Tree
of Strings
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| Artist Profile & Discography |
With
two Scottish harps intertwined, The Duplets are hailed as “leading
lights of Scottish music”. Gillian Fleetwood and Fraya
Thomsen “sing and play old and new music with imagination.”– Norman
Chalmers. In the title track on their debut album ‘Tree
of Strings’ they “entrance with their poise and beauty.”-
Delyth Jenkins.
Tree of Strings
1. Ca'The Yowes
2. Lillian's
3. The Twa Corbies
4. The Green Set
5. The Boys
6. The Rigs of Rye
7. Polkas
8. The Bendy Set
9. Love
10. Female Affability
11. The Queen of All Argyll
12. Craobh nan Teud.
Sleeve Notes
1. Ca'The Yowes-Trad/R.Burns
When searching through an old Burns' book we came across two versions
of this well known song. This, the older version, particularly appealed
to our more romantic side.
2. O'Niell's March - Trad
Lillian Ross of Inverness - F.Thomsen
Donald Blue - Trad.
The first tune was taught to Fraya by Allan MacDonald of Glenuig. It
is also known as Lord Mayo.
Lillian is a fantastic Scots singer and storyteller, a very empowered
lady who Fraya had the pleasure of teaching with.
Donald Blue is an Orkney fiddle tune taught to Fraya by Iain MacFarlane
of Glenfinnan.
3. The Twa Corbies :
An old poem put to a Breton tune by Norman Buchan. A popular Scot song
with some greatly descriptive language about a murder and nature's
ways.
4. The Green Set:
Chloe's Passion - Dr Angus MacDonald
The Up Downey - Diarmuid Moynihan
The Triangle - Kinnon Beaton
A bunch of tunes that we really like. We call it green because it makes
us think of the great outdoors.
The Triangle is from Cape Breton and was taught to us by Gabe who learned
it from the ever studious Ross Martin.
5. The Boys.
Monkey Puzzle - G.Fleetwood
Inspector Hector - F. Thomsen and C.Gullan
Mr Nice - F. Thomsen
An ode to three charming (cheeky) young men.
6. The Rigs of Rye - Trad
Gillian learnt this song from a recording of Gordeana McCulloch, given
to her by singer Anne Nielson who shared her vast knowledge and repertoire
with many Scots singers. We have ommited the final verse, but if you
are a fan of happy endings you can find it in the Greig Duncan Collection.
7. The Paw Paw Polska - G. Fleetwood
Tommy Nagle's - G. Fleetwood and F. Thomsen
The Strathnairn - Stephen Cooney
The Polska was written for Mike Fowler, in thanks for lots of help, advice,
fun and Gillian's lovely blue bicycle.
Tommy Nagle's - co-written in a late night fit of confusion as another
big thank you, this time to Tommy for doing such a good job designing
out website.
We learned the Strathnairn off the brilliant Seamus Begley and Steve
Cooney album "Mitheal".
8. The Bendy Set
The Bendy Tune - F. Thomsen
Good Man in the Kitchen - F. Thomsen
Dudley Drive - J. Henderson.
The Bendy Tune was inspired when Fraya got new levers on her harp. After
hours of wiggling this tune emerged.
Good Man in the Kitchen: A tune for Gabe, whose fish is almost as hot
as his fiddle playing. Delicious!
Dudley Drive can also be found on Jarleth Henderson and Ross Ainsley's
album "Partners in Crime".
9. Love - C. Campbell
Clair is a good friend and band member of ours. This is one of a series
of her songs, which we perform in the band Abagail Grey.
10. Furan nam ban o'ga - (Female Affability) -
Trad
Gruaimean an t-seann duin' - (The Old Man Glooms
On Me) - Trad
Gillian found the first tune in the Angus Fraser Collection "the
only seemingly authentic Scottish Harp music ever to be recovered." Both
titles are taken from the book but our gaelic speaking friends find it
to be a rather frilly translation.
The second tune was taught to Fraya by Skye based, multi-talented friend
Christine Martin.
11. The Queen of All Argyll-Andy M. Stewart.
This song was first recorded by Silly Wizard on their album "Kiss
the Tears Away".
12. Craobh nan Teud (Tree of Strings) -
Trad(Arr. Wendy Stewart/The Duplets)
This tune can also be found in the
Angus Fraser collection, it was taught to Fraya by one of her harp
teachers throughout her years at the RSAMD, Wendy Stewart.
Credits
Special Thanks : Pro D!(Thank's Duncan)
Donald, Gabe and Tam, Terry B. Small, Jean and Gordon Fleetwood, Alice
Thomsen.
Music Video Director/Producer: John McGeoch, Sean
Martin and all at Arts inMotion.
Web Design : Tommy Nagle.
Fraya plays a Glencoe Harp, made by Starfish Designs.
Gillian plays a Mark Noris Harp.
Funders: PSYBT(Alistair Danter and David Knight),
HIE Lochaber, Scottish Business Gateway
Produced and Engineered by Duncan Lyall at Gran's House.
Harp and Singing - Gillian Fleetwood
Harp and Backing Singing - Fraya Thomsen
Drums/Percussion - Donald Hay
Fiddle - Gabe McVarish
Banjo - Tam "the banjo" Kinsella
Double Bass - Duncan Lyall
Mixed and mastered by Duncan and Paul McGeechan
at Park Lane Studio, Glasgow
All music arranged by The Duplets except track 12, as stated.
Photos by Magnus Graham & Clive Grewcock
Design by Somhairle MacDonald@www.schmo.biz
| Title: | Tree of Strings |
| Artist: | The Duplets |
| Instruments: | Two Harps, Voice & backing |
| Genre: | Contemporary / Celtic |
| Format: | CD |
| Our Ref: | A0355 |
| MCPS: | CHIK 001 |
| Label: | Pond Chicken Music |
| Year: | 2008 |
| Origin: | UK |