A Scottish Heart offers Celtic Christmas

As the Scottish Highland pipes revved up for a rousing rendition of "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful," folks at Sisters Coffee Company knew they were in for an afternoon of holiday music with a distinct Celtic twist.

A Scottish Heart performed for two hours on a relaxing Sunday afternoon in the log great room of the coffeehouse.The group is composed of area musicians: Irene Goodnight, fiddle; Becky Duncan, piano; and Steve Allely, pipes and drums.

The ensemble entertained a very receptive audience with traditional Scottish melodies and dance reels and jigs, interspersed with the familiar Christmas carols. Of special note was a Scottish Christmas carol from the 16th century. The group's spokesperson of the day Steve Allely remarked, "It is pretty festive stuff."

Karen Weaver and her husband came because they have heard the group play before.

"We just really, really, enjoy their music," she said.

Allely, who resides in Sisters, explained that the ensemble used to be five members strong, but over the years it has been reduced to the current three.

"We've been playing together for about 12 years," he said.

The group was originally formed to provide live music for a Scottish country dance group and dance classes taught by Allely's wife Susie.

"This music was created for the dancers, so it goes hand in glove," he said.

In addition to the Great Highland pipes, Allely plays the Uilleann pipes. Uilleann is Gaelic for elbow. Allely explained that these pipes "actually have a bend in them, and they are played sitting down. And they are played with a bellows."

He also adds a fresh twist to the group's repertory with the sounds of the penny whistle and the Bodhran, an Irish drum that is played with a two headed stick.

The group plays fairly regularly at Sisters Coffee Company, often to a standing-room-only crowd.

"Today was pretty light," Allely said. "I think people are Christmas shopping or something."

Jana Novotny, who was having a very busy day, came at the last minute. She said, "I am a great fan of the fiddle and the Guinness beer. … I am not Irish. I'm Czech, but the Irish music is through the whole world."

Jana, who plays Irish fiddle herself, summed up what the afternoon's lively and festive performance was all about: "Music is to make pleasure; that's the purpose of it."