Customer Reviews

Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, Volume 1: Classic Tunes

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a disc of enchanting Scottish reels, strathspeys, and more from the northeast of Scotland, of the sort you can hear on NPR folk shows in the USA. Fraser's enthralling fiddling is polished, expert, and varied, and has a strong dance pulse that's hard to resist, so why do so? The 37 tunes heard here in Volume 1 range across the last 250 years, with a concentration on the early 1800's. Interestingly, although it is "folk" music, the Scots keep good track of who actually composed each air. Many here are arranged in medleys, and there's a good alternation of fast, slow, and melancholy pieces. At 60 minutes you won't grow tired of this lilting, bouncing music (unless perhaps you try to dance right through them all). Fraser is clearly the leader and soloist here, while piano, cello, and bass provide a reticent harmonic accompaniment.

The notes are light on information, and there's no discussion of how the characteristic Scottish (let alone northeastern) ornaments we hear are produced by the fiddler (who occasionally even produces the "sour scale" sonority of a bagpipe). Several times I thought the tunes should really break out into words. The word "legacy" in the title of this disk places it within the revival of dialects (as opposed to "proper" school speech) during the past two decades, ironically just as the last speakers of hundreds of other full languages are dying out. But Gaelic fiddling clearly is in no danger, it is immensely popular and alive now, with Fraser a leading and inventive advocate.

Another GREAT collection of GREAT Scottish fiddle tunes played beautifully in a traditional manner, but I especially enjoyed their romp on Craigellachie Brig and Largo's Fairy Dance. If you enjoy soothing melodies to lean back and relax with, a lament to cry a little, and a few strathspeys and reels to jump up and dance to, you should be thrilled with hearing the tunes of Niel Gow, Simon Fraser, and William Marshall, played by the greatest Scottish fiddler of our time and a tender, lyrical pianist. Oh yeah, did I say this one is GREAT?

A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of hearing Fraser, accompanied by Natalie Haas, at the Folk Life Festival on the Capitol Mall. The two had incredible chemistry, and produced hauntingly beautiful sound as they moved from aching ballad to exhillerant reel. (I confess ignorance before accidentally catching the end of one performance, and was forturnate that they were scheduled for another later the same afternoon.)

I purchased this CD as it's description seemed closest to what I had attended. It's very good, but somehow it seems that the piano and bass rob the the two bowed instruments of depth and timbre in the mix. Admittedly this is a point of personal taste and not merit.

Fraser is such a superb fiddler that I will try and sample other works, but guarantee that if he and Haas record alone, together, I'll grab it in a heartbeat.

This is classic high-society Scottish Country Dance music at its best. As Alasdair himiself has described it during workshops, this is "polite, on-your-toes" ballroom music, jig, strathspey, and reel, with a few slow airs for good measure. The people dancing to this music are wearing satin with their tartans, and they do point their toes very carefully. There's no wild stomping here, or if there is, you won't see it 'til quite a bit later in the evening.

Alasdair's technique here is properly reserved, refined and impeccably precise, **as it should be** for this genre of Scottish music. There is plenty of soul, but it is held politely in check, and we get a peep at it here and there between the swirling satin dresses and the kilts.

If you want Alasdair Stomping Wild and Wooly, then check out Skyedance with Machlis, or even better "The Driven Bow" with Jody Stecher. That's fiery, wild, barefoot-on-the-hillside stuff! But for polite Scottish ballroom music, this album, along with "Portrait of a Scottish Fiddler", is superb.

I'll admit to being of fan of this music and in particular of this artist. My immediate reaction to this recording was surprise at how rich the two instruments sounded. As a fan of both violin and fiddle music, I really enjoy the arpeggiated ornaments in the faster tunes and the smooth, clear notes, chords and transitions in the laments. The piano rhythms and harmonies are equally polished.

One complaint I have had with many other fiddle CDs (although less so with Alasdair Fraser's) is that something of the "presence" can be missing, compared to hearing the same fiddler in a live setting. In this case, it sounds like great care has been taken in the playing and in the micing, mixing, and overall technical production to compensate for the fact that it is a studio performance. It may be a bit less "bouncy" than a live performance, but no less lively or present.

As always with Fraser, I enjoy the fresh but authentic interpretations of these 100+ year old tunes. I disagree with the other reviewer who suggested there is something wrong with how the dance tunes were interpreted or played. I didn't feel that featuring the range of the violin's capabilities detracted from the rhythmic drive in these tunes. They may be right in that if you have to use a CD for a dance, then there may be better choices.

I bought this CD after falling totally in love with The Road North which I literally played every day for 3 months. But this CD lacks soul. It has the feel of a recital. I am extremely disappointed.

I don't mind an occasional smooth, sweet fiddle tune but that's about all this is....even the upbeat tunes have no real feeling to them. Not a knee-slapper in the bunch and not all that Celtic sounding either.

Alasdair Fraser began as a violinist, and you can hear it: his fiddling is smooth and lyrical, rather than rhythmically driven and danceable.

On this album he presents primarily showpieces of the Scottish fiddle repetoir--his technique is impressive, and the tunes are clean and directly played. But he sounds like a violinist playing fiddle tunes. Simply put, this is listening music, not dance music.