Shetland Fiddle Music

This CD was released as part of a series by the School of Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh, and rather than being just a compilation of tunes, it is more of a teaching aid. At the beginning of each time, a few bars are played, and then the style is discussed a little before more is played.

The accents of the players are very thick to my non-Scottish ear, but I’m sure with time I will "tune in" to the accent, and learn much more from this CD.

School of Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh
Greentrax, 1993
CDTRAX 9004

http://www.greentrax.com/

Considering that this was supposedly an academic project, the notes are sadly lacking, as little is said about the tunes themselves or alternate names and origins… Of course this doesn’t detract from my appreciation of the music, but I was expecting more…

For something more meaty, knowing that visiting the place and further listening is my first recommendation, here’s something in print:

"The Fiddle Music of the Shetland Isles"
by Peter Cooke
Senior Lecturer and head of Ethnomusicology, Edinburgh University (the same!)
Cambridge Studies in Ethnomusicology
Cambridge University Press, 1986
ISBN: 0-521-26855-9

..mm, don’t know about this one. I love Shetland music, but I find much of this CD pretty hard going. Maybe I’m not ‘trad’ enough (if there is such a thing), but lots of this sounds too ‘scrapey’ and plain out of tune. Liked the final set though!

Can anybody list the artists on each of the individual tracks of this recording? The iTunes version of this CD doesn’t list any. Thanks.

In reply to Daniel Parker’s request…

Croft dancing in North Yell
1 Soldier’s Joy/ Deil among the Tailors 1.59
WILLY B. HENDERSON & BOBBY JAMIESON with Laury D. Robertson

Reels & wedding tunes from Whalsay
2 Walking ower da river/ Grieg’s pipes 1.24
3 Black Jock/ an unnamed reel/Ladies’ breast—knots 3.24
ANDREW POLSON

Three reels from Unst 3.28
4 a: More grog coming/The lass that made the bed for me
b: Da tell upon da lum
GIBBY GRAY

Slow air from Walls
5 Auld Swarra 2.02
TOM ANDERSON

Two Herra tunes for the Foula Reel
6 The Shaalds o’ Foula/ Tilley Plump 2.24
LELL ROBERTSON

Three reels from Bressay 5.26
7 a: Da flooers o’ Edinburgh/Soldier’s joy
b: The East Neuk of Fife
GEORGE SUTHERLAND

Five reels from Tingwall 6.16
8 a: The Fairy Reel (or Loddie)
b: Wullafjord / Kail and knockit corn/ MacDonald’s reel
c: Cabister Head
BOBBY PETERSON

Fiddle & Harmonium
9 Auchdon House JIMMY JOHNSTON with Pat Sutherland 0.44

Three Vidlin reels
10 Put hame da borraed claes/Jeannie choke da bairn/Oot b’aist da Vong 2.06
HENRY THOMSON

Fiddle & guitar 1.24
11 Sillocks and tatties/ Sleep sond in da morning
WILLIAM HUNTER senior with William Johnson

Fiddle & Piano 4.08
12 Leaving Lerwick harbour WILLIAM HUNTER junior with William Kay
The left—handed tushkar/Miss Susan Cooper
WILLIAM HUNTER junior with Ronald Cooper

Five reels from North Yell 5.02
13 a: Da heids o’ Vigon/ Oot an’ in da harbour
b: Sleep sound in da morning/ Speed da plough/ Square da mizzen
CULLIVOE TRADITIONAL FIDDLE BAND

Tim, thanks very much!