Shetland fiddle takes to the stage

Thursday 14 January sees the first live performance of a fiddle specially commissioned for the Royal Museum Project.

The fiddle has been created for National Museums Scotland by Shetland fiddle-maker, Ewen Thomson, for display in the Performance and Lives gallery of the redeveloped National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh when it re-opens in 2011. The free performance takes place at the Shetland Museum and Archives, Hays Dock, Lerwick.

The new gallery will explore performance traditions across the world including a focus upon the musical traditions of Scotland. The Scottish fiddle tradition is rich and varied with the skills of its makers, composers and players passed down through the centuries.  Contemporary musicians explore their traditional roots, take inspiration from current musical trends and create their own new sound.

The concert features six young musicians from Anderson High School, all winners of the prestigious Young Fiddler of the Year competition. The free performance provides an opportunity for Shetlanders to hear and enjoy the instrument in their own community before it becomes a permanent attraction at the National Museum.

Susan Lewandowski, Assistant Curator of Ethnomusicology, National Museums Scotland commented,

“We are thrilled to have one of Ewen’s fiddles in the national collections. His work is held in high esteem by some of Scotland’s finest musicians. This commission represents a fantastic opportunity to capture just one strand of a vibrant contemporary music scene which has roots imbedded in a rich and long-reaching tradition.”