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Alastair Savage and Alice Allen

Scots Fiddle Old and New

Alastair Savage - violin
Alice Allen - cello

Music at St Cyprian’s favourite violin and cello duo will present a varied programme of traditional music. This will include Scottish songs by Neil Gow and Robert Burns with plenty of variety between old and new, and also pay homage to the folk music of Ireland and America.


17 February 2024


AlastairSavage

Alastair Savage - violin
Alastair Savage is originally from Ayrshire and has performed traditional and classical music throughout his life. He was winner of the ‘Land O’ Burns’ Scots fiddle competition in his youth and studied classical violin at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire) and thereafter at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has been a member of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra since 1997 with whom he has toured Japan, China, USA, South America and throughout Europe as well as appearing as traditional fiddle soloist on BBC Radio 3, Radio Scotland and on national radio in the USA.

He has recorded six solo albums featuring a contrast of celebrated Scots fiddle repertoire from centuries past alongside his own unique compositions. As a composer his music has been used by BBC Alba for documentary purposes and in 2021 he was shortlisted for a Scottish Award In New Music.

As a session musician he has worked with many top artists crossing different musical genres, including Belle and Sebastian, Karen Matheson, Justin Currie and Ricky Ross.

Other folk music projects include working with the Grit Orchestra and the legendary Scottish band ‘The Whistlebinkies.

www.alastairsavage.co.uk      @Scotsfiddler

Alice Allen - cello
Alice Allen, originally from Banchory and one of the country’s leading cellists. She studied traditional cello with renowned instrumentalist Natalie Haas and has performed alongside Robyn Stapleton, Patsy Reid, Shona Aitken, John Goldie, Julie Fowlis and Kris Drever to name but a few.

Alice recently completed an extensive study involving historic cello accompaniment for the music of James Scott Skinner and others and has been one of Alastair Savage’s main collaborators over the past decade, appearing alongside him at concert performances throughout the country.

Formerly young artist in residence with the Scottish Ensemble, Alice has worked with many of the country’s leading classical performing groups including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and her most recent recording projects involve her celebrated duo Gaia working alongside violin player Katrina Lee.

www.aliceallencello.com     @AliceAllenCello

AlastairSavage

‘a must for aficionados, a primer for anyone with a notional interest in Scottish traditional music’
Keith Bruce - The Herald

‘spectacular in simplicity, scope and delivery’
Tim Carroll - Folkwords

‘There is a breathtaking effortlessness to Savage’s musical art: technical and intricate without ever overshadowing the music itself’
Su O’Brien - Bright Young Folk

‘Alastair Savage is a master of the instrument, both in theory and practice’
Ellie Willis - Edinburgh Three Weeks)

‘panache, grace and affection’
Jim Gilchrist - The Scotsman