I've played with a couple of phenominal shetland fiddlers recently. I've become a big fan of shetland tunes - I say tunes, I mean reels - and would love to learn some more. Found a few on here but could do with some help in finding others.
Are there any members with a tune book full of such tunes? Or can any one sugest some more obscure ones I haven't come across. Or is there a past discussion i can reffer to?
I'd ideally like to collect atleast 120 and then try and fit them into an hour long set.
Go back to Discussions, which'll have Comments and Search at the top. Tap Search, and enter Shetland. Lots of threads about Shetland music will turn up, including the names of many tunes favoured by people on this site. Most will probably be in the Tunes database. Happy hunting!
Tom Anderson was a major player in the fiddle music of the Sheltands. Scan his album (with Aly Bain) for reels--there are a bunch there, and posted in the tune database.
All the artists and recordings mentioned above will do you fine, although I personally find most of the big names (Fiddler's Bid, Filska, Chris Stout, Willie Hunter et al.) a bit too "academic" (i.e. vibrato). My favourite recording is one that I posted, by Gibbie Hutchison, who has a much less polished approach, but I find it a lot more authentic. The fiddler I enjoyed hearing the most last year at the Fiddle Frenzy was Mark Laurenson, but I don't know whether you will be able to find any recordings by him or his band Fullsceilidh Spelemanslagg (sp?), or the opportunity to hear him play as he was planning a move to Norway. Also pretty impressive is a young woman by the name of Gemma Donald, but given her avowed love of C&W, we might not be treated to too many recordings of real Shetland stuff from her, unfortunately. Hom Bru are dead tight, too, but once again, lots of outside influences. As for tunes, my number one right now is Da trowie burn, but it's not a reel.
What you really want to do, though, is to hit Shetland for the Fiddle Frenzy. Whatever it might cost you in terms of time, travel and money, it will be worth it. A whole lifetime of music squeezed into one orgiastic week. No, I don't work for them. But in the five years and a bit that I have been fiddling, it was what actually got me playing.
Welcome to the "session", "hurlock". I can help you here, but it'll probably have to wait till the other side of the Willie Clancy week. Would you like to introduce yourself to us in your member's profile, please ? You'll fine that a lot of the best Shetland tunes have been recorded by "The Boys Of The Lough" - their recordings are worth tracking down.
For some strange reason, I've always found that many of the old Shetland tunes are very suited to flute and whistle. Never quite fathomed out why that should be. I'll be in touch.
Or search for reels whose names begin with "Da ________" !
eg this (and look in its comments section) http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/8656
(also submitted this week by Nigel G)
"Go back to Discussions, which'll have Comments and Search at the top. Tap Search, and enter Shetland."
Better still, use the search facility on the 'Home' page. That will give you every appearance of the word 'Shetland' on this site, including those in the tune comments.
As reedy grins says above, Willie Hunter plays with vibrato from his classical background. But that is the great thing about Shetland musicians - they absorb influences from everywhere and it all comes out as Shetland
Not sure about that Bren. I would think the fact he was born and lived in Shetland where every second person and their dog plays the fiddle would have more influence on his playing that the fact that he had some classical training alongside his trad tuition as a youngster. I'm sure he played the music the way he liked to hear it. But you're right in that they are open-minded about their music while at the same time loving their own tradition.
That's what I meant ,bogman.
"classical background" is probably the wrong phrase for someone steeped in the tradition who also has classical training. But I was trying to be concise.
Copies of Ringing Strings can still be found in a few places.
Would also suggest you find yourself a copy of The Silver Bow by Tom Anderson & Ally Bain to listen to.
I'd doubly suggest fiddle frenzy. Im off out there in 5 weeks for this years frenzy & although petrified at the amount of really compentent players going this year, im still excited to be going.
Shetland Reels
Shetland Reels
I've played with a couple of phenominal shetland fiddlers recently. I've become a big fan of shetland tunes - I say tunes, I mean reels - and would love to learn some more. Found a few on here but could do with some help in finding others.
Are there any members with a tune book full of such tunes? Or can any one sugest some more obscure ones I haven't come across. Or is there a past discussion i can reffer to?
I'd ideally like to collect atleast 120 and then try and fit them into an hour long set.
Any help would be much appreciated.
# Posted on June 26th 2008 by Hurlock
Re: Shetland Reels
Go back to Discussions, which'll have Comments and Search at the top. Tap Search, and enter Shetland. Lots of threads about Shetland music will turn up, including the names of many tunes favoured by people on this site. Most will probably be in the Tunes database. Happy hunting!
# Posted on June 26th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Shetland Reels
You could also try searching under Recordings for Shetland players.
These are some names that come to mind...
Chris Stout
Catriona MacDonald
Fiddlers' Bid
plenty of links to their tunes on thesession!
# Posted on June 26th 2008 by davydd
Re: Shetland Reels
I suppose you've come across this one:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/3414
Then you should get this:
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1781
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by Bren
Re: Shetland Reels
Tom Anderson was a major player in the fiddle music of the Sheltands. Scan his album (with Aly Bain) for reels--there are a bunch there, and posted in the tune database.
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1781
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: Shetland Reels
That's the best suggestion I've ever seen Will.
