One of the most exciting musics of Scandinavia is the sound of the Hardanger Fiddle with its own tradition of searing counterpoint and micro-tonal tunings. The Buen family have, for generations, been acknowledged as the finest exponents of the art and, in particular, Knut Buen is considered as being the world's best as was recently confirmed by the highest honour being conferred on him by the King of Norway. This album contains 23 tracks all played by Knut and which explore the various composition and performance styles of Hardanger Fiddle playing. The Fiddle's additional sympathetic strings (like a sitar) add resonance to the swirling melodies and rhythmic drones of the compositions and, with the micro-tonal notes, make this traditional Scandinavian music sound more Eastern than would be expected. Not an album to meditate to!!

Category: Traditional Instrumental For more information please click on the disc cover or catalogue number

	CD-SAR 28 John Playford's Popular Tunes The Broadside Band The Broadside Band play popular tunes and dances from John Playford's famous 17th century publications with recorders, regal, baroque violin, viols, hurdy-gurdy, lute, mandore and cittern.
	CD-SDL 115 The One Eyed Fiddler Ben Van Weede, fiddle, viola, whistles, Paul Wilson, voice, fiddle, Appalachian dulcimer, banjo, guitar, accordion Paul Wilson and Ben van Weede perform folk songs and music of Southern England. Including items from the Hammond and Gardiner collection and the tune-books of Thomas Hardy Folk songs and music of Southern England Including items from the Hammond and Gardiner collection and the tune-books of Thomas Hardy.
	CD-SDL 335 Music For the Hammered Dulcimer Virtuoso hammered dulcimer playing from Jim Couza with celtic harp, fiddle, melodeon.
	CD-SDL 343 On Kielder Side Northumbrian small pipes and fiddle Kathryn Tickell plays the Northumbrian small-pipes (the traditional northern English bagpipe) and fiddle. Jigs, reels and airs from one of the finest small-pipe players in the country.
	CD-SDL 345 The Perfect Triangle Richard Butler, Northumbrian small pipes
	CD-SDL 348 The Lilting Banshee Eileen Monger, Celtic Harp, Mike Billinge, Bodhran, Jenny McLeod, Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, George Monger, Hammer Dulcimer A captivating selection of traditional airs and dances for Celtic Harp with Bodhran, Uilleann Pipes, Whistles and Hammer Dulcimer.
	CD-SDL 351 Portrait Of A Concertina Dave Townsend, English Concertina, Nick Hooper, Guitar The concertina is a very versatile instrument and virtuoso English concertina player Dave Townsend is joined on a number of tracks by Spanish guitarist Nick Hooper in a selection from Bach to 'standards' as well as a good measure of folk tunes that would be the concertina's usual fare.
	CD-SDL 360 Under The Greenwood Tree The Mellstock Band and Choir The Mellstock Band and Choir perform the dance music and carols associated with Thomas Hardy , his family and his novels from Hardy family and Puddletown manuscripts. A rare chance to hear the serpent and the high C clarinet both so typical and evocative of 19th C English village 'quires' and now totally obsolete except in recreations such as these.
	CD-SDL 364 Music From The Time Of Richard III The York Waits The York Waits recreate the sound of the more public, outdoor music of mediaeval times with their ensemble of ancient cornett, shawms, crumhorns, hurdy-gurdy, sackbut, bagpipes, recorders, lute, slide trumpet and harp. Spirited instrumental performances of the popular music of mediaeval England, the Low Countries, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
	CD-SDL 372 Farewell To Lough Neaghe Bonnie Shaljean, harp and clarsachs Traditional harp music of Britain & Ireland from Bonnie Shaljean
	CD-SDL 373 Music From The Time Of The Spanish Armada The York Waits The York Waits present a celebration of Elizabethan popular music including pieces associated with the Armada.
	CD-SDL 374 Music Of The Hurdy-Gurdy Nigel Eaton, hurdy-gurdy Britain's top player, Nigel Eaton, with harpsichord, bagpipes, etc. Classical, traditional and modern pieces for this fascinating instrument.
