Walker
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Many, many Hohner Gola accordions are played in the Scottish traditional music. I used to have one myself a few years ago. It had two additional musette reed blocks made specially for it, so that the accordion could function as a true musette instrument or as a double octave accordion. The popularity of the Gola in Scottish music is partly down to the unparalleled handling characteristics and lightning-fast keyboard. However, the Gola also allows a remarkably rich musette to be achieved and wonderful punchy basses (6 voice bass) - something with a real bite and power.
One of my favourite Scottish traditional forms is the March, Strathspey & Reel set. I really enjoy playing them and they are an art form in my opinion. There are Traditional MSRs (March, Strathspey & Reels written specifically for the fiddle or accordion) and there are Traditional Pipe MSRs.
I enjoy MSRs played on fiddle, accordion or the bagpipes. The style of the Pipe variant is really different to a fiddle or accordion MSR. Perhaps more restrained and wonderfully disciplined, due to the more compact range of notes, but subtly brilliant due to the inimitable grace notes and legato sound generated by the instrument. The fiddle tradition built upon the genius of Skinner, Marshall and Gow etc. gives some marvellous tunes - many of which are remarkably technical, such as the march, King Robert The Bruce etc..
However, I would say the MSR written or arranged for accordion has its own character. The accordion MSR is often very complex, more so than the classic fiddle MSRs. However, the accordionists will often play fiddle tunes too (in a Traditional set) and will also attempt to emulate the traditional Pipe MSR (in a Pipe set) - it is a real skill to capture the nature of the Pipes on accordion.
Here's a set of Traditional MSRs on accordion, by the terrific box player Liam Stewart.One of my favourite Scottish traditional forms is the March, Strathspey & Reel set. I really enjoy playing them and they are an art form in my opinion. There are Traditional MSRs (March, Strathspey & Reels written specifically for the fiddle or accordion) and there are Traditional Pipe MSRs.
I enjoy MSRs played on fiddle, accordion or the bagpipes. The style of the Pipe variant is really different to a fiddle or accordion MSR. Perhaps more restrained and wonderfully disciplined, due to the more compact range of notes, but subtly brilliant due to the inimitable grace notes and legato sound generated by the instrument. The fiddle tradition built upon the genius of Skinner, Marshall and Gow etc. gives some marvellous tunes - many of which are remarkably technical, such as the march, King Robert The Bruce etc..
However, I would say the MSR written or arranged for accordion has its own character. The accordion MSR is often very complex, more so than the classic fiddle MSRs. However, the accordionists will often play fiddle tunes too (in a Traditional set) and will also attempt to emulate the traditional Pipe MSR (in a Pipe set) - it is a real skill to capture the nature of the Pipes on accordion.
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