New Album by Wolfstone's fiddler Duncan Chisholm

Duncan Chisholm, the fiddler with the band Wolfstone, is a brilliant Scottish fiddler. His new album is called "Redpoint" and is just now becoming available in the US, on CD only. I find it to be stirring listening, from the contemplative airs to the quick tunes. He plays superb pipe marches, with sharp ornamentation and a solid sound.

Some of the finest fiddlers living in Scotland today are working steadily in bands, as with last year's Rally guest Charlie McKerron (Capercaillie), Aly Bain (Boys of the Lough), John Martin (Tannahill Weavers, and formerly Ossian and Easy Club), Stuart Morrison (Smalltalk, and now the new Ossian), Jennifer Wrigley (Seelyhoo), Pete Clark (Heritage), to name a few. You don't always hear about the name of the fiddler as much as you hear the band's name. Now we can clearly hear one of Scotland's best fiddlers on his new solo album. "Redpoint" will be available at our next meeting, or you can ask for it by mail from the Fiddle Club bookstore.

- Ed Pearlman

Skyedance Concert Review

But, you know, when I attended the October 3rd Skyedance Concert at Massasoit College, two hours passed in what seemed like only a half hour. Alasdair Fraser, the great Scottish fiddler, (did I need to say that) is magic. That sometime 'minimalism...ah...new age' (why play dozens of notes when 5 will do) was overlooked while watching Alasdair for what would happen next. If the 'new age' territory is to be explored, latch on to Alasdair as your tour guide.

Moreover, not more than 10 minutes into the show an uncanny flashback to more vulnerable days (late 40's, very early 50's when Moira Shearer introduced a skipping heart beat into my life) took place. In the guise of Moira, our own great genius of the dance, Laura Scott, appeared from nowhere to raise dance innovation to, for me, another new height. Laura you need to let your hair down, literally, more often. (By the way, Moira was born in Scotland. See the movie 'Red Shoes' to know what my memory is all about). Thanks Laura for the return of a wonderful heart malady and memory.

The pride of having Alasdair in our own backyard gave notes file account of the Skyedance performance the next evening at Drexel U. in Philadelphia. At the end of the performance the Swarthmore Dance Club came from the audience to dance to Dei'l Amang.... Alasdair did invite the Massasoit audience down to Philadelphia and we should have gone.

But, you know, they didn't have Moira Shearer or Laura Scott!

Superb musicians all, the Skyedance 5 shouldn't be missed.

- Norman Nichols

Recap of the October 12th Fiddle Club Meeting

We started the afternoon with some new tunes, "Where Gadie Rins" and "Kindness Forever Mair." ("Kindness" is alslo called "Wantoness," with lyrics by Robert Burns.) Ed played a CD by Ian F. Benzie (of Old Blind Dogs), on which Ian sang both "Wantoness" and "Where Gadie Rins." The other new tunes for the year were "As I Was Kissed Yestere'en," Lady Douglas of Bothwell," "Ben Nevis," and "The Boatman of Pitnacree."

Before the potluck supper, Ed acknowledged the hard work of those who have served on the fiddle club and introduced some of the current board members, including Mike Falkoff who is serving as chair and Tom Moscarillo who is working on publicity for the club.

After another delicious potluck dinner, a large group spontaneously gathered in the front of the hall and started a session. An open mike followed in which we heard Steve Cushing on fidola playing two Appalachian tunes he learned at the Valley of the Moon this summer and Nathan Silva on pipes. Ellen Mastenbrook played "Hector the Hero," on fiddle followed by Julia and Alanna Tryder contributing a medley of tunes on twin fiddles.

And finally: no that wasn't yet another set of female twins you saw that evening. That was just me and Carol MacComber, dressed eerily alike-even our hair was done the same way. - Phyllis Lindsay

If you are a musician who like me has always had a passing interest in woodworking but not a lot of skill, you might want to explore Musicmaker Kits' catalogue or web site to see if something there meets your fancy and capabilities. The company offer instrument-making kits for guitars, harps, mandolin, and banjos as well as more uncommon instruments such as hurdy-gurdies, hog-nose psalteries, and love flutes. For more experienced craftspeople desiring to build an instrument with wood they select themselves, the company provides blueprints and hardware packs for constructing all the instruments mentioned above as well as for the violin.

