Are they playing the Irish tunes in a very Irish-style, or are they just taking Irish tunes and playing them in their own particularly regional style?
Difficult to say conclusively, because that repertoire is now coming directly from CDs. Also, the guy behind the Blackford Fiddlers is not from the region, so you couldn't say there is a distinctive regional style. There won't be a regional style these days (in Scotland) unless there is a strong fiddler who teaches lots of youngsters. Donald Riddell was one such; he was taught by Alexander Grant, a fiddle maker and a friend of Scott Skinner. Riddell in turn taught many fiddlers who are now acknowledging their debt: Bruce MacGregor, Iain MacFarlane, Greg Borland, and so on.
Directly from CD's, as in CD's of all sorts of people, or just a certain few players?
Glad to hear there are at least some regional styles left there.
Toby
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