Iain Fraser is a Scottish fiddler and teacher with an impressive and diverse musical career. His fascination with the rhythmic and emotional capabilities of the fiddle is evident in his work, which draws from traditional music spanning centuries and continents, ranging from 18th-century Scottish tunes to contemporary arrangements.
In addition to composing and performing, Iain has been a music educator for over three decades. He served as the principal fiddle teacher in the Scottish Music Department at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for a decade, before being appointed as the Head of Instrumental Music for the Scottish Borders Education Authority. Iain has also been an avid supporter of the Feisean movement, particularly with Fèis Rois, who commissioned his album Gneiss in 2022.
In his album, Sitting in the Stern of a Boat (2014), Iain showcases his solo fiddle performances of sixteen Scottish slow airs and strathspeys from the 18th and 19th centuries, composed by some of the greatest fiddle masters of their time, including Niel Gow, William Marshall, and James Scott Skinner.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Fèis Rois nan Inbheach, an esteemed festival that venerates Gaelic and Scots music through a weekend of concerts, workshops and sessions, Iain was appointed by Fèis Rois to create an album. As one of the pioneers in tutoring at the inaugural Adult Fèis Rois, Iain derived his inspiration for the new album, Gneiss, from not only his 30 years of involvement in teaching but also from the terrain, specifically the geological characteristics, of the three locations where the Adult Fèis was previously conducted; Dingwall, Gairloch, and Ullapool.
The album featured a star-studded assembly of musicians, including Graeme Armstrong (guitar), Gordon Gunn (fiddle), James Mackintosh (percussion), Calum-Alex MacMillan (Gaelic song and pipes), James Ross (piano), Wendy Stewart (harp) and Wendy Weatherby (cello) with visuals by Somhairle MacDonald.
Meanwhile, Touchwood, a collection of fiddle music from Scotland in the 18th and 19th centuries, was recorded in 2002 and is now available for digital download. Iain recorded this album in a community hall close to his home in the Scottish Borders, where the pairing of fiddle and cello was once the most popular line-up for dances and balls. The cello parts on this album are newly invented as part of Iain’s creative process, and differ from the bass parts found in older collections of printed music.
Kōterana, a new album set to release on Friday 14th April 2023, explores the themes of faith and acceptance by bringing together the history, heritage, and music of four nations. The album is based on the remarkable story of 800 Scottish Highlanders who followed Reverend Norman McLeod on a journey of no return in the 1800s, crossing oceans to seek a better life. The project is a development of a 35-minute piece of music originally composed in 2016 by Fraser. It features 11 tracks split into four sections, with each section containing music originally composed in the countries visited by Reverend McLeod and his people. The album showcases traditional fiddle playing on some tracks and fuller musical arrangements on others. The only song on the album is Iain’s take on a Gaelic poem, sung by Gaelic singer Calum Alex Macmillan. The album features a host of international musical talent, creating an internationally collaborative body of work. Kōterana was recorded in Glasgow, Auckland, and Quebec, and mixed by Barry Reid.
Discography
Northlins, with Freeland Barbour (Iona, 1994)
Sitting in the Stern of a Boat (2014)
Gneiss (Fèis Rois, 2022)
Touchwood (2023)
Kōterana (2023)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.