Hi Pauline, The Gows, Skinner, and Marshall were all NE fiddlers, but very different as composers. The Gows are the perennial favorites--composers of some of the most popular tunes today, with Famous Niel being more folk, and Nathaniel a bit more academic. Skinner often represents the height of Victorian sentimentality, full of flowery embellishment. Marshall, as you probably know from searching online, was a self taught fiddler, clock maker, and astronomer, who spent most of his time being butler to a very rich Duke. The Duke, BTW, gave him a Stainer, which in his day was worth more than a Stradivari. Marshall's tunes are often quite different from the Gow style, and some are really Super. A couple of others to consider are "Red" Rob MacKintosh, and the collections of Simon Fraser and MacDonald (I can't remember if it is Patrick or his brother Joseph). The latter two are collections of Highland tunes. MacKintosh was NE, with a very fun and distinctive style. Just reading his compositions is fun, because of the interval patterns.

Addie, thanks for the historical information.  I was not aware of it.  I have a large collection of Scottish fiddle music by different composers and in different styles.  I'll go back over some of my tunes and see how much I like the ones by Fraser and Marshall.  You're right about Skinner and flowery embellishment and sentimentality.  I enjoy playing his tunes  partly for these reasons.  Some of them make me laugh out loud.  I remember that I've liked tunes from the highlands and islands, so I'll look into those, too.  So many tunes, so little time.

Ah yes, the Islands. That is some beautiful music that I just love listening to. Addie, can you tell me of some good sources for Scottish Islands music? Players and their styles. I would love to look into some CD's as well so I can start to listen to that particular type of Scottish music. Maybe some places to get sheet music for an intermediate level player.
Thanks. Stay tuned.
Diane

Addie, I completely agree with Diane.  Please share your knowledge with us again.

Diane, what do you mean by "the Islands?" Shetland, the Orkneys, the Hebrides, or Scotland itself? All the people Addie mentioned were from mainland Scotland.

paulinefiddle - Here's a good source for collections of Scottish music, plus they have some interesting free downloads:  http://www.heallan.com/

Here are two excellent contemporary musicians from the Orkneys:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr9IrXgfqVU  if that's what you're looking for, Diane.

Edited by - DougD on 07/20/2012 10:44:47

Diane, when people talk about Scottish highlands and islands, they are referring to islands off of the west coast of Scotland including Skye, Mull, St. Kilda, etc.  There are cultural and musical similarities between these islands and the Scottish highlands.

Thanks for the links.  I always appreciate new sources of Scottish music, especially free ones.

Hi Doug, Addie and Pauline....so where are the Shetlands???....I thought they were off the west coast of Scotland. Also, Shetland, Orkneys, Hebrides are these islands under the control of Scotland. Are Skye etc smaller? I guess I'd better do some research....I'm getting stupid by the minute here...: >). Thanks Doug for your great references and thanks Pauline for your insights as well. I'm coming to the Scottish fiddle stuff after taking a fabulous 4 day class from Alasdair Fraser and N. Haas put on by the Northwest Scottish Fiddlers Assoc. up in Seattle. I done many fiddle camps and workshops, but never took a workshop that was so incredible as the one that Alasdair taught...it was improv. and tunes by ear...I love that kind of workshop. Off to the Atlas.......
Thanks and stay tuned. Diane

The Shetland islands are northeast of Scotland and midway between Scotland and Finland.  Shetland music has Scottish and Scandinavian roots, but it is really a unique art form.  I've heard that the concentration of fiddlers per unit population is higher in the Shetlands than anywhere else.  Perhaps the cold, windy, damp weather and the long hours of darkness are reasons for their strong tradition of warm, lively fiddle tunes.  You can hear Shetland tunes at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_5hSUs11Jo&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLC40580ED8EADD75E and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfYUMBTAUVc&feature=related

Pauline - The Shetlands are partway between Scotland and Norway, not Finland. The culture is unique, a blend of Scottish and Nordic influences (as is much of the UK actually). Aly Bain is a great fiddler from Shetland, who learned a lot from Tom Anderson. Thanks for those good links with Willie Hunter (who I believe wrote "The Cape Breton Fiddler's Welcome to Shetland").

The Orkneys are closer to Scotland, but still out there in the sea. Someone told me that they have gale force winds 350 days out of the year, an incentive to stay inside and play music! I have a bookmark for the weather in that area, in case I start complaining about here: http://www.northisles-weather.co.uk/

Here's a little video about Orkney:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8tdRxNLsRM

I think the islands Pauline mentioned are part of the Inner Hebrides - the Outer Hebrides (the "Isles of the Blest") include Lewis and Harris. Thanks Pauline for reminding me of the cultural affinities of the inner islands with the Highlands. Lets not forget Islay - whence come Bowmore and Laphroig.

All of these are politically part of Scotland. Scapa Flow, in the Orkneys, was the base for the British Fleet during both World Wars.

The 2003 Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife featured Appalachia, Scotland and Mali. I got to be part of a concert that featured musicians from all three cultures, including the Wrigley sisters from Orkney. There's a video here: http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/archive.html  Search for July 4, 2003.

Edited by - DougD on 07/20/2012 15:58:55

Stupid 15 minute rule!!!!!! and Stupid Editor!!!!!!

"Cape Breton Fiddlers Welcome to Shetland"   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ryZLL1lHc

Well we are getting into fairly deep water here... Orkney and Shetland are not culturally related to the Highlands. The Hebrides are. Both outer and inner. But arm wavy history and anthropology aren't my favorite subjects. The music of these regions was probably much more varied and complex than modern Scottish fiddle categories, but without recordings, who can say? Patrick MacDonald's collection is the earliest West Highland collection, as far as I know. Simon Fraser is a larger collection, but he also standardized his settings, according to his own scheme.

DougD, You're right.  The Shetland Islands are between Scotland and Norway.  St. Kilda is one of the Outer Hebrides.  Scottish tunes are often related to places, i.e., Leaving St. Kilda, Rowing from Isla to Ulst, and Mull Rant.  Doug D, I was at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 2003 that you described, and I "worked" as a volunteer for the night time parties for the participants of the Festival.  Some nights I even brought my fiddle and played along with the real musicians.  We may have met there.

You can hear some good Shetland fiddle tunes at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrFOAZK2uzg