Hawthorn’s Sweeter Shade

I’m sorry I can’t say a lot about fiddler or recording. I stumbled across this when seeking a recording of Willy Taylor’s tune "Emma’s Reel", a transcription added to the site by noelbats yesterday:

# Added by noelbats - July 25th, 2014
https://thesession.org/tunes/13759

I’ve only caught fragments from the CD, well, I say fragments but dear generous Steward has some quite full tracks on his site, see below. I love his way with the bow. It made me smile, starting with "Emma’s Reel", but also with other bits, including what I’m listening to as I write this, track 2. But, listen for yourself. I wish I could tell you more. As always with me, the reverb is a bit much and is in general an unwelcomed distraction, but that’s me, even if I have enjoyed playing in stairwells, wells, caves, caverns and lava tubes, alone and in good company. If I perchance end up with the recording in hand, for a more intimate listen, I’ll return to add more. But, already said, let your ears be your guide and critic…

http://www.stewarthardy.co.uk/
"Stewart Hardy: Hawthorn’s Sweeter Shade"
http://www.stewarthardy.co.uk/merchandise5.htm

http://stewarthardy.bandcamp.com/
"Stewart Hardy: Hawthorn’s Sweeter Shade"
http://stewarthardy.bandcamp.com/album/hawthorns-sweeter-shade

From the website, with regards to this recording: "A solo CD stripped back to the bare essentials: the majority of the tracks are solo, unaccompanied fiddle and of the rest, seven are fiddle duets and three tunes are arranged for string ensemble. All instruments are played by Stewart."

I love his rendition of Factory Smoke — a jaunty tune turned into something haunting on an unaccompanied fiddle.

Thanks Ben, I was hoping someone else would leave comment. I’m very fond of ‘unaccompanied’ fiddle. 🙂 And tracks that aren’t a plethora of one tune after the other with little chance to get the worm in the ear and heart of the first, second, and third… 😉