Admired Scotch Airs - CD

Fiona Ziegler Baroque violin, Danielle Grant soprano, Steven Machamer tambourine and Diana Weston square piano

The Lucy Havens collection

This recording continues our mission to bring to present-day ears the sound of a commonly used keyboard instrument from the early days of Australian European settlement. This type of square piano forte was hand-crafted in England and had a resonant and mellow tone that fitted well, physically and acoustically, with a medium-sized room where family entertainment was undertaken.

The significance of music in the early days of European settlement in Australia in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries has rarely been considered. As a magnet for societal gatherings for dances and entertainment, and as a link to traditional customs, it was immensely important to the immigrants. Hence, the enormous numbers of piano fortes (predominantly ‘square’ piano fortes) and violins that were transported with every ship from England. With these came accompanying scores – music that ranged from the latest popular songs to demanding instrumental works. A large component of these was traditional folksongs from the British Isles – especially Scotland. See The Lucy Haven Collection

Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809)

‘Six Admired Scotch Airs arranged as Rondos for Piano Forte with an accompaniment for the Violin and Flute’ by Dr. Haydn, London. (1801/2-3)

1.  The Bue Bell of Scotland

2.  Saw ye my Father

3.  My love she’s but a Lassie yet

4.  Maggie Lauder

5.  Argyle is my Name

6.  Kilicrankie 

Ignace Pleyel/R. Burns from ‘A Select Collection of Original Scotish Airs for the Voice’.

7.  Here awa’, there awa’

8.  Oh! Open the Door

9.  Behind yon hills

10. Braw lads on Yarrow Braes

11. From thee, Eliza, I must go

Ignace Pleyel (1757-1831)

Sonata no 1 in C major from ‘Six Sonatas for Piano forte or harpsichord with an accompaniment for a flute or violin and violoncello'

12. Allegro Vivace

13. Rondo moderato/Presto

Daniel Steibelt (1765 – 1823)

Bacchanales nos. I, II and IV from Douze Bacchanales pour le Forte-piano with avec Accompagnement de Tambourin ad Libitum.

14. No. I

15. No. II

16. No. IV

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from mid August.