Alasdair White is a Scottish folk musician born in 1983 on the

Isle of Lewis The Isle of Lewis ( gd, Eilean Leòdhais) or simply Lewis ( gd, Leòdhas, ) is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. The two parts are frequently referred to as ...

Outer Hebrides The Outer Hebrides () or Western Isles ( gd, Na h-Eileanan Siar or or ("islands of the strangers"); sco, Waster Isles), sometimes known as the Long Isle/Long Island ( gd, An t-Eilean Fada, links=no), is an island chain off the west coast ...

, Scotland. In 2001, when he was only 18 years old, he joined

Battlefield Band Battlefield Band were a Scottish traditional music group. Founded in Glasgow in 1969, they have released over 30 albums and undergone many changes of lineup. As of 2010, none of the original founders remain in the band. The band is noted for t ...

as a virtuoso fiddle player.

Origins

White is a

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...

speaker, and originates from

Tong Tong may refer to: Chinese *Tang Dynasty, a dynasty in Chinese history when transliterated from Cantonese *Tong (organization), a type of social organization found in Chinese immigrant communities *''tong'', pronunciation of several Chinese char ...

on the

one of Scotland's

islands, a geographical area where the Gaelic language and culture are of great importance to its native inhabitants; it is this, combined with general Scottish culture that influences White's playing style. White's chief instrument is the

fiddle A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including classical music. Although in many cases violins and fiddles are essentially synonymous, th ...

, which he generally plays in West-Highland and North-West styles; these styles being heavily derived from a culture with a rich piping tradition. He also plays the whistle,

banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashi ...

, bouzouki,

mandolin A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...

, Highland and Small pipes, 'and probably anything else he can lay his hands on!'

Early career

White's musical career started while still at school playing with the Face the West, releasing their first CD, ''Edge of Reason'', while still at school. The band continued on when White left to join Battlefield Band and have just released their second album. White will be appearing with Face the West at the Hebridean Celtic Festival in July 2009 for a Face the West and Friends gig on the main stage.

Battlefield Band

White joined Battlefield Band in September 2001 and appeared for the first time on a Battlefield Band album on ''

Time and Tide Time and Tide (usually derived from the proverb ''Time and tide wait for no man'') may refer to: Music Albums * ''Time and Tide'' (Greenslade album), 1975 * ''Time and Tide'' (Basia album), 1987 * ''Time and Tide'' (Battlefield Band album), ...

'' (2002). Since then, he appeared on all Battlefield Band subsequent (studio) albums: ''

Out for the Night ''Out for the Night'', an album by The Battlefield Band, was released in 2004 on the Temple Records label. Track listing # "Ms. Dynamite of Benbecula/The Alewife T/Little Cascade/Culder's Rant"Culder's Rant" is also called "Sud a'mhisg air fea ...

'' (2004), ''

The Road of Tears ''The Road of Tears'', an album by The Battlefield Band Battlefield Band were a Scottish traditional music group. Founded in Glasgow in 1969, they have released over 30 albums and undergone many changes of lineup. As of 2010, none of the ori ...

'' (2006), ''Dookin'' (2007), ''Zama Zama... Try Your Luck'' (2009), '' Line-up'' (2011), '' Room Enough For All'' (2013) and their latest album to date '' Beg & Borrow'' (2015).

Solo career

Aside from Battlefield Band, White released a solo album in 2006 entitled ''An Clár Geal'' (''The White Album''). This album features thirteen tracks, traditional Scottish arrangements as well as White's own work. On this album, White worked with musicians Ewen McPherson (Banjo/Guitar/Mandolin/Tromb), Aaron Jones (10-string bouzouki/Bass), Iain Copeland (Percussion), Russel Hunter (Piano), Alison Kinnaird (Scottish Harp) and fellow Battlefield Band member Mike Katz (Highland Pipes/Scottish Small Pipes in keys C and A). In early 2008, ''An Clàr Geal'' won in The 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for Best Traditional World Album.Independent Music Awards - 7th Annual Winners
White is currently touring the US with the talented Scottish group Dàimh, temporarily replacing their regular fiddler, Gabe McVarish who has started a micro-brewery in Scotland and cannot currently tour outside the country.

Discography

*FTW001 Face the West - ''Edge of Reason'' *COMD2086 Christine Primrose - ''Gun Sireadh, Gun Iarraidh'' *COMD2089 Pat Kilbride - ''Nightingale Lane'' *COMD2093 Various Artists - ''The Portraits and the Music'' *COMD2090 Battlefield Band - ''Time & Tide'' *COMD2094 Battlefield Band - ''Out For The Night'' *COMD2095 Mike Katz - ''A Month of Sundays'' *COMD2096 Alison Kinnaird - ''The Silver String'' *COMD2098 Battlefield Band - ''The Road of Tears'' *COMD2099 Alasdair White - ''An Clàr Geal'' *COMD2100 Battlefield Band - ''Dookin *COMD2101 Mike Whellans ''Fired-Up & Ready'' *FTW002 Face The West - ''The Wishing Stone'' D*Niall Kirkpatrick Ceilidh Band - ''The Iona Connection'' (2005) *Niall Kirkpatrick Ceilidh Band - ''West Coast Swing'' (2007) *WSFTW003 Face The West - "The Young Fear Nothing" (2012)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:White, Alasdair 1983 births Living people People from the Isle of Lewis Scottish fiddlers British male violinists Scottish folk musicians Independent Music Awards winners Scottish Gaelic singers Battlefield Band members 21st-century violinists 21st-century British male musicians