Traditional fiddle and guitar instrumentals from the Celtic lands and beyond (Ireland, Scotland, Québec, Macedonia).

9 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Celtic Folk, WORLD: Celtic



Details:
Laurie Hart's acclaimed 1992 album with guitarist William Coulter, includes tunes from Ireland, Scotland, Québec, USA, Switzerland and Macedonia. Guest musicians: Susan Bruckner and Greg Sandell, piano; Peter Chwazik, fret-less bass; Ted Crane and Michael Markus, percussion; Arbo Doughty, whistle.

Laurie Hart is a fiddler from Ithaca in central New York State. She specializes in Celtic, Québécois, Scandinavian, French and American dance music. She also plays Swedish nyckelharpa, Norwegian Hardanger fiddle and French hurdy-gurdy. Laurie is known for her beautiful tone, agile bowing, large repertoire, and fidelity to the diverse styles she plays.

She has performed since 1986 at contradances, concerts, festivals and dance weekends across the U.S. and Canada. Her fourth and latest recording is Cobbler's Dream / Le Rève du cordonnier, with Québec guitarist Paul Marchand. Two new CDs are in the works this year, with Anonyme and the Contradictions.

Laurie was the recipient of a 2002 Fulbright Award to study the music and dance of Norway and Sweden, and in summer 2005 she traveled again to Scandinavia on a grant from the American-Scandinavian Foundation. She wrote a series of articles for Fiddler Magazine in 2003-04 about Norwegian music. Radio station WEOS' Rutabaga Roadhouse radio hour was devoted to her solo playing of nyckelharpa and Hardanger fiddle in spring 2006 (listen).

Her other CDs include: Fiddlespel (Scandinavian fiddling, nyckelharpa and hardanger fiddle, with fiddler Sarah Cummings), Danse ce soir! (Québécois dance tunes, with Greg Sandell, Paul Marchand and Stéphane Landry), and Gravity Hill (with guitarist William Coulter, a mix of Irish, Scottish and Québécois tunes). Laurie has also played as a guest artist on many other recording projects. Her tune collection and analysis Danse ce soir!: Fiddle and Accordion Music of Québec (with co-author Greg Sandell) is published by Mel Bay.

Laurie attended Eastman School of Music as a violin major, and began teaching fiddle in 1990. She is now in demand as a fiddle teacher for children and adults, and has taught at Ashokan Northern Week and at Suzuki institutes around the Northeast.

Laurie performs with several groups including Duo Hart-Marchand and the Contradictions (with Rick Manning, Tom Hodgson and Dave Davies). Her newest ensemble is Anonyme, which plays music of France and Brittany. Laurie has recently taken up the hurdy gurdy (vielle à roue) and will travel to France this summer to experience the dance music there first-hand.

Reviews of Gravity Hill:

"In all, this is an excellent recording full of sensitive playing and fine tunes" - Steve Winick, DIRTY LINEN.

". . . we think it's terrific. . . few other recordings of Celtic music are this good or this interesting. The harmonies are soaring and pure. The selections are delightful danceable melodies from all over the world - including several compositions by Ithaca musicians. The collection includes only one O'Carolan chestnut, but it shimmers like an old friend at a gathering of new ones...it all works beautifully - we listened to it three times in a row and look forward to hearing it again." - ITHACA TIMES

"This recording captures the magical ensemble work of a talented duo. Laurie Hart is considered to be the premiere dance musician in Western New York... In this recording, their creativity and virtuosity really shines." - Mitzie Collins, SAMPLER RECORDS

â...a stunning work of duets with guitarist William Coulter, himself a Grammy winner and music teacher at the University of California. The style is Celtic but the arrangements are wonderfully original. Should be in your collection.â -- Harvey Nusbaum, guitarist