Willie Hunter
Encyclopedia
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 with the Hamefarers Dance Band, the Yell Band, and the Cullivoe Band. His last album, Willie's Last Session, was recorded just eleven days before his death from cancer on January 27, 1994.
A collection of Hunter's tunes was published in 1998 by his widow, Pat. Among his best known compositions are the slow air
Leaving Lerwick Harbour, the reel
The Cape Breton Visit To Shetland, and the strathspey
Willie Hunter's Compliments to Dan R. MacDonald.
Scottish fiddling
Scottish fiddling, even to many an untrained ear, can be distinguished from other Celtic and folk fiddling styles by its particular precision of execution and energy in the delivery. The style has a very large repertoire consisting of a great variation of rhythms and key signatures, arguably more...
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
Lerwick
Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland...
and Geoffrey di Mercado, who provided classical violin training. Hunter played with the Hamefarers Dance Band, the Yell Band, and the Cullivoe Band. His last album, Willie's Last Session, was recorded just eleven days before his death from cancer on January 27, 1994.
A collection of Hunter's tunes was published in 1998 by his widow, Pat. Among his best known compositions are the slow air
Air (music)
Air , a variant of the musical song form, is the name of various song-like vocal or instrumental compositions.-English lute ayres:...
Leaving Lerwick Harbour, the reel
Reel (dance)
The reel is a folk dance type as well as the accompanying dance tune type. In Scottish country dancing, the reel is one of the four traditional dances, the others being the jig, the strathspey and the waltz, and is also the name of a dance figure ....
The Cape Breton Visit To Shetland, and the strathspey
Strathspey (dance)
A strathspey is a type of dance tune in 4/4 time. It is similar to a hornpipe but slower and more stately, and contains many dot-cut 'snaps'. A so-called Scotch snap is a short note before a dotted note, which in traditional playing is generally exaggerated rhythmically for musical expression...
Willie Hunter's Compliments to Dan R. MacDonald.
Discography
- Willie Hunter (1982)
- Leaving Lerwick Harbour (with Violet Tulloch, 1994)
- The Willie Hunter Sessions (with Violet Tulloch, 1997)
- Willie's Last Session (with The Cullivoe Band, 1999)