Album Notes

From Parents' Choice®:Acclaimed American Scottish fiddler Bonnie Rideout, joined by a children's chorus and accomplished adult artists, shares playful songs of her childhood in Scotland, nursery rhymes and Robert Louis Stevenson's children's poems set to music. Among the beguiling selections are "Wee Willie Winkie," "Fiddler From Dooney," "There was a Wee Cooper," and Stevenson's poem "From a Railway Carriage," where the enchanting sights to be seen through the window go by faster and faster as the music vividly speeds the train along. Vocalist Rod Cameron's spoken word recitations of poems are magic and the melodies and lilting rhythms on fiddle, Celtic harp, pennywhistle, guitar, piano, pipes, bodhran and dulcimer match the joyful spirit of songs and narrative. A 1998 Parents' Choice® Gold Award.The Top Award! NPR's Morning Edition "One of the world's leading Scottish fiddlers." Bob Edwards, Album Description An introduction to Scottish music for kids and families. Includes music and songs on Scottish fiddle, Highland pipes & drums, Celtic instruments; sing alongs & street rhymes from Glasgow & Aberdeen and the Western Isles, a rousing children's chorus & Robert Louis Stevenson's poetry recited in Scots' brogue. Musicians: Bonnie Rideout,vocals, fiddle, viola; with Special Guests:Rod Cameron-Narration & Vocals,Chris Caswell- harp, bagpipes, whistle & percussion,Al Petteway-guitar,Betty Rideout-piano,Douglas Rideout-ocarina,Maggie Sansone-hammered dulcimer,Nicholson Pipes & Drums,University Park E.S-Chorus. Extensive liner notes about Scottish music and culture, words to the songs and original artwork and drawings. Awards: Parents Choice Winner- Top Award- as the #1 children's album of the year,WAMMIE winner Children's Category. Highlights: AWARD WINNING PRODUCER: PARENTS CHOICE AWARD winner and a CHILDREN'S GRAMMY NOMINE Marcy Marxer produced and plays on Gi'Me Elbow Room and a stellar cast of contemporary Celtic musicians including the PIPE BAND and three generations of the Rideout family. Excerpts from notes: 1.Morrison's Jig I heard this rhyme from a mother bouncing a baby on her knee during my first train ride from London to Edinburgh. The fiddle jig is a popular country dance tune. Vocals (Clarice & Molly Medrano, Adam Shaughnessy), fiddles, drums (Marcy & Chris). 2.Gie Me Elbow Room The original text to this rhyme is from Galloway. It is about a tailor, but I have substituted a variety of musicians in order to introduce instruments (Celtic harp, bodhran, fiddle, guitar, pennywhistle, pipes & children's chorus) common in Scottish traditional music. Vocals (Bonnie) & ensemble. Melody & new lyric by Bonnie Rideout. 3. Marching Song/Scotland the Brave/Auld Lang Syne From A Child's Garden of Verses, I have set this Robert Louis Stevenson poem, "Marching Song," to one of Scotland's most famous pipe marches. Vocals (Bonnie), Tinkertoy can, coffee can, kazoos, pipe band. Online reviewer wrote:"Kid's Music for Adults, January 2, 2003 -If you're stuck in a car on a road trip, you could do much worse than to have this CD along. The kids love it, to be sure, but musically and lyrically it's masterful enough for the adults in the car to listen again and again. Along with Garcia/Grisman's "Not for Kids Only," the Persuasions's "Good Ship Lollipop," and the Seeger's "American Folk Songs for Children," this CD allows us to share the joy of music with our children without driving ourselves insane in the process. Great fun! "