Scottish Weekend Ensemble
Memories Of Scottish Weekend
Scottish country dance music–-reels, jigs, strathspeys, and waltzes–-recorded live at the formal ball of Scottish Weekend, a popular annual music and dance camp
"Memories of Scottish Weekend" was recorded live at the 1998 Scottish Weekend Ball in Maryland and captures the sounds and excitement that energized the dancers as they whirled around the ballroom. Suitable for listening or Scottish Country Dancing, the album includes medleys for five reels, four jigs, two strathspeys, plus two waltzes. Most of the tunes are traditional; a few were composed by musicians well-known to the Scottish country dance community and beyond.
The ensemble includes:
Earl Gaddis, fiddle
Steve Hickman, fiddle
Anne Hooper, fiddle
Calum MacKinnon, fiddle
Marty Taylor, flute and concertina
Liz Donaldson, piano
Ralph Gordon, bass and cello
Dan Emery, pipes (track 4 only)
Although this talented ensemble was unique to the 1998 Weekend, the individual musicians perform together often in various combinations, giving them more cohesiveness and tighter delivery than one might expect in a temporary band. Selection of tunes and arrangements (except for track 7) were by Liz Donaldson, Artistic Director for the Weekend and the album.
Track 7 features the music class at the 1998 Weekend with pianist Dave Wiesler and a few members of the ensemble under the direction of Calum MacKinnon.
Due to popular demand, the album was recently reissued in celebration of the twentieth anniversary of Scottish Weekend, an annual gathering of dancers and musicians to hone their skills and then put it all together at the formal Scottish Weekend Ball. It has become a must-have for Scottish country dance teachers who do not have the luxury of live music for their classes and for many enthusiasts of Scottish music and dancing.
Whether or not you are a trained Scottish country dancer, you won't be able to sit still while listening to this album!
Folk: Scottish Contemporary