Anthologies • The Nineties Collection: New Scottish Tunes In Traditional Style
- The Nineties Collection: New Scottish Tunes In Traditional Style
- 1995 - Greentrax CDTRAX 5004 CD (UK)
- Track List:
- The Gael, Pamela Rose Grant, Andy Broon's Reel, Jocky's Treble Tops & Debbie Ann's Reel
- The Marianna, St Gilbert's & Paul Anderson's
- Tianavaig Betty Jessiman, Huntly & Dr Iain Macaonghais
- The Setting Sun
- Alasdair Fraser's Compliments to Lorna Mitchell, Eoghainn Iain Alasdair BEM & The Open Fence
- The Green Loch, The Quiet Man, The Ness Lassies Reel & The Flawless Juggler
- Mrs Meg Jamieson of Roadside Cottage, Iain Macphail's Compliments to the Late Chrissie Leatham & Julie & James Rollo's Wedding March
- Marni Swanson of the Grey Coast & Planxty Crockery
- Starjump, The Reunion Reel & The Fyrish Reel
- Discovery, Dun Ibrig, The Point Road, Streams of Abernethy & Crabbit Shona (the remix)
- John Kerr's Jacket, The Parks of Kenway & Break Yer Bass Drone
- Magnus Hendrichson, Calum's Waltz & New Year Waltz
- Welcome to Hamilton House, Farewell to Decorum & Dance of the Woodbugs
- Ambleside
- Sarah's Waltz, Tanks for the Memories & College of Piping Summerside PEI
- The Doune Lodge Two-Step
- Credits
- Produced by Jim Sutherland
- Edited & Arranged by Ian Hardie
- Engineer: Peter Haigh
- Recorded at Pier House Studios, Edinburgh, June 1995
- Cover Design: Millhouse, Edinburgh
- Additional Design: The Art Surgery
- Front Cover Photography: MacLean & Scott
- Thanks to Jim Sutherland, Ian Hardie, Sheena Wellington & Ian Green
- The TMSA acknowledges support from The Scottish Arts Council
- Released by Greentrax Recordings in association with The Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland
The Nineties Collection
Born out of the 'Nineties Collection' Competition organised by the Traditional Music & Song Association (TMSA) in 1991, The Nineties Collection is a milestone in the presentation of contemporary Scottish traditional music.
Jim Sutherland had realised in the late 80s that good music was being written and played but nowhere was it brought together for permanent enjoyment. Under the umbrella of TMSA — initially through Jane Fraser, then National Organiser — the competition sought out new tunes and the response was overwhelming.
Aly Bain, Freeland Barbour, Hamish Henderson, Allan MacDonald, Robbie Shepherd and Savourna Stevenson met in Aberdeen in March '91 to select the prizewinners in 7 categories from over 400 entries. Some of these, with the addition of melodies invited from well known composers, are presented on this recording as a unique collection of current Scottish traditional music — a snapshot of composers and works in the last decade of the twentieth century.
Through the generous sponsorship of the world's leading spirits company, United Distillers and additional funding from the Scottish Arts Council, The Nineties Collection is now a book of over 200 of these contemporary tunes and this album by Greentrax Recordings.
Ian Hardie — a notable fiddler and composer himself — edited The Nineties Collection and arranged the album sets. The result is a seminal body of music to be enjoyed by all and a valuable reference point for future generations of musicians and musicologists.
The recording reflects the vigour of Scottish traditional music. A range of performers young and old, from those at the peak of their profession to talented newcomers, came together in relaxed informal sessions to have fun and enjoy their performance very much as a 'live' gig.
This is 'unpasteurised' music — foot-tapping, finger clicking and the occasional 'noises off have not been cleaned up! The diversity of material and styles of playing communicate the quality and creativity current in Scottish traditional instrumental music. Such enthusiasm leaves no doubt that the tradition is alive and kicking and looking forward to a new millenium.
Lindsay Lewis, National Organiser Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland
Three hundred years ago, Martin Martin, whose book inspired Johnson's tour with Boswell, made numerous observations about the prevalence of musical ability and talent he encountered on his travels. In Lewis, he noted that they "are great lovers of music … they gave an account of eighteen men who could play on the violin pretty well without being taught." When he reached St. Kilda, he listened to a piper playing the notes of the gawlin fowl; he "hath composed a tune of them, which the natives judge to be very fine music." Of his kinsfolk in Skye, Martin wrote: "They have a great genius for music and mechanics. I have observed several of their children that before they could speak were capable to distinguish and make the choice of one tune before another upon the violin … There are several of them who invent tunes very taking in the south of Scotland and elsewhere … "
Although there have been noteworthy musicians and composers in the intervening centuries, Scotland's music has travelled a rough, even threatening, path since Martin's day. Many of us have only dreamed of a time when we could find "eighteen fiddlers" (or even one) in our community, and we have too often been disheartened by premature obituaries for much-loved traditions.
As the twentieth century draws to a close, we see the blossoming and flourishing of Scottish traditional music and song. In no small way it is due to the concerted efforts and dedication of members and associates of the TMSA who have created opportunities for music-making that could never have happened outside the annual festivals and competitions. Each Festival is different, and, like whisky, some will be more to your taste than others.
