Soft May Morn

Bonnie Rideout | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 25, 1994)
• Original Release Date: June 21, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Maggie's Music
• ASIN: B000003JM4
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,754 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

A collection of airs and dances from the North Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland performed on fiddle with piano and guitar. Bonnie Rideout , an internationally-acclaimed performer, is a three-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion. She performs, teaches and judges at Scottish fiddle competitions and workshops throughout North America. Bonnie resided at Armadale Castle, Isle of Skye, Scotland when she did the original research which led to this historic recording, Soft May Morn.'' Total time 55:13 minutes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fiddle music with depth and brilliance, April 29, 1999

By 

SeanFurl (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soft May Morn (Audio CD)

Bonnie Rideout is the best Celtic fiddle player alive today as far as my taste is concerned. I find however that some of my friends whom I have introduced this music to don't share my enthusiasm. I get the feeling they are looking for liveliness and propulsion and don't notice or appreciate the depth of character, originality, and honest to god brilliance that I hear in it. There are in fact some lively pieces, but in the end if you are going to like this music you will have to like taut, sharp slow pieces as well. However, I must mention one fault with Bonnie Rideout's music is that it's not always well-produced in the studio. For example there are tracks with the most glorious fiddling running at equal volume alongside a vapid tin whistle, or getting drowned out by pipes. This is particularly a problem on the later CDs where a larger number of instruments are at play and the production challenges are greater. That is why this early album, Soft May Morn, with its sparse accompaniment, is the most even and unspotty of the five Bonnie Rideout albums in print, IMHO.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great old Scottish fiddling but..., March 5, 2001

By 

"rtucker62" (Sterling, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soft May Morn (Audio CD)

it's too bad the piano accompaniment is so choppy. My apologies to Bonnie's Mom who played the piano on this CD. It is one of Bonnie's earlier recordings so I will excuse her for not having the connections to get a professional piano player into the studio. Otherwise, I do love this CD.

I also have the sheetmusic (Mel Bay) that is in full score with piano, violin solo, and the original manuscript versions of these tunes that Bonnie dug up while staying in a castle on the Isle of Skye. As a fourth year violin/fiddle student I am learning a great many tunes as a result of having the CD and book. If you want to feel like you're sitting in Scotland hundreds of years ago then this is the CD you want.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This CD speaks to the heart, May 15, 2008

By 

Susan Meehan "wordsmith" (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soft May Morn (Audio CD)

The heart of Scottish fiddle music is to be found in the lament and slow air = pieces that fold loss and exile into every shivering note. This sorrow is displayed as beautifully as possible in the lush, poignant pieces showcased by Bonnie Rideout in this album. While there are a few upbeat toe-tappers to be found here, the most important pieces here explore the wounded heart. They are so beautiful in tone and presentation that it is hard to bear the ending of a piece, were it not for the joy awaiting in the next! The tunes are jewels, laid out for us in utter simplicity. The accompanying piano never intrudes - it stays in the background, pointing up the melodies being explored.

In this splendid album, Rideout pursues the same high level of tune and execution that makes Alasdair Fraser a joy to listen to. Rideout shows a deep understanding of Scottish soul in this first-rate album. If a slow air or lament speak to you, (and I hope they do!) come no further - you are home.