Hello,
We’re excited to have an offering for this month’s exclusive from Sheffield based artist Rowan Piggott. Get ready to be immersed in gorgeous five-string fiddle music, we’re sure you’ll agree, beautiful stuff!
ROWAN PIGGOTT - THE SLOW STREAM
1 Cailín a Chúil Chrävuig / Lord Mayo
2 The Banks of Red Roses
3 Strop The Razor
4 Cuaichín Ghleann Néifin
Leaning into the darker dronal qualities of his signature five-string fiddle and backed with a foot-powered shruti, this is a continuation of a theme developed in Rowan’s debut album Mountscribe (2018). Known for his work with folk trio, The Wilderness Yet, and oldtime duo, Old Spot, Rowan grew up in the foothills of the Burren on the west coast of Ireland, surrounded by traditional music, and it’s this influence that shines through on these tracks.
An ancient slow air, Cailín a Chúil Chrävuig (The Girl with Dark Tresses), falls into a 18th century march written by the harper Dáithi Ó Murchadha. This is followed by a version of The Banks of Red Roses learnt from Johnny Moynihan who performed it with Rowan’s father in Dé Danann. Next up is a three part jig called Strop The Razor, where the razor in question has been taken to the melody – growing from nothing before shaven back again. Finally, a heartrending sean-nós song, learned from the great Johnny Mháirtín Learaí on a summer trip to Connemara, in which you can hear a field recording of the titular ‘Little Cuckoo of Nephin Glen’.
Each track follows the slow stream of the Music, away from the rip-roaring reels that often flood sessions – a moving and contemplative soundscape that harks back to a slower time and its need for light and shade.
Credits:
Five-string fiddle, shruti, voice – Rowan Piggott
Mixed by Rowan Piggott
Cover photograph by Ben Potton