	CD-SDL 393 English Country Dances The Broadside Band The Broadside Band recreate the excitement and colour of the country dance of yesteryear with spirited performances of these quintessentially English tunes gleaned from the 17th century publications of John Playford. Suitable for listening or dancing Playford style.
	CD-SDL 407 Songs of the Travelling People Romany songs, step-dancing, camp-fire, bothy singers , mouth music and a wealth of songs from the gypsy traditions of England, Ireland & Scotland — full texts and glossary.
	CD-SDL 409 Songs & Dances from Shakespeare Deborah Roberts, soprano, John Potter, tenor Well-known early music singers Deborah Roberts (soprano) & John Potter (tenor) sing the original or earliest known versions of the songs associated with Shakespeare's plays. The Broadside Band accompany them on instruments of the period and play some of the dances of the plays. Fascinating listening as well as an ideal historical source for stage productions.
	CD-SDL 410 Songs of Thomas Hardy’s Wessex The Mellstock Band and Singers What were the songs so often mentioned in Hardy's novels? The Mellstock Band and Singers reveal all with these evocative songs.
	CD-SDL 412 Harp Music of Wales (Cerddoriaeth Telyn Cymru) The glorious sound of the Welsh triple harp in the hands of Robin Huw Bowen, the world's leading exponent. Where beautiful slow airs are contrasted with lively dances.
	CD-SDL 416 Bagpipes of Britain & Ireland Classic recordings made by folklorist Peter Kennedy in the 1950s/early 60s of legendary players of the three types of British and Irish pipes with an unbroken tradition.
	CD-SDL 417 A Celtic Christmas Song and dance, both exuberant and reflective, to celebrate Christmas from the Celtic traditions of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Britanny and Cornwall with the typical harps, bagpipes and other instruments of each area. Most of the songs are in the original gaelic tongues (with translations in the notes). The singers include Colin MacAllister (Ireland), Arthur Cormack (Scotland), Emma Christian (Isle of Man), Julie Murphy (Wales) and Dave Townsend.
	CD-SDL 420 Traditional Dance Music of Ireland Some of Ireland's finest fiddle and accordion players are featured on this album of historic solo and ceilidh band tracks. Recorded by Peter Kennedy in the 1960s.
	CD-SDL 425 English Customs and Traditions Many of these customs go back to the dawn of time and their meaning is often mysterious but somehow are as relevant today and attract a great deal of interest
	CD-SDL 426 Traditional Songs & Dances of Sardinia Sardinia has a rich variety of traditional music and this album includes some of the marvellous natural harmony singing by children, plus folk songs and country dances, as well as a rare chance to hear the launedda — a double pipe instrument unique to Sardinia. It was beautifully recorded by Fr Damian Webb in 1962 when the villages he visited had very little contact with the wider world. Tracks include pastoral sounds, male quartet, children of Nuoro and Lotzorai, Nuoro folk dance group with accordion, Dorgali folk song group, Folk dance music on launedda and jew's harp.
	CD-SDL 430 The Celtic Harp Robin Huw Bowen, Bonnie Shaljean, Eileen Monger Ancient airs and dances from the Celtic traditions of Scotland, Ireland and Wales played on Welsh triple harp, clarsach (Celtic harp), and pedal harp in solos and ensembles.
	CD-SDL 431 Cry You Mountains, Cry You Fields A wide selection of rarely heard traditional songs & instrumental music from S.E. Albania
	CD-SDL 432 Hardanger Fiddle Music of Norway Knut Buen, Hardanger Fiddle One of the most exciting musics of Scandinavia is the sound of the Hardanger Fiddle with its own tradition of searing counterpoint and micro-tonal tunings. The Buen family have, for generations, been acknowledged as the finest exponents of the art and, in particular, Knut Buen is considered as being the world's best as was recently confirmed by the highest honour being conferred on him by the King of Norway. This album contains 23 tracks all played by Knut and which explore the various composition and performance styles of Hardanger Fiddle playing. The Fiddle's additional sympathetic strings (like a sitar) add resonance to the swirling melodies and rhythmic drones of the compositions and, with the micro-tonal notes, make this traditional Scandinavian music sound more Eastern than would be expected. Not an album to meditate to!!