Orchestra concert to showcase Tommy’s instruments

Rehearsals for Shetland Community Orchestra’s autumn concert are well under way and the focus is on instruments crafted in the isles.

As well as being the first outing for the orchestra’s new set of timpani, the concert will showcase the talents of local instrument-maker Tommy Isbister as one cello, two violins and a viola take centre stage in Haydn’s Emperor quartet.

A joiner by trade, Tommy has worked the popular Burland croft in Trondra with his wife, Mary, since 1977, but is best-known as a skilled maker of traditional Shetland fishing boats or yoals. Less well known are the fruits of his winter hobby – 29 violins, one viola and one cello to date.

His instruments are played from New Zealand to America but are steeped in Shetland tradition. The back of the viola was made from an old sycamore table from the Voe bake shop. “I like to think of that one as ‘Da Flooer o Voe’,” Tommy said.

Several of the violins were carved from maple transported from America to Frakkafield by keen gardener Robin Sinclair, who brought the seeds home with him on his annual visits to Shetland.

The maple had 50 growth rings when it was felled and Robin later bought two of the instruments for his granddaughters. A third will feature in the concert.

The beautiful second movement of the Haydn quartet – better known as the German national anthem – forms part of a varied programme which includes Vivaldi’s Concerto for Strings, Dvorak’s Serenade for Wind Instruments and a selection from Grieg’s Peer Gynt suites.

The orchestra will also be marking the centenary of the Battle of the Somme with The Shropshire Lad by George Butterworth, an English composer killed in action as part of the Somme offensive in August 1916.

The concert is at St Columba’s Church, Lerwick, on Saturday 1st October at 7.30pm. The audience is invited to join the orchestra afterwards for teas and homebakes.

The Community Orchestra and Training Orchestra are always looking for new members – email [email protected] if you would like to join.

Watch the Shetland Community Orchestra during their 2015 performance