8. MacDougall’s Gathering – Fiddle Piobaireachd

The eight performance is ‘MacDougall’s Gathering.’ Renowned fiddle piobaireachd player Bonnie Rideout released Scotland’s Fiddle Piobaireachd Vol. 1. in 2007. Track one on the album is MacDougall’s Gathering – Cruinneachaidh MacDhughail and is a tune from the Scottish piobaireachd tradition. Usually, piobaireachd tunes are composed for great Highland pipes. Simon O’Dwyer was invited by producer John Purser to play Bronze Age bass trumpet, side-blow bronze horn and Early Medieval psalter horn for this track – ‘MacDougall’s Gathering.’ The ancient instruments accompany with a continuous drone and instrumental overtone that gives the music a new and evocative sound and enhances the plaintive piobaireachd played so beautifully by Bonnie Rideout on viola. In this live performance two years later, drones from two Bronze Age bass trumpets (dord íseals) supply a rich backing with tone alteration whilst the melody and rhythm are played on a viola. Thus, instruments that are of the great Bronze Age family of Scotland, Ireland and England (circa. 800 BC), come together with a viola on which piobaireachd tunes were played in the 19th century AD. Bonnie Rideout directs the tune as she draws huge emotion from a piece that was originally composed concerning the ancient and renowned McDougall’s Scottish Clan.
Producer of this album John Purser wrote – “Rideout’s contribution to the sustaining and development of the piobaireachd art form is unmatched; and this CD is a landmark, not just in the history of Scotland’s music, but in the history of music for stringed instruments. These are ambitious works. Their themes are carefully constructed, and they are followed by extended variations, often thrilling in their technical demands; but their beauty and intensity amply reward both the performer and the listener.”
The musicians left to right: – Simon O’Dwyer – – dord íseal (Bronze Age bass trumpet), Bonnie Rideout – Viola, John Meskell – dord íseal (Bronze Age bass trumpet).
Bonnie Rideout is an American fiddler. She is especially known for her traditional Scottish style and fiddle piobaireachd playing. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music. She is a recording artist, her touring career spanning three decades. Bonnie Rideout
John Meskell – John Meskell is a multi-instrumentalist both melody and percussion. He leads the way in Bronze Age trumpet playing technique by being one of the few who beautifully brings out the overtones in these instruments. John Meskell
Simon O’Dwyer – Co-Founder, Ancient Music Ireland. Simon has dedicated his life’s work ( over 40 years) to the study and reconstruction of prehistoric musical instruments. He is in the vanguard of the pioneering research which is taking place into the music of prehistory worldwide. Simon has composed for Bronze Age horns and trumpets, Iron Age trumpets, Early Medieval horns and bodhrán. Simon has recorded several albums.Simon O’Dwyer
Producer John Purser is one of Scotland’s most important cultural ambassadors. His award-winning radio series and book, ‘Scotland’s Music’, is widely regarded as the essential authority on the subject. He is an award-winning composer, playwright and author, as well as a champion of Scottish Gaelic, and continues to bring new passion to the Scottish cultural landscape. Dr. John Purser
Rod Callan – Sound Engineer Rod has recorded both original and reproduction ancient horns and trumpets with Ancient Music Ireland since the research first began over thirty years ago. In this instance he travelled from Penylan Studios in Wales to record the ‘Overtone Live Acoustic’ concert in Galway. His expertise and experience with the instruments perfectly captured the complexity and multi-colours of the sound. Penylan Studios