Entertainers 1: old French chap busking in Sauchiehall St

Welcome to my wee photoblog on Glasgow, where we feature the  joys and unjoys of walking and cycling through a fascinating, beautiful and often badly run city. For the blog's origin see the  'Introduction' post  -

http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/introduction.html

An alphabetical list of all posts so far can be found at the end of this post. Today is Saturday, 27 August, 2011 and in Sauchiehall St we have spotted this chap making lovely music on his lovely bugleised fiddle. I ask him who he is and he says French - the music I think possibly may be  klezmer music - to be honest have no real idea, it could be from north Africa for all I know. It is haunting and rather beautiful music. I videoed two wee bits - hear them below.

Most peope pass without a second glance. For some reason, Thomas Hardy's 'At the Railway Station, Upway', pops up out of the primordial sludge in my brain -
"There is not much that I can do,
For I've no money that's quite my own!"
Spoke up the pitying child -
A little boy with a violin
At the station before the train came in, -
"But I can play my fiddle to you,
And a nice one 'tis, and good in tone!"

The man in the handcuffs smiled;
The constable looked, and he smiled, too,
As the fiddle began to twang;
And the man in the handcuffs suddenly sang
Uproariously:
"This life so free
Is the thing for me!"
And the constable smiled, and said no word,
As if unconscious of what he heard;
And so they went on till the train came in -
The convict, and boy with the violin.

\

But a few stop to thank the stranger and his beautiful music

UPDATE  1 October 2011

I uploaded a couple of videos so you can hear  the guy play - they worked for a few hours them become unplayable for some reason. Try these links -

https://picasaweb.google.com/110179219664822771440/August42011#5653248074439718082

https://picasaweb.google.com/110179219664822771440/August42011#5653248082982621122

Feel free to drop me an email with suggestions, offers of £20 notes etc. The address is damnyouebay@gmail.com

