The Gregg Fiddle Returns to New York
An 18th-century fiddle thought to be played by Robert Burns will return to New York City in April thanks to a special partnership between Hoolie in the Hydro, the National Trust for Scotland, and NTSUSA.
A Historic Journey
The Gregg fiddle, which was reportedly played by Burns’ dance teacher William Gregg more than 250 years ago, was recently played by one of Scotland’s most accomplished fiddlers at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow for an audience of more than 10,000. It next makes its way to Carnegie Hall for NYC Tartan Week.
The historic, intricately decorated instrument usually is kept safely on display in the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway, where the Bard was born. Ayrshire fiddle players, Alistair McCulloch (Royal Conservatoire Scotland) and David Moore (Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra) have been the only people with permission to play it – up until now.
A Moment in Music History
History was made when Lochaber multi-instrumentalist Ewen Henderson played the Gregg fiddle in front of thousands at Hoolie in the Hydro, Scotland’s biggest night of traditional music, earlier this month. Celebrated fiddle player and composer Duncan Chisholm will take up the special instrument at Carnegie Hall for Hoolie in New York in April 2025.
Ahead of these special performances, Ewen and Duncan travelled to the museum in Alloway to learn the intricacies of the precious instrument from the National Trust for Scotland’s curatorial team.
Preserving a Cultural Icon
Constructed around 1750, the fiddle was thought to have been played at the Bachelor’s Club in Tarbolton where Burns was learning dance steps and was named among the 25 Objects That Shaped Scotland’s History by VisitScotland. The Gregg fiddle is only played a handful of times each year and has never been played in front of audiences of this size and in arenas of this scale before.
Now in its third year, Hoolie in the Hydro has quickly become a world-renowned event and recently commemorated 100 years of Scottish music with Hoolie 100 on December 7. The beloved cultural extravaganza is crossing the Atlantic for a new event in the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of NYC Tartan Week on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
A Shared Mission
Spearheaded by Scottish musician and broadcaster Gary Innes, the events seek to preserve and promote Scotland’s rich cultural heritage, making the National Trust for Scotland and The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA natural event partners.
The Trust is Hoolie 100’s official charity partner and the collaboration, which has led to these special performances of the Gregg fiddle, reflects a shared commitment to honoring Scotland’s musical history while celebrating the incredible talent that defines its modern music scene.
The timing of this partnership is especially fitting: Hoolie in the Hydro is celebrating 100 years of traditional music as the Trust looks forward to its upcoming centenary, and while Hoolie in NYC launches, NTSUSA will be celebrating its 25th anniversary.
For full article, click this link: https://ntsusa.org/the-gregg-fiddle-returns-to-new-york/(Article courtesy of NTSUSA)