Iain Fraser

Description

Fèis Rois commissioned fiddler Iain Fraser to record an album, Gneiss, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Fèis Rois nan Inbheach (Adult Fèis Rois). Iain, one of the original tutors at the very first Adult Fèis Rois, took his inspiration for this new album from not only his time spent teaching at the Adult Fèis over the last 30 years but also the landscape, and in the particular the geological features, of the three places the Adult Fèis has been held in; Dingwall, Gairloch and Ullapool. Also playing with Iain on Gneiss are Gordon Gunn – Fiddle, Wendy Weatherby – Cello, Wendy Stewart – Harp, Calum-Alex MacMillan – Gaelic Song, Whistles, and Pipes, Signy Jakobsdottir – Percussion, James Ross – Piano & Graeme Armstrong – Guitar. The album was recorded and mixed by Barry Reid, at Watercolour Music & Rose Croft Studio and mastered by Andrea Gobbi at Carrier Waves Mastering.

Artwork and photography by Somhairle MacDonald. All compositions and arrangements by Iain Fraser except for: Kiltearn Beach – Alpha Munro, Rita Hunter of Aultbea – Val Bryan, Feasgar Luain – Uilleam Ros, The High Road to Gairloch – Traditional & Mo Chailin Dìleas Donn – Hector MacKenzie.

‘A musical adventure from beginning to end. Each listen yields new surprises & highlights. Brilliantly composed & executed by Iain Fraser & Feis Rois.’ Online Customer.

‘Iain Fraser (…) has been involved with the Fèisean movement since its early days, so it’s no surprise that Fèis Rois commissioned him to create (not curate) this album to celebrate 30 years of classes, community and craic at the Adult Fèis. Straddling Scotland about three quarters of the way up the country, Fèis Rois has bases in Dingwall, Gairloch and Ullapool: Gneiss is structured around this tripartite geography, and specifically around the rocks in each location – although it’s definitely not a rock album (…) New pieces fit well with the old, and there are some which may well last 500 years.’ The Living Tradition Magazine.