Scottish Culture and Traditions (SCAT).
It’s my pleasure this afternoon to make this presentation to Kenny Hadden. When Scottish Culture and Traditions (SCAT) was formed in 1997 Kenny was among the original four tutors. In 20 plus years since he has taught, mentored and inspired innumerable whistle and flute students. I count myself very privileged to have been one of them; as do a number of people in this room. In addition to his role as a tutor Kenny has been a SC&T Board member.
Beyond SC&T Kenny Hadden has made an enormous contribution to the traditional music scene in Aberdeen, the surrounding area and beyond. Since moving (back) to the city to study geology at Aberdeen University in 1972 Kenny has been a central figure in the music as an organiser, a session mainstay and a tutor.
Originally from Aberdeen Kenny’s father’s work, as an agricultural engineer, took the family to Blairgowrie. There Kenny became interested in traditional music at Blairgowrie High School. At first his interest was focussed on Irish music through hearing Boys of the Lough and Planxty. He taught himself to play the mandolin, tenor banjo and whistle. He kept some well kent company at that time, including Dougie McLean, who has been a lifelong friend. He became more interested in Scottish music after hearing the band Alba, arguably Scotland’s first traditional supergroup which featured:
- Alan MacLeod: highland pipes, bodhrán
- Tony Cuffe: guitar, lyre, whistle, vocals
- Sean O’Rourke: vocals, bouzouki, flute, whistle
- Mike Ward: fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocals
If you haven’t heard them it’s worth seeking out their 1976 recording (YouTube .
Not long after he arrived back in Aberdeen, to study, Kenny found a simple system flute in a junk shop for £10 and taught himself to play. If you get the chance ask Kenny what happened to tht flute!
Luckily for us, and traditional music in Scotland, flute and whistle playing quickly became an obsession. He became a regular at the weekly sessions in “Ma Cameron’s” and the “Prince of Wales”, where he learned tunes from piper Alan MacDonald and accompanied the Gaugers’ Tom Speirs and Arthur Watson, and joined the committees of Aberdeen University Folk Club and Aberdeen Folk Club, serving on the latter for several years. He also played and competed at folk festivals across Scotland.
In the early 1980s Kenny joined Ceolbeg. During his time with them the band went on to win the 1984 Edinburgh Folk Festival competition. Kenny played on their first album as well as at further festivals in Scotland, England and France. Ask him about a trip on a bus with Gordon Duncan! By this time he had discovered the Willie Clancy Summer School, held annually in Miltown Malbay, County Clare. As much as he admired Irish music and musicians he became determined to ensure that Scottish music should be similarly championed, especially on the flute.
In the 1980s he became a founder of the Aberdeen branch of the Traditional Music and Song Association (TMSA). In 1989 he was on the committee that established Stonehaven Folk Festival, which he helped to organise for the next seven years.
Aberdeen Alternative Festival, the North-Atlantic Fiddle Festival and the Button Box & Moothies Festival, in Aberdeen, are other events that have benefitted from Kenny’s programming advice.
For six years he taught whistle and flute at the Splore School of Traditional Music as part of Aberdeen International Youth Festival. He also ran beginners whistle classes in Banchory and Stonehaven from 2010 to 2013 and was flute, whistle and group work tutor at the Traditional Music Centre of Excellence, in Plockton, during 2011.
He has recorded with Dougie Maclean, Sheena Wellington, Aberdeen singer Bob Knight and Dundee singer Barbara Dymock and was a member of Barbara’s touring band for two years.
As well as teaching the flute, Kenny is a staunch advocate; perhaps missionary is a better word (?), for the instrument. He has researched its place in Scottish music, discovering that it enjoyed parity with the fiddle in the 1750s. He has revived many old tunes from the late 18th and 19thcenturies Scottish collections and shared them enthusiastically.
With fellow flute players, Gordon Turnbull and Sharon Creasey, Kenny was “instrumental” in the set up the Edinburgh Flute Fling in 2014 and a corresponding Aberdeen event in 2017. This led to regular annual events in both locations. During lock down Kenny and his fellow organisers arranged online workshops, providing employment for professional traditional musicians and giving flute and whistle students an opportunity to develop their skills, at a difficult time.
The publication of the “FluteFling Collection” in 2022 is the result of collaboration between Kenny, Sharon Creasy and Gordon Turnbull. This is the first Scottish flute and whistle tune book of its kind in Scotland for around 150 years. It features 133 traditional and original tunes provided by the 13 tutors who have participated in FluteFling events.
After taking early retirement from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, where he worked as a chemist, Kenny expanded his skill set into radio presentation. Gus MacDonald saw Kenny as the natural choice to take on presenting his traditional music radio show for Aberdeen community radio station SHMU FM.
Over the years I’ve had more fun than the law allows in this man’s company. Sometimes it’s been sublime, sometimes surprising and sometimes just outright surreal – BUT – its always been fun. You’re a smart, well informed audience I’m sure you’ll be able to figure out the “S” category each the following fits into:
- Playing flute tunes with Harry Bradley in the Blue Lamp
- Playing in a session in the Old Blackfriars with a guy playing a pink ukulele, with ONE string!
- Seeing Kenny’s head appear round the corner, from the bar in the Blue Lamp, whilst I was playing, telling me “You’re tonguing that too much”! Kenny is never off
duty as a tutor and mentor!
- Turning well kent tunes into Strathspeys during a session to see the surprised reaction on other player’s faces. “That tune’s familiar but I just can’t place it.”
- Playing in a session at the Top of Coombe, the highest pub in Ireland, on the Cork/Kerry Border, with an eagle flying along the hills on the opposite side of the valley. What was the tune we were playing? It couldn’t be anything other the “The Eagle’s Whistle” could it! Kenny’s call was for the next tune to be the polka version of “Nelly the Elephant”.
- Playing Phil Smillie’s composition “Findlay MacLennan Smillie of Finavon Castle”, with Kenny and six other flute players, Sandy Bell’s in Edinburgh when Phil walked in. The look on his face was just wonderful!
In 2018 Kenny was deservedly inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, in the Services to the Musical Community Category. This presentation is specific local recognition of what Kenny has done to:
- make SC&T a success;
- motivate, teach and inspire flute and whistle players in Aberdeen and the Shire and
- provide resources for players of the flute, whistle, and other traditional instruments. (Check out Douglas Hadden’s channel on YouTube. You’ll find an amazing, extensive collection of rare recordings.)
My own experience is that if Kenny is convinced that you’re interested in the music and improving your playing you won’t find a more generous and helpful mentor!
Kenny, I’m delighted to present you with:
- 70 cL of your “Favouite Dram” (Ardbeg Corryvrekan) and
- This caricature, by Brian Petrie
From your Friends, Pupils and Fellow Tutors at SC&T! Thank you from all of us. Find out more about Scottish Culture and Traditions (SCAT) https://scottishculture.org
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