Full Description
"The Caledonian Companion" presents a collection of Scottish fiddle music, much of which is not otherwise currently available in a modern edition, with a significant proportion being published here for the first time. It sets out to elucidate a range of Scottish fiddle techniques: bowing, fingering, phrasing, ornamentation, etc., essential to the idiomatic performance of the style. With many illuminating and entertaining historical notes, "The Caledonian Companion" will appeal to the solo fiddler, the folk enthusiast (of whatever ethnic inclinations) and the classical violinist intent on broadening his musical horizons, and it is hoped it will be of special interest to the younger generation, awakening in them an enthusiasm for this vitally colourful music. The compact disc, "The Fiddler's Companion" has been produced in association with this publication. This features the playing of Alastair Hardie and Bill Hardie together with that of Tom Anderson, Aly Bain, Angus Grant, Hector MacAndrew and Donald Stewart. The performances consist mainly of music from "The Caledonian Companion" with which these artists are particularly associated.
Contents
The Hardies - a family album Major Fiddle Composers Forms in traditional music Introduction The Music: 1. Scots measures, hornpipes and reels 2. Jigs 3. The slow air, song air and pastoral 4. The strathspey (pt. 1) 5. The flat keys 6. The strathspey (pt. 2) 7. Birlin' reels 8. Third position and position-changing 9. The minor mode (pt. 1) 10. The higher positions 11. The minor mode (pt. 2) 12. Multiple stopping 13. Drones and other bagpipe influences 14. Scordatura 15. Staccato bowings and other "Italian tricks"
