Chris Stout
Encyclopedia
Chris Stout is a fiddle
/violin
player from Shetland, now based in Glasgow
. Stout grew up in Fair Isle
, a small Shetland island, and lived there until 8 years of age before moving to Sandwick
on the Shetland mainland, then on to Glasgow in the 1990s.
Stout has studied under prominent Shetland fiddlers including Willie Hunter
and Arthur Scott Robertson
and is adept at a variety of violin styles, drawing on a range of influences from folk
, jazz
, electronica
and classical
.
In 1990 he won both the Shetland "Young Fiddler of the Year
" competition for his skills as a traditional fiddle player and the Shetland "Young Musician of the Year" competition for his classical violin abilities.
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
/violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
player from Shetland, now based in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. Stout grew up in Fair Isle
Fair Isle
Fair Isle is an island in northern Scotland, lying around halfway between mainland Shetland and the Orkney islands. It is famous for its bird observatory and a traditional style of knitting.-Geography:...
, a small Shetland island, and lived there until 8 years of age before moving to Sandwick
Sandwick, Shetland
Sandwick is a township in the Shetland Islands, situated 13 miles south of Lerwick in the South Mainland. It comprises a number of distinct settlements in very close proximity to each other, each remaining distinct through being separated by agricultural land...
on the Shetland mainland, then on to Glasgow in the 1990s.
Stout has studied under prominent Shetland fiddlers including Willie Hunter
Willie Hunter
Willie Hunter was a Scottish folk fiddler born in Shetland who played an important part in the rejuvenation of the Shetland fiddling traditions. He began playing at age four, and was taught by Gideon Stove of Lerwick and Geoffrey di Mercado, who provided classical violin training. Hunter played...
and Arthur Scott Robertson
Arthur Scott Robertson
Arthur Scott Robertson was a fiddle player from Shetland. He was most recognized as "Scotland's Champion Fiddler".-Life:...
and is adept at a variety of violin styles, drawing on a range of influences from folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
and classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
.
In 1990 he won both the Shetland "Young Fiddler of the Year
Young Fiddler of the Year
Shetland's Young Fiddler of the Year is an annual competition held over two days organised by the Shetland Folk Society.It is open to fiddle players 16 or under from Shetland with around 80 entrants each year...
" competition for his skills as a traditional fiddle player and the Shetland "Young Musician of the Year" competition for his classical violin abilities.
Education
- Fair IsleFair IsleFair Isle is an island in northern Scotland, lying around halfway between mainland Shetland and the Orkney islands. It is famous for its bird observatory and a traditional style of knitting.-Geography:...
primary school, Shetland - Dunrossness Primary, Shetland
- SandwickSandwick, ShetlandSandwick is a township in the Shetland Islands, situated 13 miles south of Lerwick in the South Mainland. It comprises a number of distinct settlements in very close proximity to each other, each remaining distinct through being separated by agricultural land...
school, Shetland - Anderson High SchoolAnderson High School (Shetland)The Anderson High School is a comprehensive secondary school in Lerwick, Shetland.The A.H.S. is the largest school in Shetland with about 752 pupils from age 11 to 18....
, Shetland - Douglas AcademyDouglas AcademyDouglas Academy is a secondary school in Milngavie in the outskirts of Glasgow. In 2001, Douglas Academy was Scotland's top performing state school with 31% of students gaining five or more highers....
music school, GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... - Royal Scottish Academy of Music and DramaRoyal Scottish Academy of Music and DramaThe Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
(RSAMD), Glasgow (attained a degree in classical violin) - University of StrathclydeUniversity of StrathclydeThe University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
, GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
(attained a Masters Degree in electro-acoustic music)
Groups and collaborations
- Fiddlers' BidFiddlers' BidFiddlers' Bid are a Shetland based instrumental group known for playing contemporary arrangements of traditional Shetland fiddle tunes. The seven piece line-up consists of four fiddles, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and piano/Clàrsach....
– Around the World (1994)
- Fiddlers' Bid – Hamnataing (1998)
- DJ Trevor Reily – Down with the Underground, and mix by Judge JulesJudge JulesJudge Jules is a British dance music DJ and producer, known for his DJ activities and popular radio show which achieved global success.-Education:...
(1998)
- Various – Big Sky (1999)
- Finlay MacDonaldFinlay MacDonald (musician)Finlay MacDonald is a keyboardist, singer-songwriter, and former member of Scottish alternative rock bands Teenage Fanclub and BMX Bandits.He has been employed as a music industry lecturer at Reid Kerr College in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. He is currently lead singer and guitarist for Lenzie...
– Finlay MacDonald (2000)
- The Clydesiders – Crossing the Borders (2000)
- Keltic Electrik (2000)
- Duncan McCrone – Just a Glasgow Boy (2001)
- Dean Owens – "Anything" (CD single) (2001)
- Fiddlers' Bid – Da Farder den Da Welcomer (2002)
- Annie WhiteheadAnnie WhiteheadAnnie Whitehead is an English jazz trombone player.-Career:Annie learned trombone at school; at 14 she was already busy playing with brass bands, local dance groups and the Manchester Youth Jazz Orchestra and began her professional career at sixteen. Among her initial influences were Miles Davis,...
and Alistair Anderson – Northern Lights (2002)
- Catriona McKay – Catriona McKay (2002)
- Finlay MacDonald Band – Pressed for Time (2003)
- Salsa CelticaSalsa CelticaSalsa Celtica are a Scottish musical group famed for playing a form of music that is a fusion of salsa music with traditional Scottish instruments, including elements of folk and jazz.-History:...
– El Agua De La Vida (2003)
- Kevin Mackenzie's Vital Signs – Another New Horizon (2004)
- Blair Douglas – Angles from the Ashes (2004)
- Joseph Malik – Aquarius Songs (2004)
- Yvonne Lyon – Fearless (2005)
- Duncan McCrone – All You Need to Know (2005)
- The Unusual Suspects – Live in Scotland (2005)
- Catriona McKay and Chris Stout – Laebrack (2005)
- Fiddlers' Bid – Naked and Bare (2005)
- Christianne Neves – Duas Madrugadas (2005)
- Salsa Celtica – El Camino (2006)
- Finlay MacDonald Band – Re-Echo (2007)
- Yvonne Lyon – A Thousand Questions Why (2007)
- Lise Sinclair – Ivver Enchantin Wis (2007)
- The Macdonald Bros (2007)
- Fiddlers' Bid – All Dressed in Yellow (2009)
As a producer
- Tommy O'Sullivan – Songs Ablaze (2006)
- Lauren MacColl – When Leaves Fall (2007)
External links
- http://www.chrisstout.co.uk
- http://www.fiddlersbid.com
- http://www.shetland-music.com/prominent_artists/artistes/christopher_stout/