Alasdair Fraser

Alasdair Fraser (born 14 May 1955, Clackmannan, Scotland) is a Scottish fiddler, composer, performer and recording artist.

Alasdair Fraser
Background information
Born (1955-05-14) 14 May 1955
OriginClackmannan, Scotland
GenresScottish fiddle
InstrumentsFiddle
LabelsCulburnie
Associated actsSkyedance
Websitewww.alasdairfraser.com

Fraser operates Culburnie Records and is a leading artist on the label. He has founded five summer fiddling programs: the Valley of the Moon[1] fiddle camp in California (begun in 1984), Alasdair Fraser Skye Week - a week-long course on the Isle of Skye (begun in 1987), Sierra Fiddle Camp[2] in California (begun in 2006),[3] Crisol de Cuerda, a Trad strings program in Spain begun in 2008 and Stringmania! - a trad strings program in Australia in 2016. Adept in various Scottish idioms, in recent years, with cellist Natalie Haas, he has helped reconstruct and revive the Scottish tradition of playing traditional music on violin and cello ("wee fiddle" and "big fiddle").[4][5] Fraser lives in northern California with his wife and two sons.[6]

In December 2011, Fraser was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.[7]

Discography
  • Portrait of a Scottish Fiddler, Solo album -released 1982
  • Skyedance, with Paul Machlis (Keyboards, Piano) - released 1985
  • The Road North, with Paul Machlis (Keyboards, Piano) - released 1987
  • The Driven Bow, with Jody Stecher (Guitar) - released 1989
  • Dawn Dance, Solo album - released 1996
  • Way Out to Hope Street, with Skyedance Band - released 1997
  • Return to Kintail, with Tony McManus (Guitar) - released 1999
  • Labyrinth, with Skyedance Band - released 2000
  • Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, Vol 1, with Paul Machlis (Piano) and Natalie Haas (Cello) - released 2002
  • Live in Spain, with Skyedance Band - released 2002
  • Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, Vol 2, with Muriel Johnstone (Piano) and Natalie Haas (Cello) - released 2004
  • Fire and Grace, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas - released 2004 (winner, Scots Trad Album of the Year)
  • In the Moment, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas - released 2007
  • Highlander's Farewell, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas - released 2011
  • Abundance, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas - released 2014
  • Ports of Call, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas - released 2017

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"))

References
  1. "Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddle School". www.valleyofthemoon.org.
  2. "Alasdair Fraser's Sierra Fiddle Camp". www.sierrafiddlecamp.org.
  3. Shrader, Erin (2007). "The philosopher fiddler: as an educator, Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser has built as living legacy of talented, enthusiastic students". Strings. 21 (7): 51–54.
  4. Weir, Rob (2005). "Outside in with Alasdair Fraser". Sing Out! (includes a discography). 49 (1): 24–27.
  5. Maxham, R. E. (2001). "Alasdair Fraser: Ancientvoices, crystal truths". Fanfare. 25: 76–86.
  6. Michael Simmons. "Alasdair Fraser: Scotland's Ambassador of Fiddling", Fiddler Magazine (Fall 2002), online issue
  7. "Alasdair Fraser". Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
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