Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, Vol. 1: Classic Tunes

by Paul Machlis, Alasdair Fraser

Overview

There's a huge legacy of Scottish material for the fiddle, and its melodies are vastly different from the Irish. Who better to explore it than Alasdair Fraser, who's not only a virtuoso on the instrument, but whose love of the music is apparent in every note he plays? In pianist Paul Machlis he has a very sympathetic companion -- a man who can not only play the ceilidh style, but who can offer some sophisticated, but never overly so, fingerings behind the fiddle. Add in a bass and cello on some selections (like the beautiful harmony between cello and fiddle on "Chapel Keithack/Belmont," for example) and you have a record that's close to perfect. Fraser's technique is impeccable, allowing him to attempt anything from a moving slow air to the almost impossible "Madame Neruda," which he manages without even seeming to break a sweat. There's beauty all through this record, not only in the playing, but also in the choice of material from many different composers, and Fraser touches on virtually every aspect of Scots fiddle music, including the wonderful strathspey of "Lady Charlotte Campbell's New Strathspey," which transforms into "Lady Charlotte Campbell's Reel," the notes cascading out like a fountain. Machlis works so well that often the listener barely realizes he's the sign of the perfect accompanist, while he still keeps time and glorious underpinning on "Da Forfeit O' Da Ship/Da Grocer/Jack Is Yet Alive." As fine an album of Scottish traditional music as you're going to find, performed with panache and high style. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	02/13/2001
Label:	Culburnie Records
UPC:	0755997011828

Tracks

1. Miss Dumbreck/Miss Cameron of Balvenie/Clydeside Lassies
2. The Auld Brig O' Don
3. The Beauty of the North
4. Madame Neruda
5. Chapel Keithack/Belmont
6. Earl Haig
7. Early Grey/ The Left Handed Fiddler
8. Rose-Acre
9. Craigellachie Brig/ Largo's Fairy Dance
10. The Ancient Barons of Kilravock
11. Mrs. McPherson of Gibton/ The Novelty
12. Lady Charlotte Campbell's New Strathspey/Lady Charlotte Campbell's ...
13. Miss Hannah of Elgin/ Sir George Clark of Penicuik/ Major L. ...
14. Mrs. Jamieson's Favourite
15. The Rose-Bud of Allenvale
16. Seann Triubhais Uilleachain
17. Da Forfeit O' da Ship/ Da Grocer/ Jack Is Yet Alive
18. Mr. A. G. Wilken's Favourite/ Jenny Hardie's Reel
19. Mrs. Major L. Stewart of the Island of Java
20. The Iron Man/ The Smith's a Gallant Fireman/ The Forth Bridge Reel/ Gillan'
21. Niel Gow's Lament for the Death of His Second Wife

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Alasdair Fraser   Primary Artist
Paul Machlis   Primary Artist
Kenny Evans   Recorder
Natalie Haas   Cello
Todd Phillips   Bass

Technical Credits

Kenny Evans   Engineer
Tom Anderson   Composer
James Hill   Composer
Sally Ashcraft   Design,Cover Photo
Niel Gow   Composer
Charles Grant   Composer
William Marshall   Composer
J. Scott Skinner   Composer
Simon Fraser   Composer
Robert Mackintosh   Composer
William Gardiner   Composer
Bill Hardie   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Paul Machlis   Producer
Paul Stubblebine   Mastering
Alasdair Fraser   Producer,Liner Notes
Dave Travis   Photography