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by Bren
Re: Shetland Reels
Here's a couple more for your collection (some of which you probably already have):
Sleep Soond in Da Morning
Spootiskerry
Mickie Ainsworth
Calum Donaldson
Da New Rigged Ship
Here's a thread that mentions some more:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/13777
And there are many in the long list of tunes commonly played in Scotland, on this thread:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/4239
Aren't they fun?
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by fliedermaus
Re: Shetland Reels
Ahh... I love Shetland tunes. If you can pick them up by ear, I'd recommend these two CD's highly.
- Da Farder Ben Da Welcomer (Fiddler's Bid)
- Leaving Lerwick Harbour (Willie Hunter)
Two great CDs filled with Shetland music. Willie plays a few Irish tunes as well.
Good luck!
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by nofrets
Re: Shetland Reels
Filska is another great Shetland band
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1135
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by airport
Re: Shetland Reels
All the artists and recordings mentioned above will do you fine, although I personally find most of the big names (Fiddler's Bid, Filska, Chris Stout, Willie Hunter et al.) a bit too "academic" (i.e. vibrato). My favourite recording is one that I posted, by Gibbie Hutchison, who has a much less polished approach, but I find it a lot more authentic. The fiddler I enjoyed hearing the most last year at the Fiddle Frenzy was Mark Laurenson, but I don't know whether you will be able to find any recordings by him or his band Fullsceilidh Spelemanslagg (sp?), or the opportunity to hear him play as he was planning a move to Norway. Also pretty impressive is a young woman by the name of Gemma Donald, but given her avowed love of C&W, we might not be treated to too many recordings of real Shetland stuff from her, unfortunately. Hom Bru are dead tight, too, but once again, lots of outside influences. As for tunes, my number one right now is Da trowie burn, but it's not a reel.
What you really want to do, though, is to hit Shetland for the Fiddle Frenzy. Whatever it might cost you in terms of time, travel and money, it will be worth it. A whole lifetime of music squeezed into one orgiastic week. No, I don't work for them. But in the five years and a bit that I have been fiddling, it was what actually got me playing.
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by reedy grins
Re: Shetland Reels
Sorry, got off the topic there a bit. A great ready-made set of reels is the Yell set:
Da ferry reel
Lay dee at dee
Miss Spence's
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by reedy grins
Re: Shetland Reels
Welcome to the "session", "hurlock". I can help you here, but it'll probably have to wait till the other side of the Willie Clancy week. Would you like to introduce yourself to us in your member's profile, please ? You'll fine that a lot of the best Shetland tunes have been recorded by "The Boys Of The Lough" - their recordings are worth tracking down.
For some strange reason, I've always found that many of the old Shetland tunes are very suited to flute and whistle. Never quite fathomed out why that should be. I'll be in touch.
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by Kenny
Re: Shetland Reels
There is a book of Shetland tunes,
Ringing Strings
by Tom Anderson,
but I don't know if it's still in print. I've had my copy for about 20 years.
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by cathycook
Re: Shetland Reels
Do a search for Ronnie Cooper on this (or other) site - great composer
Also search for Jenna Reid's recordings on this site
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by domnull
Re: Shetland Reels
Also look here
http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/abc/abc2.html
(Nigel is a member of theSession)
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by domnull
Re: Shetland Reels
Or search for reels whose names begin with "Da ________" !
eg this (and look in its comments section)
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/8656
(also submitted this week by Nigel G)
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by domnull
Re: Shetland Reels
Have a look at this in the meantime:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6_5hSUs11Jo
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by Bren
Re: Shetland Reels
"Go back to Discussions, which'll have Comments and Search at the top. Tap Search, and enter Shetland."
Better still, use the search facility on the 'Home' page. That will give you every appearance of the word 'Shetland' on this site, including those in the tune comments.
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by ragaman
Re: Shetland Reels
what exactly are Shetland reels??
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by banjo-craze
Re: Shetland Reels
Check Bren's youtube above. Well played Shetland reels.
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by Bogman
Re: Shetland Reels
As reedy grins says above, Willie Hunter plays with vibrato from his classical background. But that is the great thing about Shetland musicians - they absorb influences from everywhere and it all comes out as Shetland
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by Bren
Re: Shetland Reels
Not sure about that Bren. I would think the fact he was born and lived in Shetland where every second person and their dog plays the fiddle would have more influence on his playing that the fact that he had some classical training alongside his trad tuition as a youngster. I'm sure he played the music the way he liked to hear it. But you're right in that they are open-minded about their music while at the same time loving their own tradition.
# Posted on June 27th 2008 by Bogman
Re: Shetland Reels
Check out Aly Bain and Ale Moller's two spectacular CDs Fully Rigged and Beyond the Stacks.
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by cathrynb
Re: Shetland Reels
That's what I meant ,bogman.
"classical background" is probably the wrong phrase for someone steeped in the tradition who also has classical training. But I was trying to be concise.
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by Bren
Re: Shetland Reels
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VMAo8xiSbVI&feature=related
There are loads of links of Shetland stuff on You Tube. This one is not the best for learning tunes off but it looks like it was a fun session!
# Posted on June 28th 2008 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Shetland Reels
Copies of Ringing Strings can still be found in a few places.
Would also suggest you find yourself a copy of The Silver Bow by Tom Anderson & Ally Bain to listen to.
I'd doubly suggest fiddle frenzy. Im off out there in 5 weeks for this years frenzy & although petrified at the amount of really compentent players going this year, im still excited to be going.
# Posted on June 29th 2008 by Wabbit