Westlin Weavers News -- 2005 Archive
April 16, 2005 -- A new ballad celebrating
the Scottish roots and early travels of the father of conservation will debut in
San Diego Thursday night.
"The Ballad of John Muir," subtitled "From Dunbar to
California," tells the story of how world-renowned naturalist John Muir
left his home on Scotland's rocky east coast and spent his adolescence in the
woods of Wisconsin before walking the continent and ending up in the Sierra
Nevada, ultimately saving that "range of light" for future generations
to enjoy.
"Many people know the story of what happened after Muir came to
California," says singer/songwriter Jeanne McDougall, "but those of us
who love Scottish heritage enjoy sharing the story of what came before, and the
forces that led John Muir to California and the founding of the modern
conservation movement."
The ballad, written two years ago while McDougall was taking a course at UCSD's
Muir College, features some of Muir's own words about the wilderness and
people's relationship to it. The song will appear on the next CD by the
Westlin Weavers, due in fall 2005, and it will be performed publicly for the
first time this Thursday night, April 21, as part of the Annual General Meeting
and Dinner of the Robert Burns Club of San Diego at the Imperial House
Restaurant, Kalmia & 5th Avenue. Call (619) 234-3525 for ticket
information.
More information about Jeanne McDougall or the Westlin Weavers is available at:
www.westlinweavers.com
More information about The Robert Burns Club of San Diego is available at
www.geocities.com/~bobburns/Robert_Burns_Club_of_San_Diego.html
The Westlin Weavers are: Jeanne McDougall on guitar, recorders,
dulcimers and vocals; Alex McDougall on percussion and vocals;
Pete Connolly on vocals, bass, bouzouki, whistles and bodhran; and
Anastazia Dalesandro on vocals and guitar. Accompanying
the band at this event are members of the San Diego-based Celtic band The
Clovers: Jackie Hammack on fiddle, Katherine Kamrath on bass, and Karen
Brady on guitar.