For previous posts see

Introduction
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/introduction.html
Anderston
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/anderston.html
Anniesland
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/anniesland.html
Bad Posters
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/bad-posters.html
Balloch
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/balloch.html
Bellahouston Park
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/bellahouston-park.html
Bellahouston Park 2 : After the Pope is Over
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/09/bellahouston-park-2-after-pope-is-over.html
Big Teddy Needs a Home
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/05/big-teddy-needs-home.html
Botanic Gardens
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/botanic-gardens.html
Bridgeton Cross
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/bridgeton-cross.html
Buchanan St
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/buchanan-st.html 
Buchanan St 2: a Meditation on Donald Dewar
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/06/buchanan-st-2-meditation-on-donald.html
Burrell Collection
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/burrell.html
Calton
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/calton.html
Cessnock / Kinning Park
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/05/cessnock-kinning-park.html
Chatelherault
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/chatelherault.html
Churches (Working/ Non-Working), Temples Mosques etc
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/churches-working-and-converted-other.html
Citizens Theatre
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/citizens-theatre.html
City Centre
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/city-centre.html
Climate Change Demo
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/climate-change.html
Clydebank 1
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/01/clydebank-1-golden-jubilee-and-environs.html
Clyde River Festival
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/clyde-river-festival.html
Clydeside
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/clydeside.html
Cowcaddens
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/cowcaddens.html
Cricket
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/cricket.html
December 2010: Dusk, Dark and Dawn
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-dusk-dark-and-dawn.html
Dennistoun
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/dennistoun.html
Edwin Morgan
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/09/edwin-morgan-1920-2010.html
Evolving Odeon
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/evolving-odean.html
Festivals and Fetes
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/festivals-fetes.html
Finnieston
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/finnieston.html
Forth and Clyde Canal 1
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/forth-and-clyde-canal-part-1.html
Forth and Clyde Canal 2
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/forth-and-clyde-canal-part-2-swans.html
Gartnavel Hospital: a Winter Walk, February 2011
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/05/gartnavel-hospital-winter-walk-february.html
Garnethill
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/garnethill.html
George Square
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/george-square.html
George Square 2 July 2011: the Orange Order lays a wreath at the Cenotaph
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/07/george-square-2-july-2011-orange-order.html 
Glasgow Cross and Argyle St
 http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/04/glasgow-cross-trongate-and-argyle-st.html
Glasgow Green: the 2010 Scottish Junior Run
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/09/glasgow-green-2010-scottish-junior-run.html
Glasgow North-West By-election 2009
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/springburn-by-election-2009.html
Glasgow Piping Festival
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/glasgow-piping-festival.html
Glasgow's Sikhs
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/04/glasgows-sikhs.html
Glasgow's Sikhs 2: a Sikh Wedding
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/08/glasgows-sikhs-2-sikh-wedding.html
GoMa
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/04/goma.html
Gorbals
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/04/gorbals.html
Gorbals 2
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/09/gorbals-2.html
Gorbals 3: Saltmarket to Tradeston
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/11/gorbals-3-saltmarket-to-tradeston.html
Govan
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/04/govan.html
Govanhill
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/04/govanhill.html
Govanhill 2: Messages in the Rain
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/08/govanhill-2-messages-in-rain.html
Govan Underground to Ibrox Underground: 40th anniversary of the Ibrox Stadium Disaster
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/01/govan-underground-to-ibrox-underground.html
Grow Glasgow
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/06/grow-glasgow.html
Hampden Park: Dundee United v Ross County Cup Final 15 May 2010
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/05/hampden-park-dundee-united-v-ross.html
Hidden Gardens: Glasgow Harvest at Tramway
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/10/tramway-glasgow-harvest-at-hidden.html
Hillhead / West End
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/west-end.html
Hillhead 2: Chasing the August Sun
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/08/hillhead-2-chasing-august-sun.html
Hillhead 3: August Sunset
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/09/hillhead-3-august-sunset.html
Hospitals
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/hospitals.html
Hunterian Museum
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/05/hunterian-museum.html
Hyndland
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/05/as-wiki-says-hyndland-i-s-prime.html
Ibrox
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/04/ibrox.html
 Kelvinbridge: Adventures in Art - West End Festival 2011
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/05/kelvinbridge-adventures-in-art-west-end.html
 Kelvinbridge: Adventures in Art Part 2
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/06/kelvinbridge-lansdowne-church-art.html
Kelvinbridge: a Man and His Dog
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/08/kelvinbridge-man-and-his-dog.html
