The Fiddler’s Companion

I purchased The Caledonian Companion (A Collection of Scottish Fiddle Music and Guide to its Performance) by Alastair J Hardie from Amazon, thinking that this CD was included to illustrate the techniques discussed in the book. I was able to find it at AllCelticMusic.com, so I didn’t have to buy the booklet again to complete the set. Buyer Beware, read the fine print!

This is a great CD with each tune played by a Master Fiddler as a solo, so it is easy to hear the techniques. I was particularly charmed by the album notes that gave a short biography of each fiddler, but also described the fiddles they played. The various fiddlers, tracks and fiddles they play:

Tom Anderson (10) - Alex Leask, Shetland 1965
Aly Bain (1, 2) - Karl Meyer, Germany 1890s
Angus Grant (3, 4) - Joseph Redbiman, Aberdeen 1771
Alastair Hardie (5, 6, 7) - Hippolyte Charles Silvestre (Neveu), Lyon 1867
Bill Hardie (11, 12) - George Webster, Aberdeen 1963
Hector MacAndrew (13, 14, 15) - Pietro Guarnerius, Italy 18th century
Donald Stewart (8, 9) - Conservatory Instrument, Germany mid 19th century