FTX-069 - THE DE'IL AMONG THE TAILORS

FIDDLE PIECES - NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND

In the summer of 1955, Peter Kennedy, sometimes accompanied by Hamish Henderson, recorded some of the older players in the North East. This selection of some 40 tunes: reels strathspeys, marches, polkas, pieces and pibroch also includes talk about the tunes. Performers include Alex GRANT recorded at his home in Strathspey, the Aberdeen hangman, Jimmy STEWART and his three sons, Donald, Albert and Jimmy Junior on fiddle and Willie on accordion recorded at New Pitsligo. Other Stewarts, members of the travelling tinker family, include Ned Stewart in Fetterangus as well as Ned's, 12 year old piano-playing daughter, Elizabeth.

Alex GRANT (fiddle), Carrbridge, Inverness, 30.6.55:

1. March: BALMORAL HIGHLANDERS/ Strathspey: CA' THE STURCKS/ Reel: THE DE'IL AMONG THE TAILORS - 3'20"

2. Strathspey: DELVINSIDE/ Reel: SWEET MOLLY (talk before) - 1'49"

3. Strathspey & Reel: GEORGE THE FOURTH - 1'48"

4. Strathspey: THE REEL O' TULLOCH/ Reel: THE MASON'S APRON - 1'14"

5. Strathspey: WHISTLE O'ER THE LAVE O'T (used for the Sean Triubhas)/ March: JOHN McFADYEN OF MELFORD - 2'07"

Jimmy STEWART (fiddle) rec on the pier, Aberdeen:

6. March/Strathspey: THE HAUGHS OF CROMDALE - 2'05"

7. March: ANGUS CAMPBELL'S FAREWELL TO STIRLING - 0'54"

8. Reels:THE WIND BLEW THE BONNY LASSIE'S PLAIDIE AWA' ("Over the hills and far away")/TAIL TODDLE (talk after) - 2'15"

9. Strathspeys: INVERUGIE BRIDGE (comp JS 1950)/ BURNIEBOOSIE (with talk) - 2'42"

10. Pibroch: THE GLEN IS MY OWN - 3'12"

11. Strathspey: THE BRAES O' TULLYMET/ REEL O' TULLOCH - 1'56"

12. LORD LOVAT'S LAMENT - 2'15"

13. March: THE HILLS O PERTH - 1'07"

14, Reel: THE LITTLE PIG TOWN (talk after) - 2'21"

15. Strathspey: BOGEN'S WIFE (THE SMITH'S A GALLANT FIREMAN)/ Reel: THE DE'IL I' THE KITCHEN (played in two keys) - 3'04"

16. March: THE INVERNESS GATHERING (6 parts) - 1'53"

17. Strathspey: THE MOSS O' BYTH - 1'29"

18. Talk about Joseph Sim of New Byth and bellows-blown ("cauld-wind") bagpipes at Turiff Fair/ Strathspey: GILLIE CALLUM - 4'21"

19. Talk about himself & Joseph Sim & both learning fiddle & pipes (with background sounds incl fiddle) - 2'12"

Stewart family, rec PK, Fetterangus, Aberdeenshire 1955

20. McPHERSON'S RANT - Lament by Jimmy's son, Donald (fiddle) followed by March version by Donald & Albert Stewart (accordion) - 2'50"

21. THE PETERHEID POLKA - Jimmy's son, Ned (fiddle) & his daughter, Elizabeth (piano) with talk - 1'47"

22. Strathspey: JESSIE SMITH/ BOGIE'S WIFE - Ned (whistle) & Elizabeth (piano) - 1'37"

23. MADAM VANONI - Ned (fiddle) - 1'27"

24. Strathspey: MISS LYALL - Ned (fiddle) & Elizabeth (piano) - 0'44"

25. THE HAUGHS OF CROMDALE - Ned (fiddle) - 1'11"

26. THE HEN'S MAIRCH OWRE THE MIDDEN - Elizabeth (piano) - 0'41"

27. Strathspey: THE BRIG O PERTH (old and new style) - Ned (fiddle) with talk - 1'26"

28. THE ABERDEEN POLKA - Ned (fiddle) Elizabeth (piano) - 1'10"

29. THE GREEN HILLS OF TYROL - Jimmy Stewart (fiddle) - 1'19"

30. THE ATHOLE HIGHLANDERS MARCH TO LOCH KATRINE (Decision-making talk before) - Jimmy Junior, Donald, Albert (fiddles) & Willie Stewart (acc) - 1'45"

Recorded by Peter Kennedy 1955. Edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax Cassettes 1975.