MP3 Catherine Fraser and Duncan Smith - Unity
A unique blend of traditional, contemporary and original music both from and inspired by the Scottish tradition for fiddle and piano.
12 MP3 Songs
WORLD: Celtic, FOLK: Traditional Folk
Details:
About "Unity "
“Thoughtful, toe-tapping and intelligent, what more could you want” -- Roger Giles, realmusic
“Wow” – William Crawford, Highlander Music
“Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith played up a storm…....Lots of light and shade, fast reels, elegant strathspeys, slow airs, Scottish, Cape Breton — all had our audience riveted.” -- John Logan, NZ Folk
Offering a unique blend of traditional, contemporary and original music both from and inspired by the Scottish tradition, "Unity" covers a wide ranging musical and emotional spectrum -- from haunting Gaelic airs to foot stomping dance music, from chamber music to evocative original works.
On this, their third recording, Catherine and Duncan continue to combine technical mastery with their trademark emotional depth. "Unity" takes the listener on a memorable journey exploring stories and tunes from the 17th Century to the 21st, all handled with sensitivity and a unique personal touch.
Festival audiences on three continents use words like “incredible”, “wonderful” and “deeply moving” to describe Catherine and Duncan’s performances. This is a true duo, rather than soloist and accompanist; their musical connection is highly evident in the sonic space they create on Unity. As defined on the CD’s cover, Unity means “Oneness; harmony or concord; something whole or complete that is composed of separate parts; the arrangement of the elements in a work of art in accordance with a single overall design or purpose; mutual agreement….”
That mutual agreement is evident in Catherine and Duncan’s creative arrangements, in the blending of the beautiful tone of Catherine’s 1821 Matthew Hardie violin with the richness of the Move Studios grand piano, and in the combining of compositions from William Marshall, James Scott Skinner, Malcolm Reavell, John Morris Rankin, and Fraser and Smith themselves, with works from the collections of Alexander McGlashan, and Patrick MacDonald found by Catherine Fraser during research in Scotland.
Part traditional, part folk, part classical, part world music, Unity is a "must have" for any serious musician''s CD collection!
About Catherine Fraser https://www.tradebit.com
Catherine Fraser is one of the Southern Hemisphere''s finest Scottish fiddlers. Acknowledged for her ability to combine a high level of technical skill with a rare depth of emotional expression, Catherine presents the music of her heritage with finesse, passion and sensitivity. The recipient of numerous scholarships and awards, she has performed with (among others) Alasdair Fraser, Muriel Johnstone, Liz Doherty, Hanneke Cassel, Iain Fraser, Laura Risk and Paddy League, and has been support act for many international touring artists including Capercaille, The Fureys, Daniel O’Donnell and The Irish Rovers. Other performing and teaching credits include appearances in Boston, USA, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Pleasanton, California, the National Folk Festival, Canberra, the National Celtic Festival, the National Fiddle Festival, the South Australian Folk Festival, Fairbridge Festival, WA, as well as in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns Armidale, Ballarat, Auckland, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch among many others. Touring throughout Scotland in 2005, Catherine has gained a reputation as a world class performer and teacher.
In 2003 Catherine founded, directed and taught at the first Southern Hemisphere International School of Scottish Fiddle. Now an annual event, the school continues to attract international teachers including Liz Doherty, Hanneke Cassel, Iain Fraser, Catriona MacDonald and Duncan Smith.
“Only a handful of musicians in Australia can capture the true spirit of the Scottish dance; one of those is Catherine Fraser.”
ABC TV
“the rhythmic drive of her fiddling carries the performance.”
Graham McDonald, Canberra Times
“confirmed her reputation as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s leading Scottish fiddle players.”
Roger Giles, RealMusic Concerts, Auckland
“Catherine plays with great feeling and panache”
John Logan, NZ Folk
Discography
Fiddling Around Kilmarnock, 1993
Kilmarnock Kilmarnock, 1996
Presence Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith, 2003
Old Favourites and Odd Couples Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith, 2004
Unity Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith 2006
Email: info@https://www.tradebit.com
About Duncan Smith
Duncan Smith is in demand as a performer and teacher of Scottish music and dance throughout Australia and New Zealand, and across North America. A multi-instrumentalist and singer, he has performed in a wide range of musical styles including medieval plainchant, rock and roll, jazz and bluegrass. A native of Boston (USA) currently based in Melbourne, Australia, he began playing piano for Scottish Country Dancing in 1980 as the first pianist in Barbara McOwen’s band “Tullochgorum”. In recent years he has specialised as an accompanist and teacher of accompaniment for Scottish music and dance. Since starting to work with fiddler Catherine Fraser in 2001, he has developed a unique improvisational approach, fusing multiple musical styles to create a sensitive and imaginative backdrop for the rich emotional range of the Scottish fiddle repertoire. Also a life-long Scottish Country dancer, he has taught at dance classes, weekends and workshops in the USA, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. Duncan is Co-Director of the Southern Hemisphere International School of Scottish Fiddle.
“…Smith’s piano is always inventive. He supports the melodies harmonically while providing the
drive necessary for the dance tunes. It is a refreshingly different approach to piano accompaniment for this kind of music, where he follows the rules while bending them where appropriate.”
Graham McDonald, Canberra Times
“Duncan, with a fine sensitivity and dexterity, provides the difficult contrapuntal accompaniment on piano. “
John Logan, NZ Folk
“… amazing sensitivity in accompaniment…”
Amanda Sinclair
Discography
Dancin’ Music Duncan Smith and Susan Worland 1987
Kardinia Capers David South and his Band 2002
Presence Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith, 2003
Old Favourites and Odd Couples Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith, 2004
The Southern Touch David South and his Band 2005
Unity Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith 2006
Email: dsmith@https://www.tradebit.com
About the duo: Catherine Fraser and Duncan Smith
When Catherine and Duncan starting working together as a duo in 2001 they discovered they shared a common approach to music making -- getting beyond the notes to express the universal emotional experience available through the Scottish repertoire. Since then they have been developing and performing their concert material, as well as continuing to be in demand for Scottish dances and balls in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Scotland, captivating audiences with performances that are emotionally rich and musically diverse. As a duo, Catherine and Duncan have captured the spirit of the Scottish fiddle repertoire.
“Thoughtful, toe-tapping and intelligent, what more could you want”
Roger Giles, realmusic
“Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith played up a storm…..Mind you, we had heard nothing but raves from people who have seen them on their previous New Zealand tours and our audience certainly weren''t disappointed…..Lots of light and shade, fast reels, elegant strathspeys, slow airs, Scottish, Cape Breton — all had our audience riveted.”
John Logan, NZ Folk
“- a truly beautiful and affecting performance.”
Amanda Sinclair
“Wow!!”
William Crawford, Highlander Music
In 2005 Catherine and Duncan gave performances in Boston USA and around Scotland, captivating their audiences with vibrant and exciting programs of both traditional and contemporary Scottish music. Catherine sending the melody weaving and dancing, now tumbling clear and cool as a mountain stream, now pounding and pulsing with raw energy and passion, all the while backed by Duncan’s creative and sensitive accompaniment. Both are talented composers and their concerts span an extraordinarily diverse range of style. Together they will take you on a memorable journey through time and around the globe exploring everything from ancient traditional tunes to contemporary and original works, from foot stomping reels to the most haunting of Gaelic airs.
info@https://www.tradebit.com dsmith@https://www.tradebit.com