Alasdair Fraser & Natalie HaasScottish fiddle and cello music of unrivalled beauty, eloquence, and passion.
Master Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser, long regarded as one of Scotland’s premier musical ambassadors, presents the music of his homeland with unsurpassed eloquence, passion and energy. He links bows with vibrant young cellist, Natalie Haas, in an exciting weave of rocking, reeling rhythms, poignant melodies, and exquisite musicianship. The duo has created a buzz among Celtic music lovers at festivals and concerts across the US and Europe, and their debut release, Fire & Grace, was awarded the Best Album of the Year in the Scots Trad Music Awards 2004. Now they're celebrating the release of their second album, In The Moment, which features many new pieces by Alasdair, and a wonderful new composition from Natalie.
Fraser and Haas met when, at age 11, Natalie first attended Alasdair’s Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School in California. She began performing in concert with Fraser just four years later. Natalie has since joined the staff at several of Alasdair’s music courses, including Valley of the Moon School, Glasgow’s Celtic Connections, Sabhal Mor Ostaig on the Isle of Skye, and the Ceilidh Trail School in Cape Breton, Canada. As a recent graduate of the Juilliard School in New York, Natalie regularly performs throughout the US and Europe with Fraser, and is a member of American fiddler Mark O’Connor’s Appalachian Waltz Trio. She also performs on Alasdair’s Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle series of CDs, on Culburnie Records.
Regarding the unusual pairing of instruments, Fraser explains, 'People may be familiar with the gorgeous, melodic cello sound, but they're surprised to learn that the cello used to comprise the rhythm section in Scottish dance bands. Natalie Haas unleashes textures and deep, powerful rhythms that drive fiddle tunes. We can 'duck and dive' around each other -- swap melody and harmony lines, and improvise on each other's rhythmic riffs. She has such a great sense of exploration and excitement for the music; it's a joy to play with her!'
"Fraser, one of the most respected of all exponents of the Scots fiddle, would look long and hard to find a more appropriate cellist as a partner. Haas can switch just as effortlessly as Fraser from a gentle singing tone to driving, dancing melody—all played with that combination of driving bow work and musical sensitivity that we have come to expect from Fraser. A positive joy." (The Scotsman)
"Alasdair Fraser is recognized throughout the world as one of the finest fiddle players Scotland has ever produced. [His] name is synonymous with the vibrant cultural renaissance which is transforming the Scottish musical scene." (Scots Magazine)
"The darker hues of the cello lead the fiddle down new paths; the fire of the fiddle takes the cello to brighter realms." (Dirty Linen)
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