There is a substantial repertoire of tunes specific to the Borders area and its musicians. Two principal exponents of Border fiddle playing over the last 50 years have been Tom Hughes and Bob Hobkirk. They and their peers left behind them a host of great tunes and techniques not generally practiced in other areas of Scotland. There are more and more young players coming through using ideas picked up from older players mixed with modern and popular influences to create their own blend of traditional music and write their own tunes. The Borders Fiddle tradition promotes an informal atmosphere with a warm and inviting music which combines melody, harmony and chordal improvisation on the fiddle.
“I think fiddles accompanying fiddles is such a lovely sound - it’s well worth having a go, experiencing this unique regional tradition and seeing where you can take it.”
Lori Watson grew up near Coldstream playing with local groups the Small Hall Band and the Clarty Cloot Ceilidh Band
www.loriwatson.co.uk
www.borderfiddles.co.uk
Lori has provided three tunes which can be accessed here as graphic files:
Border Gaitherin; Tams' Hornpipe; Lassies o' Hawick
