Album Notes

THE WASHINGTON POST
"She transforms a lonely melody into utter desolation...then effortlessly switches gears from languorous ballad to virtuosic exercise."

FOLK ROOTS, UK
"Bonnie reveals a true empathy and love for the wild and gentle moods of Gaelic music."
From the Artist
This recording is unusual as the theme and selections are from a single source, the Patrick McDonald Collection ( 1781) I chose some of the most haunting airs and laments in the collection, along with several of its most lively reels and strathspeys. Very few of the tunes have been previously recorded...the music and arrangements are expressions of my own joy in discovering the tunes. There is the a companion sheet music from Mel Bay Publishing Company called: Soft May Morn which is note for note transcriptions of all the music from this CD recording and also the piano score as well.

About the Artist
Bonnie Rideout, one of the most talented and celebrated Scottish fiddlers of our time, has amazed and enchanted audiences from Scotland's Edinburgh International Festival to America's Kennedy Center.With her unique style of fiddling,vast knowledge of traditional Scottish dance tunes, Highland bagpipe music, and ancient Gaelic melodies, and the resurgence of interest in Celtic music, it is not surprising that Ms. Rideout has moved to center stage. Rideout is the only American to hold the honor of representing Scottish fiddle music at the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival. She is the first woman to hold a national Scottish fiddle title and the youngest to have won the U.S. championship, winning it for three consecutive years. She has been featured on the BBC, CBS Sunday Morning, and NPR's Performance Today, Morning Edition and The Thistle and Shamrock. In addition to authoring eight music books for the Mel Bay Publishing Company, Bonnie's has recordings on the Maggie's Music record label which include: Scottish Reflections;Scottish Fire; Parent's Choice Gold winner- Gi'me Elbow Room; Scottish Rant with world champion City of Washington Pipe Band; Kindred Spirits; Celtic Circles ,Soft May Morn. Her Christmas recordings are: A Scottish Christmas (with Maggie Sansone, AL Petteway and guest piper Eric Rigler) which became a New York Times "Top Ten Holiday Best Seller" and has continued to sell in record numbers since 1996 and on BMG- the worlds' first "Scottish Christmas" DVD featuring her national touring ensemble.