A Celebration of Scottish Baroque Music

A programme incorporating a fusion of traditional Scottish fiddle tunes and folk-influenced baroque repertoire.

Scottish Baroque music had its beginnings in a tavern in Edinburgh’s medieval Old Town. The landlord at the beginning of the 18th century was a violin player who arranged “Corelli sessions” for his classically educated patrons from the gentry; these took place alongside enthusiastic reels and jigs. The same musicians would play both repertoires, with the same techniques, and using the same instruments. Scottish Baroque became a lively fusion of home-grown talent, music and culture combined with Italian flair and style.

Review in the Boston Globe of “cutting-edge fiddle and cello explorations of Scottish and global music”: " … you would think they'd been playing together for centuries. While his fiddle dances, her cello throbs darkly or plucks puckishly. Then [Haas] opens her cello's throat, joining Fraser in soaring sustains, windswept refrains, and sudden, jazzy explosions. Their sound is as urbane as a Manhattan midnight, and as wild as a Clackmannan winter."

(Credit: Shane Lestideau)