Getting my Irish up

Since Swannanoa, I have undergone something of a transformation relating to fiddle music. When I first began playing, I focused primarily on the Scottish style. This resulted from my earliest experience with Celtic music through Scottish ballad singers such as Dick Gaughan, Brian McNeill, Jim Malcolm, Ed Miller, etc.

I now have decided that I will focus on Irish fiddle music, particularly as it pertains to jigs, reels, hornpipes, etc. Irish fiddling is more fluid and supple than Scottish fiddling, which is more ornate and rigid, deriving in part from its considerable classical influence. I still really love the Scottish strathspeys and airs and will continue to play them, but have become an Irish fiddler at heart.

Just as an aside, my violin teacher Keadron and I were discussing fiddlers and fiddle tunes on the phone yesterday. During our conversation, it became apparent that we had each independently/simultaneously come to same conclusion regarding Irish fiddling and had a good laugh over it.