Description
Wendy Stewart is one of Scotland's most sought-after harp players and teachers (and she also plays concertina!). On this CD "Standing Wave" she showcases her composing skills as well as those of interpretational musician. Accompanied by smallpipes, whistles, harmonica, guitar & vocals.
"Excellent playing, delicate arrangements". Folk Roots.
Flowers of the Forrest; Taigh Iain Ghrot; Now Draw Up Close And Hear My Song; Fires At Midnight; Down The Hill; All Things Are Quite Silent; Pipe Major Donald MacLean Of Lewis; Love And Loss; Cairn Water; There Is A Tide; Border Set; Jean Stewart Of Moniaive; Cumha Airson Ceannard Chlann 'ic Uilleam; Barrisdale's Dream.
Wendy Stewart has played the Scottish harp since the age of twelve, learning from one of Scotland’s finest teachers, Jean Campbell, in Edinburgh. Over the many years since, Wendy has established herself as one of Scotland’s foremost traditional harp players and as a highly skilled musician of great sensitivity and feeling. As part of the revival of interest in the instrument in the 70s, Wendy competed in many Mods and musical festivals and developed her performing skills through regular Clarsach Society events in Edinburgh and appearances at the Festival Fringe. In 1977 Wendy appeared on Clarsach pioneer Alison Kinnaird’s groundbreaking album ‘The Harp Key’.
After living in Lancaster for some years Wendy and husband Alan, with their two lovely boys, moved to Edinburgh in 1990 and she was immediately recruited into the ranks of the well-established Scottish band Ceolbeg. Major tours, radio and television work and four Ceolbeg CDs (all on Greentrax) followed .. .. the latest of which used one of Wendy’s compositions ‘Cairn Water’ as the title track. During this time Wendy also released two aptly titled solo albums ‘About Time’ and ‘About Time 2 (what else!) also on Greentrax, both of which received great critical and popular acclaim. During this time her teaching horizons also expanded, and she is now in great demand as a teacher at harp courses in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and North America, not to mention around Scotland.
Wendy left Ceolbeg in 2000 and has since been concentrating on solo work and her many teaching commitments, including tutoring on the BA degree course in Scottish Music at the RSAMD in Glasgow.
On Standing Wave Wendy has brought together a collection of mainly traditional tunes, some of her own excellent compositions and a couple by other composers. Wendy has also written the lovely tune which accompanies the beautiful words of Sydney Goodsir Smith -“There is a Tide. Gary West (Scottish small pipes and whistle), Rod Paterson (vocals and guitar), Mike Travis (percussion) and Fraser Spiers (harmonica) complement Wendy’s music (various harps and concertina) and song. The album was recorded by Peter Haigh at Pier House Studios, Edinburgh.
Check out our full collection of Harp CDs.
And our range of CDs from Greentrax Recordings.