Video above: Arthur Coates ripping Le Reel Du Pendu (Hangman’s Reel).
Our recent trip to Scotland and Shetland had distinct chapters. Getting to Scotland, hanging in Edinburgh, the ride to Aberdeen, the ferry to Shetland, etc. Among the most memorable experiences though was a brief visit to see Arthur Coates.
While we were in Shetland Patt kept telling me she was messaging back and forth with Arthur and that he would be pleased to entertain us at the family farm outside Aberdeen. When we returned from Shetland we took a little train ride out into the Aberdeenshire countryside to meet up with him.
Arthur literally burst into our consciousness during 2020 when artists of all stripes were putting themselves out to the world over social media. Arthur was just a teen at the time, but his musicianship and ebuliant manner drew many followers including Patt and me.
We were doing our several times per week “Big Fiddle Show” and were soliciting folks from all over the fiddling world to be video guests. Arthur was happy to oblige. You can here his excellent submission at 10:53.
At the time we were first started hearing him Arthur was doing a deep dive into Quebecois and Canadian music. During our visit we were happy to play several medleys of Canadian tunes. His mother Sarah, a fine fiddler in her own right recorded this video. The tunes are Blindman’s Reel & Woodchopper’s Breakdown, then Sarah puts down the phone so she can join in on Big John McNeil.
Of course it follows that Arthur is also versed in Scottish and Shetland music, having grown up with it. He and Sarah performed this popular set of Shetland reels for us. These are at the top of my “to-learn” list for the winter. The tunes are Jack Broke da Prison Door, Donald Blue, Sleep Soond Ida Mornin’, Lasses Trust in Providence and Bonnie Isle o’Whalsay each one time through. A stellar job here by Patt playing the accompaniment off-the-cuff.
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Near to where we enjoyed this fine music is an ancient Pictish standing stone that is estimated at 1500 years old. Here we are posing with the great rock. It even has it’s own webpage! https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/picardy-symbol-stone/
We’ve been enjoying these two CDs of Arthur’s since our return home. We’re most fond of “Music for Cows” wherein Arthur teams up with Kerran Cotterel. You can preview and purchase the download on Bandcamp.
My measure of a good fiddle recording is you can put it on the background while you’re doing other things and your repeatedly interrupted to remark, “Damn that’s good!”. Both of these pass the test.
You can find out more about Arthur and his collaborations with Kerren at the following places on the web:
https://www.facebook.com/ArthurandKerran
https://arthurcoates1.bandcamp.com/
If he comes to US to play any time soon we’ll definitely look for him here in the Midwest and I’ll be the first to let you know.
I’ve started back with Zoom lessons now that we’re traveling a little less. A place has been reserved especially for you in Possum’s Zoom Room. Give a shout to bigfiddleshow@gmail.com and let’s get together.
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