When master musician Martyn Bennett died in January 2005 there were many tributes paid to his amazing talents. In this book, Martyn's mother Margaret, herself a musician, writer and folklorist has gathered together a collection of 'Martyn stories' as told by his many friends and admirers under the heading "It's Not The Time That You Have...Notes and Memories of Music-making with Martyn Bennett".

From the Preamble...." This is by no means an attempt to write a life story, but merely to record a few anecdotes shared by some of the folk who have been part of Martyn's world of music-making. While a number of them arrived by letter or e.mail, most were recorded in conversations. They're simply put together for the enjoyment of those who know Martyn, his music, his sense of humour, delight in the ridiculous, his intense perception, profound sensitivity and his warm compassion."....Margaret Bennett

"I don’t believe Martyn Bennett set out to break down barriers. He just didn’t see them… To be interested in modernity does not for a moment mean you have to be less interested in roots, in tradition or history. He grew
up in a world of tales and music and politics—a place that was at oncedeeply Scottish and broadly international. To compose for the club scene is not less demanding or honourable than composing for orchestra or folk band. Bennett did all of these things. … classical, folk, rock and club worlds become one in Bennett’s art… his music connects deeply to literature and thought.
Scottishness was a springboard for Bennett, a firm rock beneath hisfoot to launch himself elsewhere… he fused and galvanised and created new forms out of old ones … as a matter of course. He did what we have to
do in our national life generally. Start out from our unique Scots soil—rich, moist mixture of Gaelic and Irish and Asian and Norse—and launch ourselves outwards. There’s something fearless in the art of Martyn Bennett …confidence… faith… lacking in our intellectual and political arenas. Imagine a Scottish Parliament and executive imbued with that kind of spiritual vivacity. A love of the modern world and a real desire to play an active,
leading role in it. Finding a joy in youthfulness, in all the rhythms and harmonies that reach our shores, in seeing the world as multiple and finding the alchemy to weld a progressive national life.
What’s the point in having our artists … if we don’t look to them for inspiration? Bennett was inspired by writing and many writers are, in turn inspired by him. In his music there’s a glimpse of a Scotland we can find in
depth… His is a Scotland I’d like one day to wake up in."
Chris Dolan
The Herald, Feb. 5, 2005

"Martyn was the boy who did it first and who did it best—who created the ultimate fusion of traditional roots and contemporary grooves, whose daring, humour, imagination and sheer ability set his music head and shoulders above the rest… We are all much diminished for the loss of a true musician and a beautiful soul."
Maryann Kennedy
West Highland Free Press, Feb. 11, 2005

The photograph of Martyn on the front cover was gifted by Canada's 'Portrait Photographer of the Year 2005', Manon Rousso. Manon met Martyn in 1999 when her village ran a celebration, 'Homage aux premiers arrivants écossaises' [a homage to the first Scottish settlers], and invited Martyn and Margaret to play and sing; they in turn asked Tony MacManus. It was in her native Quebec that Manon first heard Gaelic songs, a Gaelic psalm, the music of the bagpipes and fiddle and heard Martyn playing for a wild hyped-up 'dannsa rathaid' [a Lewis style, cross-roads dance, only it was held on a covered bridge in Quebec].
http://www.manonroussophotographe.com 

All Royalties from the sale of this book donated to Bethesda Hospice, Isle of Lewis.

Read more about Martyn Bennett