The Corrie Man
Description
One thing we know about old Scottish folk tunes is they never grow old, and even though we may never know who first wrote the delightful melody, “The Corrie Man,” we can tell from its lilting qualities—with its cheerful and spirited flow—that it brings to us images of the u-shaped valleys that are so familiar to the highlands of Scotland.
We can easily imagine playing this traditional session tune among the rolling hills and farmlands of Scotland where musicians gather in their favorite places to play—near a tree or brook, on a farmhouse porch, in a sitting room or even in the kitchen. Not to mention the casual setting of a pub where friends gather to raise a pint and sit in a big circle with an array of other fiddlers and musicians, playing tunes side-by-side enjoying each other’s company!
With this backdrop our cellist Genevieve dedicated her time to arrange this artful reel for string quartet as part of our debut album, after which she had the wonderful opportunity to visit Scotland to study and perform with Alisdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, who inspired her to be a part of the rich tradition of preserving and performing Scottish folk music.
We hope you will find that same inspiration while playing this piece with your friends and colleagues as much as we do. It’s always a favorite showstopper!
Slàinte Mhath (Cheers)
ATLYS