Kelvinbridge Railway Station: the 'Re-opening'
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/03/kelvinbridge-railway-station-re-opening.html
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/05/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum.html
Kelvingrove Park
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/05/kelvingrove-park.html
Kelvingrove Park: Sledging
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/01/kelvingrove-park-sledging-8-january.html
Kelvingrove Park: the Fountain Vandalised
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/01/stewart-memorial-fountain-vandalised.html
King's Theatre to Glasgow Cathedral: a November Walk
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/12/kings-theatre-to-glasgow-cathedral.html
Lobey Dosser day
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/06/lobey-dosser-day.html
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/charles-rennie-mackintosh.html
Maryhill
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/06/maryhill-is-large-area-pop-over-50000.html
Mela 2008
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/mela.html
Mela 2010
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/06/mela-2010.html
Merchant City Festival 23 July 2011
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/08/merchant-city-festival-23-july-2011.html
 Necropolis
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/necropolis.html
Paddy's Market: the Last Day
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/10/paddys-market-last-day.html
Queen's Cross and Firhill
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/10/queens-cross-and-firhill.html
Red Road Flats
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/red-road-flats.html
Red Road Flats 2
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/red-road-flats-part-2.html
Red Road Flats 3
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/red-road-flats-part-3.html
Ruchill Park
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/10/ruchill-park.html
Saltmarket
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/10/saltmarket.html
Save Otago Lane 16 October 2010
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/10/save-otago-lane-16-october-2010.html
 St Enoch Centre
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/st-enoch-centre.html
St Enoch Square Through the Glass
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/08/st-enoch-square-through-glass.html
Schipka Pass down, and a walk through Barrowland
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/03/schipka-pass-down-and-walk-through.html
 Sighthill Stone Circle
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/sighthill-stone-circle.html
Sighthill Summer Solstice 2010
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/06/sighthill-summer-solstice-2010.html
Sighthill Towers Before the Fall
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/sighthill-towers-before-fall.html
Sighthill Towers After the Fall
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/sighthill-towers-after-fall.html
Single Parent: Trials of an Extra part 2
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/05/single-parent.html
South Street to Thornwood: an 'X'-Listed' walk in which we encounter the Secret State http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/07/south-street-to-thornwood-x-listed-walk.html
Update to South Street Walk
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/09/update-to-south-street-walk.html
Springburn
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/springburn.html
Swingergate Day 2: Tommy and Gail Sheridan on Trial
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/10/swingergate-day-2-tommy-and-gail.html
Swingergate Day 11: 'How's He No' Gettin' Drapped Aff?'
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/10/swingergate-part-2-hows-he-no-gettin.html
Swingergate Day 28: A Large Pinch of Salt
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/11/swingergate-day-28-large-pinch-of-salt.html
Swingergate Day 37: Andy Coulson doesn't slip up
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/12/swingergate-day-37-andy-coulson-doesnt.html
Swingergate Day 45: Waiting for the Verdict
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/12/swingergate-day-45-waiting-for-verdict.html
Swingergate Day 46: the Last Day
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/12/swingergate-day-46-last-day.html
Swingergate: Sentenced
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/02/swingergate-sentenced.html
Taggart: Trials of an Extra part 1
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/taggart.html
Tommy Burns Tribute
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/07/tommy-burns-tribute-16-may-2009.html
Alexander Greek Thomson
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/05/alexander-greek-thomson.html
Alexander 'Greek' Thomson 2: the Egyptian Halls Part 1: the Interior
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/02/alexander-greek-thomson-2-egyptian.html
Alexander 'Greek' Thomson 3: the Egyptian Halls Part 2: the Interior
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/02/alexander-greek-thomson-3-egyptian.html
Alexander 'Greek' Thomson 4: Eton Terrace, 41-53 Oakfield Avenue
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/09/alexander-greek-thomson-4-eton-terrace.html
Townhead to Duke St St to George S
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/10/townhead-to-duke-st-to-george-square.html
Welcome to Glasgow: the Dalmarnock Rd
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/09/welcome-to-glasgow-dalmarnock-road.html
Welcome to Glasgow 2: the Yoker Rd
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/11/welcome-to-glasgow-2-yoker-rd.html
Welcome to Glasgow 3: Charing Cross station to Dalmarnock station
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/03/welcome-to-glasgow-3-charing-cross.html
Welcome to Glasgow 4: Rutherglen to Gallowgate, Part 1
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/04/welcome-to-glasgow-4-rutherglen-to_26.html
Welcome to Glasgow 4: Rutherglen to Gallowgate, Part 2
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/04/welcome-to-glasgow-4-rutherglen-to_28.html
We're Not being paid Enough For This: Trials of an Extra Part 2
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/08/were-not-being-paid-enough-for-this.html
West End Festival 2010
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/07/west-end-festival-june-2010.html
Woodlands
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/woodlands.html
Woodside
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/03/woodside-st-georges-cross.html




