Album Notes

Since 1984, the Jink and Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling has met in a historic retreat center in the highlands of North Carolina, under its founder and director, John Turner. As the school expanded, it has become much more than a class to learn how to play fiddle in the Scottish style. Now, people return year after year to enjoy a mix of highly experienced Scottish fiddlers, rank beginners, renowned instructors, and ages from eighty to eight. We have become a musical family united in our love of the music and this peaceful setting.

On this recording, we feature the 70 piece school orchestra, John Turner, his staff of instructors, individual students in small ensembles, solos, playing traditional Scottish tunes and more recent compositions in the Scottish style. Our instruments included fiddles, viola, cellos, recorder, oboe, accordion, Stroh fiddle, and pocket fiddles. One tune, Unicorns, was composed as he played, by John Turner, after a student suggested the theme.

This album was recorded in the historic Apple Barn at Valle Crucis NC, and the pieces were all developed during that week, as we were recording. We have even included part of the rain storms which accompanied our week.