Alasdair Fraser
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Alasdair Fraser
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Biography
Alasdair Fraser is one of Scotland's most influential tradition-rooted fiddlers. A two-time winner of the open competition of the Scottish National Fiddle Championship, Fraser continues to expand the musical traditions of his homeland with his expressive and virtuosic playing. In addition to performing more than 50 times on BBC radio and television shows (and, in the U.S., on A Prairie Home Companion), Fraser has been featured on the soundtracks of such films as Titanic, Braveheart, The Spitfire Grill and The Last of the Mohicans. Fraser's 1996 album, Dawn Dance, which represented his first all-original recording, received a NAIRD award as best Celtic album of the year. The album's success inspired Fraser to form a band, Skyedance, with the musicians featured on the album. The group includes Eric Rigler (a veteran of concerts and/or recordings with Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart and Michael Oldfield on Scottish and Irish bagpipes, Chris Norman (a member of the early music ensemble The Baltimore Consort and a founding member of the international trio Helicon) on wooden flute, Peter Maund (a founder of the medieval and renaissance music group the Ensemble Alcatraz and the president of the San Francisco Early Music Society) on percussion, Mick Linden (known for his adapting R&B and African rhythms to the bagpipes) on standup bass, and long-time Fraser collaborator Paul Machlis on piano and keyboards. Fraser and Skyedance released their first album as a band, Way Out to Hope Street, in 1997. The album included 13 group composed instrumentals and a reworking of a medley of traditional dance tunes that Fraser and Machlin recorded in 1986. Fraser has appeared as a guest during concerts by Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Waterboys. ~ Craig Harris, RoviRelated Videos:
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Alasdair Fraser
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Alasdair Fraser
| Alasdair Fraser | |
|---|---|
 Alasdair Fraser |
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 14, 1955 |
| Origin | Clackmannan, Scotland |
| Genres | Scottish fiddle |
| Instruments | Fiddle |
| Labels | Culburnie |
| Associated acts | Skyedance |
| Website | www.alasdairfraser.com |
Alasdair Fraser (born 14 May 1955, Clackmannan, Scotland) is a Scottish fiddler.
Fraser operates Culburnie Records, and is a leading artist on the label. He has founded three summer fiddling programs: the Valley of the Moon fiddle camp in California (begun in 1984), a week-long course on the Isle of Skye (begun in 1987) and the more recent Sierra Fiddle Camp in California (begun in 2006). Adept in various Scottish idioms, in recent years, with cellist Natalie Haas, he has helped reconstruct and revive the Scottish tradition of playing dance music on violin and cello ("wee fiddle" and "big fiddle"). Fraser lives in northern California with his wife and two sons.
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Contents
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Discography
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This article or section contains a list of works that does not follow the Manual of Style for lists of works (often, though not always, due to being in reverse-chronological order) and may need cleanup. |
- "Highlander's Farewell" by Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas - released 2011
- In the Moment Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas - released 2007
- Fire and Grace Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas - released 2004 (winner, Scots Trad Album of the Year)
- Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, Vol 2 with Muriel Johnstone (Piano) and Natalie Haas (Cello) - released 2004
- Live in Spain with Skyedance Band - released 2002
- Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, Vol 1 with Paul Machlis (Piano) and Natalie Haas (Cello) - released 2002
- Labyrinth with Skyedance Band - released 2000
- Return to Kintail with Tony McManus (Guitar) - released 1999
- Way Out to Hope Street with Skyedance Band - released 1997
- Dawn Dance - Solo album - released 1996
- The Driven Bow with Jody Stecher (Guitar) - released 1989
- The Road North with Paul Machlis (Keyboards, Piano) - released 1987
- Skyedance with Paul Machlis (Keyboards, Piano) - released 1985
- Portrait of a Scottish Fiddler - Solo album -released 1982
Compilation appearances
- The Narada Wilderness Collection
- Celtic Odyssey (Narada)
- Celtic Dance (Narada)
- The Narada Nutcracker
- Treasure Planet soundtrack (featured soloist, co-composer on "Silver Leaves" (contains "Alasdair Fraser's Compliments to Lorna Mitchell"))
External links
References
Michael Simmons. "Alasdair Fraser: Scotland's Ambassador of Fiddling", Fiddler Magazine (Fall 2002), online issue
Treasure Planet film credits at the Big Cartoon Database, [1]
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Mentioned in
Reminiscence
(1989 Album by Wayne Gratz)
Dancing on the Edge
(1989 Album by Bruce Mitchell)
Return to Kintail
(1999 Album by Alisdair Fraser)
Auld Lang Syne [Culburnie]
(2000 Album by Various Artists)
Wisdom of the Wood: Contemporary Acoustic Music
(1991 Album by Various Artists)
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