Steve and Marjorie Gadd are collaborating with Tasmanian Historian Peter MacFie in a new book on the original fiddle tunes of Colonial era fiddle player Alexander Laing.
Laing was a policeman active during the early days of Tasmanian settlement. He was also a great fiddle player and composer trained in the Scottish Manor style of fiddle music associated with Neil and Nathanial Gow and Scott Skinner. Along with another colonial Hobart Town musician Neil Gow Fogo, the brilliant fiddle playing nephew of Neil Gow, Laing's musical legacy attests to the inluence of the Scottish fiddle tradition on early Tasmanian folk music.
Many of A.Laing's compositions were written as tributes to prominent characters in the early colony. In fact one can trace Laing's carreer movements from town to town by the names he gave to his dated tunes and the characters and places to which their titles refer.
Recenly a collection containing many of Laing's tunes has come to light. Organising, publishing and performing these works is our latest work in Progress.
Book now available, 49.00 plus 10.00 postage. Pay be any credit card via PayPal (you don't need an account).
