The Forty Fiddlers
Encyclopedia
The Forty Fiddlers, or Da Forty Fiddlers, was a group of Shetland musicians. The group was formed by Dr. Tom Anderson
MBE in the late 1950s when he realised that there was a danger of the traditional style of Shetland fiddle music dying out.
He brought together the best local fiddlers, initially with the idea that they should share traditional tunes, but soon realised that there was potential to use this gathering of musical genius to promote the music in a broader sense by playing at public events.
One of the first major outings for this newly formed group was the Hamefarin in 1960. Soon they were playing at venues all across Shetland, and indeed further afield.
The Fiddlers stayed together until the late 1970s, by which time traditional Shetland fiddle music was so much to the fore in the local culture, that there was little chance of it dying out.
The legacy of The Forty Fiddlers, and that of Tom Anderson, lives on to this day, with new fiddle talent appearing on the local music scene regularly.
Following the demise of The Forty Fiddlers, Tom formed Shetland's Young Heritage
, in 1981, a group of young fiddlers which included talent such as Catriona MacDonald
.
Tom Anderson (fiddler)
Dr. Tom Anderson MBE, was a renowned Shetland fiddler and teacher. He was affectionately known to his peers as "Muckle Tammie" .Dr...
MBE in the late 1950s when he realised that there was a danger of the traditional style of Shetland fiddle music dying out.
He brought together the best local fiddlers, initially with the idea that they should share traditional tunes, but soon realised that there was potential to use this gathering of musical genius to promote the music in a broader sense by playing at public events.
One of the first major outings for this newly formed group was the Hamefarin in 1960. Soon they were playing at venues all across Shetland, and indeed further afield.
The Fiddlers stayed together until the late 1970s, by which time traditional Shetland fiddle music was so much to the fore in the local culture, that there was little chance of it dying out.
The legacy of The Forty Fiddlers, and that of Tom Anderson, lives on to this day, with new fiddle talent appearing on the local music scene regularly.
Following the demise of The Forty Fiddlers, Tom formed Shetland's Young Heritage
Shetland's Young Heritage
Heritage Fiddlers is a group of Shetland fiddle players who originally formed in 1981 under the guidance of the late Dr Tom Anderson MBE, who put the group together from the young pupils that he tutored. The group was originally called Tammy's Peerie Angels, then Shetland's Young Heritage...
, in 1981, a group of young fiddlers which included talent such as Catriona MacDonald
Catriona MacDonald
Catriona McDonald is a musician and teacher from Shetland and is considered to be one of the world's leading traditional fiddle players.- Background :...
.