How fitting it is to celebrate this "great genius for music" — and mechanics, for that matter — with this collection of melodies composed in recent years by talented enthusiasts the length and breadth of the country. Warmest congratulations and thanks to the TMSA, to each individual — musicians, composers, producers, proof readers and tea-makers — who contributed to The Nineties Collection, and to United Distillers whose generous sponsorship supported the project. Too many to name individually, Scotland can be proud of them all!
Margaret Bennett, School of Scottish Studies, Edinburgh
Song Notes
- Track: 1
- The Gael — slow air (Dougie MacLean)
- Pamela Rose Grant — strathspey (Alasdair Fraser)
- Andy Broon's Reel (Aly Bain)
- Jocky's Treble Tops — reel (Brian McNeill)
- Debbie Ann's Reel (Ronnie Jamieson)
- Eilidh Shaw & Kathryn Nicoll: Fiddles
- Mary Ann Kennedy: Clarsach
- Jack Evans: Guitar
- Ian Hardie: Double Bass
- Duncan MacGillivray: Moothie
- Track: 2
- The Marianna — hornpipe (Bill Cook)
- St Gilbert's — hornpipe (Eric Allan)
- Paul Anderson's — hornpipe (George Carmichael)
- Freeland Barbour: Accordion
- Jack Evans: Guitar
- Ian Hardie: Fiddle & Double Bass
- Track: 3
- Tianavaig — 9/8 march (Dr Angus Macdonald)
- Betty Jessiman, Huntly — strathspey (William M. MacDonald)
- Dr. Iain Macaonghais — jig (Allan MacDonald)
- Allan MacDonald: Highland pipes
- Track: 4
- The Setting Sun — slow air (Ian Hardie)
- Aly Bain Fiddle
Phil Cunningham Piano
- Track: 5
- Alasdair Fraser's Compliments to Lorna Mitchell — reel (Alasdair Fraser)
- Eoghainn Iain Alasdair BEM — reel (Dr. John Holliday)
- The Open Fence — reel (Ian Hardie)
- Phil Cunningham Accordion
- Jack Evans: Guitar
- Ian Hardie: Double Bass
- Track: 6
- The Green Loch — slow air (Gary Coupland)
- The Quiet Man — strathspey (Jim Sutherland)
- The Ness Lassies Reel (Phil Cunningham)
- The Flawless Juggler — reel (Mary Macmaster)
- Ian Hardie: Fiddle & Double Bass
- Simon Thoumire: Concertina
- Jack Evans: Guitar
- Track: 7
- Mrs Meg Jamieson of Roadside Cottage — march (Ronnie Jamieson)
- Iain Macphail's Compliments to the late Chrissie Leatham — march (Iain Macphail)
- Julie & James Rollo's Wedding March (Addie Harper)
- Freeland Barbour: Accordion
- Ian Hardie: Fiddle & Double Bass
- Phil Cunningham: Piano
- Duncan MacGillivray: Moothie
- Track: 8
- Marni Swanson of the Grey Coast — slow air (Andy Thorburn)
- Planxty Crockery (Patsy Seddon)
- Ian Hardie: Fiddle, Double Bass & Viola
- Eilidh Shaw & Kathryn Nicoll: Fiddles
- Mary Ann Kennedy: Clarsach
- Track: 9
- Starjump — reel (Simon Thoumire)
- The Reunion Reel (Fergie Macdonald)
- The Fyrish Reel (David Gordon)
- Phil Cunningham: Accordion
- Simon Thoumire: Concertina
- Track: 10
- Discovery (Mary Ann Kennedy)
- Dun Ibrig — jig (Dr John Holliday)
- The Point Road — jig (Iain Macleod)
- Streams of Abernethy — jig (Wendy Stewart)
- Crabbit Shona (the remix) — jig (Angus R. Grant)
- Eilidh Shaw & Kathryn Nicoll: Fiddles
- Mary Ann Kennedy: Clarsach
- Jack Evans: Guitar
- Ian Hardie: Double Bass
- Track: 11
- John Kerr's Jacket — 2/4 march (Donald MacPherson)
- The Parks of Kenway — jig (Duncan MacGillivray)
- Break Yer Bass Drone — reel (Gordon Duncan)
- Gordon Duncan Highland Pipes
- Track: 12
- Magnus Hendrichson — waltz (Debbie Scott)
- Calum's Waltz (Steven Spence)
- New Year Waltz (Gordon Gunn)
- Aly Bain Fiddle
Phil Cunningham Piano & Accordion
- Ian Hardie: Double Bass
- Duncan MacGillivray: Moothie
- Track: 13
- Welcome to Hamilton House — strathspey (Muriel Johnstone)
- Farewell to Decorum — reel (Hamish Moore)
- Dance of the Woodbugs — reel (Dr Angus Macdonald)
- Ian Hardie: Fiddle
Hamish Moore Scottish Small Pipes
Jim Sutherland Bodhran
- Track: 14
- Ambleside — slow airZ (Freeland Barbour)
- Track: 15
- Sarah's Waltz (Angus Lawrie)
- Tanks for the Memories — hornpipe (Dougie Pincock)
- College of Piping Summerside PEI — hornpipe (Roderick S. Macdonald)
- Duncan MacGillivray: Highland Pipes
- Track: 16
- The Doune Lodge Two-Step (Iain Peterson)
- Freeland Barbour: Accordion
- Ian Hardie: Fiddle & Double Bass
- Phil Cunningham: Piano