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Traditional & Contemporary Shetland Music

Learn some fantastic tunes from the islands to the far North

The Traditional & Contemporary Shetland Music course is for those players wishing to expand their repertoire with tunes unique to the Shetland Isles. The course is pitched at Intermediate and slightly above level of ability.

Learn the history of the tunes, before the different types of bowing and embellishments often found in Shetland music.

Fiddle
Kevin Henderson

Your Tutor - Kevin Henderson

Kevin Henderson is regarded as one of Shetlands finest fiddle players and is in hot demand playing with some of the best known groups and musicians in the folk music scene. He is a founding member of award winning Shetland powerhouse, Fiddlers’ Bid, has been a member of folk music legends, Boys of the Lough, since 2001, a member of Scottish super group Session A9 since 2004 and co-founded the Nordic Fiddlers Bloc in 2009.

Lessons in the Course

Click on a lesson to be taken to it (you must be a subscriber)

Kevin Henderson - Fiddle
Fiddle

Lesson 1. Da Caald Nights O Winter

Kevin begins his course of Shetland tunes by looking at a traditional piece from the island of Whalsay, called “Da Caald Nights O Winter”.   This Post is only available to subscribed

ornamental violin
Fiddle

Lesson 2. Da Fields O Foula

The next tune in Kevin’s course on Contemporary and Traditional Music from Shetland is a traditional jig called “Da Fields O Foula”.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

Fiddle
Fiddle

Lesson 3. Da Aith Rant

Kevin moves on to one of the few jigs in the Shetland repertoire, reputedly written by the Trows, the little people who live underground…   This Post is only available to subscribed

fiddle on side
Fiddle

Lesson 4. Da Bixter Rant

Kevin turns his attention to a great traditional reel in G Major called “Da Bixter Rant”, no doubt named after a festive gathering in the village of Bixter!   This Post is

Artistic Fiddle
Fiddle

Lesson 5. Da Silver Bow

Kevin teaches what is called a “Listening Tune” in Shetland – a tune from the playing of the late, great Peter Fraser.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

violin and bow
Fiddle

Lesson 6. Da Scallowa Lasses

Kevin moves on to look at his version of a great traditional reel from Shetland called Da Scallowa Lasses.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

Kevin Henderson
Fiddle

Lesson 7. Heave and Go

Kevin next looks at a 2/4 March in G Major called Heave and Go.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

violin scroll on music
Fiddle

Lesson 8. Da Back Reel

The next piece is a brilliant reel from Shetland in D Major, simply called Da Back Reel.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

fiddle in case
Fiddle

Lesson 9. Da Westside Brides March

Kevin next focuses his attention on a Bridal March from the West side of Shetland he learnt from the playing of Peter Fraser.   This Post is only available to subscribed members.

Violin
Fiddle

Lesson 10. Da Smugglers

Kevin completes his series with a tune from the West of Shetland called Da Smugglers.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

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