Media
Lady Elizabeth Ross Set
This set of a strathspey and two reels is taken from the Lady Elizabeth Ross manuscript. Written in 1812 on the Isle of Raasay, this manuscript gives us a unique insight into the musical life of one Scottish island in the early 19th century. There are so many great tunes in this manuscript and I have been playing, teaching and recording these tunes for over two years.
In collecting the tunes of Raasay, Lady Elizabeth Ross was way ahead of her time and yet today she is relatively unknown compared to other ethnomusicologists. You can find the original manuscript online and a book of the tunes has just been published, too!
Here I am joined by Alison McGillivray on cello. This was recorded on the 7th July 2022 in the Pearce Institute by Campbell Parker.
The violin I am playing is an Amati replica made by George Stoppani. It has a thicker neck, shorter fingerboard and I am using gut strings. This could be similar in many ways to the types of fiddles which were present on Raasay when this manuscript was written.
Paddy Fahy’s
I just love playing with Emily White. We have been playing together for over a decade. What began as a swap in knowledge (baroque for folk) has turned into a lifelong project of musical joy. Here is a tune we call ‘G Major Happy Tune’: I think you can see why when you listen to it!
Paddy Fahy’s is a great Irish folk tune which is known throughout the folk world. This is a great tune to start learning folk music if you want to get into it. I am playing a very simple 2nd violin line which is easy to pick up and very effective, too.
Shetland Set
As I grew up on the Shetland Isles, I had to have a Shetland set on here!
These are my favourite Shetland reels and if you want to learn them they are in Tom Anderson’s famous fiddle book: Haand me Doon Da Fiddle.
When I was little, Shetland was a great place to grow up. Music as valued and subsidised and all of my friends played instruments. My mum and I would go to different sessions every week (called Fiddle and Accordion Clubs) and this instilled in me a lifelong love of music. Also, music is fun and it is community!
I recorded this in my home turf (Rennes, Bretagne) with Michael Poupart.
Lagan Love
Surprise!
Emily also plays sackbut (historical trombone). I love this arrangement of Lagan Love: so much of folk music can be accompanied by a drone very effectively, for example with this tune!
We recorded this in Stroud with Adrien Cleverly.
Castello Sonata
Finally, a recording of my favourite 17th Century Italian Sonata which I recorded with Emily White on sackbut and Dr. David Ponsford on organ.
There is so much interesting crossover between folk music and baroque music, and here there are parts which echo that folk music sound.
More baroque recordings to follow!