Last April, I began making a teardrop mandolin from a kit purchased from a kit purchased from Musicmaker's. Thus far, I have enjoyed the process of building the mando: discovering how to shape the instrument's neck, how to affix the frets to the fretboard, and how to apply a finish to the instrument to enhance its beauty but not deaden its sound.

As I write this article, the instrument is about two hours from completion. Though I am certain I will have an easier time building my second mandolin if I am not satisfied with the finished product of my first attempt, I am just as likely to undertake another instrument-making project in the future purely for my own enjoyment.

I will bring along Musicmaker's fall '97 catalogue to the November 9 fiddle club meeting for those interested in seeing the company's offerings and prices. Also, I promise to bring in my mandolin to a future meeting to show off the fruits of my labor.

New England Scottish Fiddling News Brief

More Musical Reflections of Scotland

Are you a beginning pianist looking for some nicely arranged traditional Scottish Music designed for musicians at your level? Or are you a fiddler or other instrumentalist studying a second instrument and looking for some easy material? If so, this book will probably interest you.

This slim text filled with 25 Scottish airs and dance tunes arranged for piano and other melody instruments is the companion volume to the first volume in the series: Musical Reflections of Scotland. Nicely illustrated with Scottish landscapes and personages, this book contains such favorites as Auld Lang Syne, Skye Boat Song, and Loch Lomond and less familiar tunes such as Mary Scott, Flower of Yarrow (a minuet), Count Brown's March and MacPherson's Farewell.

Many of the tunes are scored in fiddle-friendly keys: A, G, and D. For variety's sake, there are a few airs in the key of F, as well. Whether you are just learning the piano, fiddle, guitar [the book also contains chord symbols] or concertina. I think you will find this book a pleasant addition to your sheet music library. This book can be ordered from the Fiddle Club Book Store.

NEWSLETTER NOTES

• Submit information on noteworthy Scottish musical events suitable for the concert calendar to editor Richard Dillon at richarddillon@msn.com three weeks prior to each fiddle club meeting.
• Please provide us with the names and addresses of any newsletters which you think would be interested in printing our promotionals material. Tom Moscarillo fiddle club board member.
• Sharing Favorite Scottish/Cape Breton Tunes at Afternoon Workshop. Last year a few members researched a favorite Scottish or Cape Breton tune and then presented the tune during the afternoon workshop to members. Let's keep this tradition going! Find out some historical background on a tune and bring in a recording to the workshop to share with others. For more information talk to Ed Pearlman or Richard Dillon on a Sunday meeting.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

• Sat Nov 15- Tony Cuffe. Beacon Hill Coffeehouse, Church of the New Jerusalem. 140 Bowdoin St. Boston. 8 pm. $8. Easy walking distance from Park Street T or Government Center T. 617-891-1497.
• Sun Nov 16 -Battlefield Band - Iron Horse, 20 Center St., Northampton, MA (413) 584-0610
• Thurs Nov 20- Battlefield Band - Palace Theater, 80 Hanover St., Manchester NH (603) 668-5588
• Sun Nov 22- Battlefield Band - Providence Public Library, Corner Empire & Washington St. (401) 729-1880.
• Sat Nov 22--Ceilidh of music & dance open to all at Park Ave. Congregational Church, corner of Paul Revere Rd and Park Ave in Arlington Heights. 7 pm, $3 donation.

Twilight on Tweed *

Wan water from the Border hills,
Dear Voices from the old years,
Thy distant music lulls and stills,
And moves to quiet tears.

A mist of memory broods and floats,
The Border waters flow,
The air is full of ballad notes,
Borne out of long ago.

Old songs tht sung themselves to me,
Sweet through a boy's daydream,
While trout below the blossomed tree
flashed in the golden stream

Twilight, and Tweed, and Eildon Hill
Fair, and tood fair, yo be;
You tell me that the voice is still,
That shold have welcomed me.

*Andrew Lang (1844-1912)