Traditional Scottish fiddle music, with fiddle, harp, hammer dulcimer and cello

19 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Scottish Traditional, WORLD: Celtic

Details:
Favourite Scotch Measuresâ¦.. A Loaf of Bread, A Measure of Scotch, And Gow beside meâ¦..

CD of traditional fiddle music from Scotland. These tunes date from the 18th and 19th centuries, with some having even earlier antecedents. Our instruments are fiddle, recorder, cello, hammer dulcimer, and Celtic harp.

We begin with an anonymous epitaph written in 1812, after the death of Niel Gow, one of Scotlandâs greatest fiddlers. This is followed by Capt. Simon Fraserâs lament, composed for Niel Gow, called Caledoniaâs Wail for Niel Gow Her Favourite Minstrel.

Indeed, the album is filled with âfavourite Scotch measuresâ, starting with the album cover, showing two of the measures of single malt scotch, required to finish the album. The tunes include many âfavouritesâ of Scottish fiddlers, and a number of âfavouriteâ Scottish country dances, and Miss Drummond of Perthâs Favourite Scotch Measure. If you wish to dance a âHighland bumpkinâ after a measure or two of scotch, we provide you with the tune Favourite Dram.

And then we have âfavouriteâ ladies, from tavern keeper Elsie Marley, to Lady Catherine Stewart, to that belle of the ball, Mrs. Maj. L. Stewart, of the Island of Java. Unfortunate beauty â she died in Java, wondering whatever had possessed her to come to such an exotic climate, after a lifetime in Scotland.

John Turner, on fiddle and recorder, a ten times national Scottish fiddle champion, winner of numerous fiddle awards, is also known as a regular performer at Colonial Williamsburg. He is one of the world's leading exponents of traditional Scottish fiddle music, an expert on the 18th century golden age of Scottish fiddling, and has been a performer, recording artist, teacher and composer for more than three decades. John has made several solo recordings and published two books of Scottish music, one of his own compositions. His albums include The Wandererâs Lament, Fiddling Rogues and Rascals, Giant in His Field, John Turnerâs Scottish Musical Menagerie, and Hale Be Your Fiddle. He is the founder and director of the Jink and Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling. John, through his teacher Hector MacAndrew, and the MacAndrew family fiddlers, is a lineal âfiddle descendantâ of the legendary Niel Gow.

John is accompanied on this album by Maynard and Sara Johnson of Ohio, and Sara Walthery of Indiana. Maynard Johnson plays cello, as did Niel Gowâs brother Donald, and Sara Johnson plays hammered dulcimer. Sara also publishes traditional music tune collections for hammered dulcimer, fiddle, and folk instruments as The Kitchen Musician. Maynard and Sara are 18th Century musicians and entertainers, playing popular music of the era. John Turner appears on their album Oceans So Green. Sara Walthery, our Celtic harper, also appears on the album Oceans So Green.

People who are interested in Bonnie Rideout Alasdair Fraser should consider this download.