I found a very interesting old 78rpm fiddle record at a car boot sale
yesterday featuring a player I've never heard of, tunes I've never
encountered.
The record is on the Beltona Label (serial no. 142001) and the player is
"Farquar MacRame - Aberdeenshire's Bothy Fiddler". Side one features a set
of jig tunes called "The Broken Fiddle" while side two features a strathspey
(?) called "The ewie wi' the cheeky smile". I've posted a short fragment of
the latter to the Whistlebinkies web site as an MP3 which should give some
idea of the guy's style:
www.sol.co.uk/w/whistlebinkies/birls/old78.mp3
The playing is quite unlike any other fiddlers to be heard today (although
there is a guy who plays in Sandy Bells pub in Edinburgh who come close -
can't remember his name but he owes me seven pints).
I've checked Alburger's book but there is no mention of the man - can anyone
throw any light on the player and tunes.
Have I stumbled on something really important?
Stuart
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