I’ve been working with my colleague Stuart Eydmann on finding out more about the role of the fiddle in SW Scotland during the 19th and early 20th century. It’s not something that’s been much explored, but we’re excited by the richness of the material we’re finding which shows that fiddlers have been active all over the region in various roles: as players, tunesmiths, teachers, dance musicians and even violin makers.
The first phase of this research has been funded by Foundation Scotland from the Cockaigne Fund.
We’ll share more of the story in due course – look out for a tune book! One important source is this manuscript made by a Dumfriesshire fiddler, and a wee taste of the tune ‘Solway Firth’
