Album Notes

In keeping with the vibrancy of traditional Scottish music, "THE CELEBRATION" is an exciting collaboration between Rideout and other Celtic music stars including renowned piper Jerry O'Sullivan, Scottish harper William Jackson, and Riverdance percussionist, Steve Holloway. This unique collection of carols, wassail tunes and dance medleys celebrates Christmas, Boxing Day, Hogmanay (Scottish New Year's Eve) and the New Year. Christmas favorites from the British Isles include "Christmas Day in the Morning" (I saw Three Ships), explored in its earliest setting from the ancient Northumbrian pipe tune and arranged with 18th century Scots fiddle Christmas jigs. Other haunting Gaelic melodies are presented from their original sources and beautifully arranged for fiddle, clarsach, Uilleann pipes, guitar, viola da gamba, bodhran, and more. From well known favorites such as "Auld Lang Syne" to a never-before recorded 17th century Scottish air entitled "Cold Frosty Morning", this collection is both fresh and timeless.

Ms. 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 the National Scottish fiddle title and the youngest to have garnered the U.S. championship. Rideout's style of fiddling is authentic and her stage personality is engaging and dynamic. Her popularity as a fiddler and performer has sold out the Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington, D.C. for four consecutive seasons.

Reviews:
"Rideout clearly feels a spiritual connection with this music...displaying at times a rare combination of urgency and clarity." The Washington Post
"Rideout's tone is pristine." The New York Times
"...dazzling fiddle playing from an authority in her genre..." Billboard Magazine