Reviews of Scotland: 1000 Things You Need to Know



RADIO AND TELEVISON


'I love it - I'm giving this copy to a friend and buying another for myself' - Darren Adam, Presenter, Radio Forth, 17 November 2008

‘It’s a great wee book’ – Stephen Jardine, introducing Edwin Moore on Scottish Television’s Five-Thirty Show

'A fantastic book' - Scott Wilson , talk 107 Breakfast Show host (see In Memoriam talk 107)

'A great read' - Dougie Jackson, Drivetime host, Smooth Radio 105.2

THE PRESS

'Despite its apparently humorous format, this is a serious and extensive dictionary on all things Scottish; from Jean Redpath to Lorne sausage, from Flodden to the Corries. Is particularly good on history and minutiae. There's a useful chapter on famous Scottish legal cases and another on literature. Excellent' - Royal Scottish Legion, Feb 2009

'This is the ultimate Scottish reference book' - Waterstones Christmas catalogue, 2008

'This is a fascinating look at the history of Scotland: its languages, politics and great achievements, from its origins in the ancient landmass of Laurentia 400 million years ago, to devolution and Billy Connolly. Edwin Moore has collected a thousand important facts about this beautiful country, covering Scottish history and culture, correcting misconceptions, and examining the mysteries of haggis and bagpipes with insight, warmth and impressive attention to detail' - The Good Book Guide, November 2008



'This is a recipe for revealing how horribly ill informed you are about your country. Although, if you are skillful, you can nod sagely as you read some new fact and mutter 'Ah, yes!' as if recalling the information from your excellent schooling. Where else will you find a real recipe for making haggis from scratch side by side with a potted biography of David Hume; a section of the Declaration of Arbroath and the curiously touching fact that Lulu was only 15 when she had a hit with 'Shout'? The whole thing is of course, silly - but oh so addictive.' - Matthew Perren, i-on Glasgow, December 2008


'. . . well crafted and witty' - Bill Howatson, Aberdeen Press and Journal, 18 October 2008


‘While most of Edwin’s entries are entertaining and scholarly – he writes like a Scottish Bill Bryson – it is when he takes an interest in the backwaters of history, the details lost down the back of the sofa, that he is at his best’ – Jack McKeown, The Courier, 27 October 2008


'History, it is said, is written by the victors. Trivia, meanwhile, is written by the guys with the smeared spectacles and the breathable rainwear. The first discipline is linear and causal; to quote from Alan Bennett’s play The History Boys, history is “just one f****** thing after another”. Things look different, though, when viewed through the prism of trivia. The past is reduced to one big coleslaw of fascinating facts that in their randomness tell a more mixed-up tale entirely.
The first approach leads to big, frowning books by the likes of Tom Devine and Michael Fry. The latter results in small, cheerful books such as Scotland: 1,000 Things You Need to Know, Edwin Moore’s valiant attempt to navigate the more trivial contours of enlightenment and clearances, crown and parliament, dirt and deity.
Moore proceeds from a sincere and controversial first principle: Scotland is really a rather pleasant and interesting place. . .As a work of popular scholarship, though, it’s in a different league to the Scottish novelty titles that get stocked next to the bookstore tills as potential impulse purchases, those little handbooks of parliamo Caledonia and regional braggadocio, such as Weegies vs Edinbuggers.' - Allan Brown The Sunday Times, 21 September 2008

'In his book, Scotland: 1000 Things You Need to Know, Edwin celebrates all that sets us Scots as a race apart - our language, law, flora, food, and of course, our people. From our poets, architects and inventors, to our artists, entertainers and fighters. But he doesn't shy away from the more unpleasant aspects of our history. . .' - Robert Wight, Sunday Post, 14 September 2008

‘We think we know all about William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and the Union of the Crowms. However, according to Edwin Moore, author of , Scotland: 1000 Things You Need to Know, we’re still in the dark about many aspects of our history and culture. . . The Big Issue looks at 20 of the most astonishing examples of secret Scotland.’ – The Big Issue, 18-24 September 2008

'What's the connection between Homer Simpson and Larbert, and why are generations of lawyers grateful to a Paisley snail? Need to know more? Author Edwin Moore has gathered 1000 facts like these about Scotland in a quirky new book. Brian Swanson selects a few favourites. . .' - Scottish Daily Express, 13 September 2008

'The palm for Christmas-stocking books seems to have passed recently to popular science, with best selling titles every year such as Why Don’t Penguins’ Feet Freeze? This year there has been a gallant attempt at a historical fight back. Scotland: 1,000 Things You Need to Know(Atlantic Books, £12.99) asks (and answers) such post-turkey questions as ‘How many kings of Scotland died in their beds?’, ‘Who on earth decided that the Declaration of Arbroath was the cornerstone of modern democracy?’ or ‘Why is iron brew spelled Irn-Bru?’ Mark Mazower,History Today; The Best of History in 2008, December 2008



'A real treat for the serendipitous Scotophile' - Reginald Hill


FROM THE INTERWEB



www.Booksfromscotland.com (on the new paperback edition)
Book of the Month, May 2010
'Whether it's Scottish lochs or Enlightenment philosophers, the facts of the devolution referendums or the mysteries of Irn-Bru, myths will be debunked and truths revealed in this light-hearted but rigorous overview of Scottish history and culture.'