Search - Alasdair Fraser, Paul Machlis :: Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, Volume 1: Classic Tunes

Scintillating

tertius3 | MI United States | 10/05/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Good, but I've heard better.

Heavy Theta | Lorton, Va United States | 08/01/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

CLASSIC GEMS in the SCOTTISH FIDDLE TRADITION

Bo Wright | Warrenton, VA United States | 04/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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?"