The 25+2 Collection

The 25+2 Collection Tune Book

Foreword by Adam Sutherland

“Scotland’s centuries-old fiddle tradition has never been in better shape. In all of the bright lights and dopamine-rewarding screens of today’s tech-savvy world, there still, almost defiantly, remains one particular, simple pleasure. It starts with that familiar creak of the case opening. The timeless smell of old fiddle. The winding up of the bow (is that tight enough?). The nuzzling of the chin into the rest.

What to play? Oh aye.. that old classic. That’ll do very nicely indeed. If it is the act of playing the tunes that we love that forms the bedrock of tradition, then how much value should we place on the creation of our melodies, both old and new? And..are we done writing yet? Is there more? Anyone who’s been paying any attention over the last few years knows the answer: The Great Scottish Fiddle Composing Experiment is far from over.

Thanks to the incredible efforts of all at The Scots Fiddle Festival, we have before us a magnificent feast of new and recent Scottish fiddle tunes. Composed by a selection of some of Scotland’s top fiddler-tunesmiths, alongside international festival favourite, Liz Carroll, these pages are packed with delicious new melody.

This beautifully put together book showcases an ancient tradition that is positively radiating the absolute finest of health.

Now.. where’s my rosin?”

The Tunes

We persuaded Adam Sutherland and Mike Vass to join the cause: assisting the Committee in the initial stages, working out the practicalities, becoming very proficient in Zoom, helping to select the composers, and receiving the tune responses. Our wish was to focus on composers who have played at the Scots Fiddle Festival over the years and gradually, a list evolved - not an easy task - and apologies to any fiddle-playing composers not included (we do though have plans for a further Collection) as 27 becomes a very small number when compared to the total number of composers who have played at the Festival.

The Composers

We are indeed indebted to the following composers for participating in the project and submitting such great tunes:

Liz Carroll, Alasdair Fraser, Charlie McKerron, Bruce McGregor, Eilidh Steel, Sally Simpson, Amy Geddes, Eilidh Shaw, Jenna Reid, Gordon Gunn, Duncan Chisholm+Hamish Napier, Patsy Reid, Jonny Hardie, Kevin Henderson, Paul Anderson, Sarah-Jane Summers, Marie Fielding, Ross Couper, Anna Massie, Emma Tomlinson, Lauren MacColl, Chris Stout, Catriona Macdonald, Douglas Montgomery, Gavin Marwick, Mike Vass, Laura Wilkie.

The Final Tunes and Sets

1 The Ox set - The Ox (Bruce MacGregor) / Ben Bowie (Eilidh Steel) / Good Days (Sally Simpson)

2 Evie’s Waltz set - Evie’s Waltz (Amy Geddes) / Donald MacDougall; Sgoinneal Balach (Eilidh Shaw)

3 Findhorn Bay set - Findhorn Bay (Jenna Reid) / A Boy on a Headland (Gordon Gunn)

4 Bruichladdich set - Bruichladdich (Charlie McKerron) / The Peterhead Quine (Duncan Chisholm & Hamish Napier) / Springa like Marit (Patsy Reid)

5 Garwick Bay set - Garwick Bay (Jonny Hardie) / The CMT Reel (Kevin Henderson)

6 The Handfasting set - Iona (Paul Anderson) / The Handfasting (Sarah-Jane Summers) / Stan’s Reel (Marie Fielding)

7 The Melbourne set - The Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club’s Trip to Shetland (Ross Couper) / Press Pause (Anna Massie) / Patti Fahey’s Slide (Liz Carroll)

8 Cala na Sìth - Emma Tomlinson

9 Still, Skye - Lauren MacColl

10 Hamnataing set - Hamnataing (Chris Stout) / Hame-trowe (Catriona Macdonald) / Toria’s 50th (Laura Wilkie)

11 The Giant Ship set - McLaughlin’s Strathspey (Alasdair Fraser) / The Howe Hornpipe (Douglas Montgomery) / The Otter Pool (Gavin Marwick) / The Giant Ship (Mike Vass)

The Composer’s Quotes

As part of the submissions, we asked the composers to give an indication of the inspiration, reason for the title and other factors around their tune. Some are a poignant reminder of Covid times, and some samples follow.

“Patti Fahey’s Slide - Patti is an old friend of mine, married to Marty Fahey who is an even older musician friend of mine. Many a time Patti and I chatted during the pandemic, and it occurred to me to finally write a tune for her. I think the tune is extremely happy; symbolic of the bolstering-up Patti and I did for each other while so much of what was happening in the world was sad. Finally, since Patti sounds like Paddy, and Paddy Fahey was a legend tune writer, who never named his tunes - hence they are all titled “Paddy Fahey’s” - I couldn’t resist adding another Fahey’s - albeit Patti - to the Irish music lexicon.” Liz Carroll

“‘Press Pause’ was written in July 2020; just as the first lockdown was about to be lifted. To me, it felt that life had been paused for a few months and the tune was written to celebrate being reunited with loved ones as we unpaused.” Anna Massie

“‘The Ox’ is dedicated to Andrew Dodds; the very fine American fiddle player who attended Blazin’ in Beauly as a teenager. He wasn’t quite as good at the football, as we discovered at a fiddle camp in Boston where he managed to break a few windows and fellow participants - you’ve heard of a bull in a china shop? Well, this was his version!” Bruce MacGregor

“‘Good Days’ was written in summer 2021, as a celebration of starting to really believe there would be light at the end of the tunnel, and a reminder for days when that light feels rather dim. For my sister, Rowan.” Sally Simpson