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The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra
PATRON HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL

 

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THE SFO CAPTURES THE SPIRIT OF THIS AGE
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The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra
PATRON HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL

THE SFO is Scotland's foremost traditional fiddle orchestra. It is a musical ambassador for Scottish Music around the world. Audiences come back to hear it again and again.

The inaugural concert was held in Aberdeen Music Hall in 1980, bringing together some of the best players from Fiddlers Rallies across the country into a permanent Orchestra. Since then it has widened its repertoire, drawing inspiration from the pen of its founding Musical Director, the late John Mason MBE.

The Orchestra now plays about 6 concerts per year, usually held in the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, the Usher Hall Edinburgh, Perth Concert Hall, Aberdeen Music Hall, Dumfries, and a major venue in elsewhere in the UK. It has toured to enthusiastic crowds in Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and China. The SFO is proud to have played for Royal events in Buckingham Palace, at Windsor and Balmoral as well as at the Scottish Proms and at the opening of the Scottish Parliament.

The SFO plays exciting fun-filled concerts of music song and dance. Rhythmic Jigs, Reels, Marches and Strathspeys and other pieces in Scottish dance styles are mixed with nostalgic slow airs, songs and tone poems. On stage the orchestra is normally joined by dancers, singers and a pipe band. The SFO's recordings cover the range of these orchestral styles. The delicate slow airs written or arranged by John Mason are a particular speciality, and contrast with the gigantic sound of the full orchestra with pipe band which fills even the largest venues.

Members of the SFO number approximately 120. They come together from all over Scotland, and other parts of the UK, making this a truly National Orchestra. The line up includes 'cellos, basses, accordions, flutes, percussion, a solo piper and piano, as well as first and second fiddles. The normal playing strength is about 80.


The SFO is a registered charity, with aims directed at promoting Scottish Music, and it has also generated over £1m for other charities since 1980. The SFO organises and promotes all of its own concerts in the UK. Almost uniquely the SFO is run by a Board of Management, comprising some 12 members of the Orchestra, who aim to maintain a happy and enthusiastic membership, while continually improving the quality of the music and striving to bring joy and happiness to its listeners. Entry is by audition, and there is normally a waiting list. The members are not paid for their performance, and give freely of their time.

Concert audiences sense and share the enjoyment of the players, and they frequently dance in the aisles! The SFO hopes that you enjoy its recordings.

Links to Concert dates are on the Orchestra's website at www.sfo.org.uk where you can also leave messages for the SFO. Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ScottishFiddleOrchestra

Registered Scottish Charity SC010753

Press Comments:
"It was party time when the fiddlers came to town"
Regina, Canada
"Belfast gripped by Fiddle Fever"
"And even the Queen wanted to dance"
Sunday Post
"A feast of Scottish culture served up with great flair"
York Evening Press
"Rapturous Reception for Scottish Fiddle Orchestra"
Derry/Londonderry
"Scots rock and reel the night away" "A full house...cheered and whistled like teenagers at a rock concert" "This instrumental and vocal ensemble is every expatriate Scot's dream event"
Perth, Australia

The SFO Tour of China 2013

The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra is made up of around 120 of some of the finest players drawn from all parts of Scotland. They perform all over the United Kingdom and have Toured overseas many times in recent years.

The Conductor of the SFO Blair Parham

SFO Founder John Mason MBE, with soloist Yla Steven

With their patron, HRH The Princess Royal, this Orchestra dedicates its performances to innumerable charities and also keeps alive the Scottish fiddling tradition with its huge repertoire.

HRH The Princess Royal

The SFO Tour Australia

The SFO also performed with the three tenors Caledon on 'A Beautiful Scottish Evening' in Princes Street Gardens at the Edinburgh Festival. A recording of this concert is available on DVD and CD

CONCERTS

SFO CONCERTS www.sfo.org.uk
for forthcoming SFO Concerts
Every year there is a wonderful selection of concerts performed by The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra in the UK and Overseas
       

DISCOGRAPHY

DISCOGRAPHY LISTED IN ORDER OF RELEASE please note some releases may no longer be available to purchase  
 

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PRINCE OF THE MISTS
(1987 - 1997 - 2006)

catalogue numbers:
RDVD073 (DVD )
RECD484 (CD)
 

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THE FIDDLER'S PARTY
(1988 - 1995 - 2007)

catalogue numbers:
RDVD076 (DVD)
RECD485 (CD)
 

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FESTIVAL CITY
(1993)

catalogue numbers:
RECD491 (CD)
 

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THE LEGENDARY SCOTTISH FIDDLE ORCHESTRA
(1995 - 2006)

catalogue numbers:
RDVD074 (DVD) 
RECD498(CD)
 

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THE SCOTTISH FIDDLE ORCHESTRA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
(1996 -1997 - 2006)

catalogue numbers:
RECD504 (CD))
 

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THE SCOTTISH FIDDLE ORCHESTRA PLAYS TORONTO
(1997)

catalogue numbers:
RECD521(CD)
 

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CANADA O CANADA
(1998)

catalogue numbers:
RECD520(CD)
 

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THE FIDDLER'S DANCE
A collection of the finest and most entertaining Scottish fiddle music all on one fantastic album.
(2000)

catalogue numbers:
RECD534(CD)
 

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FIDDLERS CONNECTIONS
The exhilarating and dynamic sound of the massed fiddles of Scotland. Three volumes of recordings by the SFO which have never before been released on CD - over 3 hours for only £9.99 (+p&p)
(2001)

catalogue number:
RECD537(3 CD Box Set)
 

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ANNIVERSARY
The 21st birthday concert of The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, played in Aberdeen almost exactly on the anniversary of their very first concert in the Grand Hall. Reflecting the high spirits of this celebrations and the commitment of the Orchestra to keep Scottish music alive and well.
(2001)

catalogue number:
RECD539 (CD)
  THE THREE CITIES
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra

catalogue numbers:
RECD523 (CD)
  THE BEST OF THE SFO
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra
(DVD 2002)

catalogue numbers:
RDVD060 (DVD)
RECD540 (CD)
  SERENITY
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra

catalogue numbers:
RECD546 (CD))
  A Beautiful Scottish Evening
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra

catalogue numbers:
RECD548 (CD))
  On A Beautiful Scottish Evening
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra
(2004)

catalogue numbers:
RDVD 069 (DVD)
  Silver Jubilee
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra

catalogue numbers:
RECD552 (CD)
  Homeward Bound
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra
(DVD 2008)

catalogue numbers:
RDVD077 (DVD)
  Highland Cathedral
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra

catalogue numbers:
RECD555 (CD)
  Burns An' A' That1
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra
(DVD 2009)

catalogue numbers:
RDVD080 (DVD)
 

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SCOTTISH TRANQUILLITY
(2012)

catalogue numbers:
RECD591(CD)
       

OTHER TITLES

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SCOTTISH FIDDLER'S RALLY
(1979-1996)

catalogue numbers:
RECD509(CD)
       
       
       
 
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HOME | SHOP | CATALOGUE | ARTISTS | CATEGORIES | NEWS | MAIL ORDER | ABOUT US | CONTACT | LINKS | SITE MAP

© REL Records all rights reserved
REL Records Ltd. 86 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PY Scotland. Tel: +44 (0)131 668 3366