The Fiddle Tradition of the Shetland Isles

by Peter R. Cooke

This is a comprehensive description of one of the liveliest fiddle-playing traditions in the world. It is both an historical and a contemporary study based on Peter Cooke's intensive fieldwork among Shetland musicians during the period 1970–80. It examines the repertory and playing style of the different communities of fiddlers and traces the stages by which a distinctive Nordic musical tradition has become more and more Scottish. Most importantly, perhaps, Dr Cooke discusses in the closing chapter the question of how it is that such a high proportion of menfolk in the islands become competent on what many music educators would class as a 'difficult' instrument. Many music examples and photographs illustrate the text and an accompanying cassette provides extracts from performances.

Genres: Music

176 pages, Hardcover

First published February 27, 1987