Colin Gordon
History
Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles was founded in 1981 after the
first Scottish Fiddle Competition held in Southern California.
The competitors all had so much fun playing, that, led by Colin Gordon,
they combined forces to create the first Strathspey and Reel Society
in the United States. Common in Scotland, Strathspey and Reel Societies
are made up of amateur and professional musicians who play Scottish traditional fiddle music. Jan Tappan became Music Director in 1989
when the Gordons left Los Angeles for Northern California.
The Music
The musical tradition of America has many connections with Scotland and Ireland. There is a great heritage of Scottish fiddle music dating back to the seventeenth century, and many of these early tunes have found their way into the American folk fiddle repertoire. Scottish tunes began to appear in North America with the early migrations of Scots to the New World. The Scottish influence on American fiddle music accelerated at the time of the Highland Clearances when Scots, forced from their lands in the highlands of Scotland, migrated to Canada and the southern United States. Trace the source of the American fiddle tune Devil's Dream, for example, and you'll find the Scottish De'il Amang the Tailors.
There are several kinds of Scottish fiddle tunes. Many tunes are associated with dances and others are associated with pipe tunes. Jigs, for example, are written in 6/8 time, slip jigs in 9/8, reels and strathspeys in 4/4. The strathspey is unique to Scotland, an elegant slow dance written in a highly exaggerated dotted rhythm. Other fiddle tune types are marches in 2/4, 6/8, and occasionally 5/4, hornpipes in 4/4 or 3/2, and waltzes in 3/4. Airs, laments and pastorals are slow, expressive tunes that can be written in any meter.
310-266-8080.
first Scottish Fiddle Competition held in Southern California.
The competitors all had so much fun playing, that, led by Colin Gordon,
they combined forces to create the first Strathspey and Reel Society
in the United States. Common in Scotland, Strathspey and Reel Societies
are made up of amateur and professional musicians who play Scottish traditional fiddle music. Jan Tappan became Music Director in 1989
when the Gordons left Los Angeles for Northern California.
The Music
The musical tradition of America has many connections with Scotland and Ireland. There is a great heritage of Scottish fiddle music dating back to the seventeenth century, and many of these early tunes have found their way into the American folk fiddle repertoire. Scottish tunes began to appear in North America with the early migrations of Scots to the New World. The Scottish influence on American fiddle music accelerated at the time of the Highland Clearances when Scots, forced from their lands in the highlands of Scotland, migrated to Canada and the southern United States. Trace the source of the American fiddle tune Devil's Dream, for example, and you'll find the Scottish De'il Amang the Tailors.There are several kinds of Scottish fiddle tunes. Many tunes are associated with dances and others are associated with pipe tunes. Jigs, for example, are written in 6/8 time, slip jigs in 9/8, reels and strathspeys in 4/4. The strathspey is unique to Scotland, an elegant slow dance written in a highly exaggerated dotted rhythm. Other fiddle tune types are marches in 2/4, 6/8, and occasionally 5/4, hornpipes in 4/4 or 3/2, and waltzes in 3/4. Airs, laments and pastorals are slow, expressive tunes that can be written in any meter.
Join Us!
We welcome musicians playing fiddle, cello, guitar, harp and other stringed instruments, piano and percussion. We play for concerts, Scottish games and gatherings, Celtic fairs and many other events! Write to info@scottishfiddlers.org or call Chris at 310-266-8080310-266-8080.