The five members of Borders Young Fiddles have grown up steeped in traditional music, through playing with parents and membership of youth music groups, going to summer schools and workshops. Tuition from superb Borders-based musicians such as Lucy Cowan and Iain Fraser has been particularly inspirational.
The traditional music scene in the Borders, which has a long history, has become very active again in recent years. A number of key musicians have had a great influence. From Lucy Cowan, exquisite and renowned musician and teacher, to the Border fiddlers Jimmy Nagle and Wattie Robson, drawing for their own experience on the work of Tom Hughes and Bob Hobkirk. In recent times a number of well-known, established musicians have also chosen to base themselves in the Borders. Of those Iain Fraser has been very influential through teaching and a willingness to share his musicianship. Other locally-based musicians who have given their time to work with young players include Ian Lowthian, Judith Linton, Catriona McDonald, Mary Gristwood.
Often, young people's musical and technical development is supported through instruction in school and taking part in the regional orchestras and ensembles. Members of Borders Young Fiddles have been variously guided and supported through their formative years by a group of music instructors including - Simon Johnson, Barbara Mythen, Barbara Mooney, David Wilson, Ronald Drummond, Harris Playfair, Sheila Sapkota, in turn encouraged by regional adviser, Alistair Salmond.
All musicians are open to influence from all sorts of sources and the members of BYF have absorbed much of what they have been exposed to by singers, accordionists, flute players and other fiddlers. It is necessary to mention the work of pipers Gordon Mooney and Matt Seattle in finding, re-working and re-establishing a Borders repertoire for the Border pipes and, through their own performances, recordings and publications, making it more accessible.
Throughout their teenage years, the Borders Young Fiddles members have attended many workshops and festivals, which has undoubtedly had a big influence on their playing. Playing with family groups and other bands has helped to build their repertoires. Now they are all involved in teaching and passing-on the tradition in their own right: Lori as a senior tutor with Glasgow Fiddle Workshop, at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, festivals and privately; Shona with Caedmon Folk in Newcastle and at the Selkirk Traditional Music Centre; Innes, also with Glasgow Fiddle Workshop and privately; Rachel and Allan have also worked with pupils on a private basis and within the youth groups they play with.
Lori, Innes, Rachel and Allan have been long term members of the Small Hall Band which has had a seminal influence in providing a learning and playing platform for traditional music for a large number of young Borders musicians. Lori was a founder member at the Small Hall Band's formation back in 1994. Lori, Innes and Rachel have also lent their skills to professional Borders ceilidh band Clarty Cloot. Shona has played extensively with her Mum and Dad, Barbara on flute and bassoon and Gordon, renowned piper.
The members of Borders Young Fiddles came together originally to support Jimmy Nagle at a recital of Borders Fiddle Music at the Scots Fiddle Festival Fiddle 99. The following year they did it without Jimmy and, propelled by Lori's research into Borders fiddle music, decided to put together this recording of tunes from the Borders tradition alongside some of their own original music.
The influence of other Borders fiddlers, past and present, can be heard in the result. The existence of a distinct Borders style of fiddle playing, as argued by Fred Freeman and proposed in Fred's notes on the Borders Fiddles CD, will continue to be discussed. Suffice to say that when the Borders Young Fiddles play, audiences are genuinely surprised by the music and are keen to learn where it came from. Beyond that, the five BYF musicians are well-advanced in developing their own distinct, individual voices. The original tunes on this recording testify to that.
Biogs of BF
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Lori Watson (26) - Lori’s solo album LORI WATSON :THREE was released in 2006 to critical acclaim. Lori and the Lori Watson Three this year have toured in England, Spain (Asturias) and Sweden and will be touring in Germany later this year. Researching for a PhD at the RSAMD, Lori is a Senior Tutor for Glasgow Fiddle Workshop as well as teaching Musicianship and Groupwork to Scottish Music students at the RSAMD. She has been a finalist at the Scottish Young Traditional Musician Awards and has toured extensively at home and abroad. LW3 won a ‘Danny’ at Celtic Connections 2005. Lori has composed music for theatre and has broadcast on radio and television. Her research into the Borders traditions continues and she is a dedicated 'tradition bearer' of Borders fiddle playing. At the age of 12 Lori was a founding member of renowned Borders youth traditional music group, the Small Hall Band and also played with Borders ceilidh band Clarty Cloot. Lori recently toured solo with Cara Dillon and John Smith and is working on her second album for Lori Watson Three, for release in 2008. Recognition as a leading young tradition bearer reflects Lori’s research into, and interpretation of, Borders music and song.
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Shona Mooney (23) - Graduated with a BA Hons (1st Class) in folk and traditional music from Newcastle University and was Scottish Young Traditional Musician of the Year, 2006. Her solo CD ‘Heartsease (viola tricolour)’ followed, with great reviews. Shona tours with the Shona Mooney Band and with all-lassie group The Shee. Shona has a wealth of experience and is steeped in the Borders tradition through the work of her parents Gordon and Barbara. She is a regular at festivals and sessions at home and in Europe and the States.
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Innes Watson (22) - Graduated with a BA in Scottish Music from the RSAMD in 2006, Innes has a growing reputation as a leading fiddler and guitarist of his generation. He is currently working on his first solo CD. The list of artists he has played with and accompanied is impressive including spells with Croft Number Five and the Fred Morrison Band. He has provided accompaniment on the TMSA/BBC Young Trad Tours of 2006 and 2007. Innes spent sixth form at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music at Plockton High School. Innes is also a former member of Borders bands the Small Hall Band and Clarty Cloot ceilidh band. Innes teaches at Glasgow Fiddle Workshop and featured in the Gaelic television series Beolach. Innes's guitar playing can be heard on GreenTrax guitar album The Clear
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Rachel Cross (21) - A senior member of the Small Hall Band and a mainstay of the Clarty Cloot ceilidh band, Rachel took up the fiddle at a very early age and has developed her own distinctive voice. Rachel is now in her last year of the folk and traditional music BA at Newcastle University. Recently, Rachel has spent 6 months on an exchange doing music in Denmark. Rachel and Carly (below) were finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2004/5 and, with Chris Stout, will be providing music on a Tall Ships trip later in the year.
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Carly Blain (21) - Also senior member of the Small Hall Band, Carly is also now in her last year of the folk and traditional music BA degree course at Newcastle. Carly has also been the fiddle tutor for the Small Hall Band for the last three years and has played with many other musicians and featured in festivals and events at home and abroad. Carly and Rachel (above) were finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2004/5 and, with Chris Stout, will be providing music on a Tall Ships trip later in the year.
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Sandy Watson (over 21) - Has been involved in the folk / traditional scene for a wee while. A founder of the Small Hall Band, Clarty Cloot ceilidh band and the Border Gaitherin festival, Sandy has also been active in the TMSA in recent years. Sandy plays guitar and bouzouki and sings if absolutely necessary and if the pay is very good. Sometimes Sandy makes up tunes which raise the eyebrows of the BF musicians. Passed his driving test in 1970.
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Allan Hyslop (22) - Allan, featured on the CD and in the early BYF gigs, decided to concentrate more on his other musical interests - singing, song-writing, guitar and music technology. Allan is studying in Newcastle.
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