The Fred Morrison Collection
Biography
The Fred Morrison Collection
Scottish piper Fred Morrison recently released a collection of original compositions for pipes.
Fred Morrison was tutored in pipes by his father from the age of nine. Born in 1963 near Bishopton, Renfrewshire, he often visited his paternal family home in Gernish, South Uist. The rounded, driving style of the Outer Hebrides and the traditional method of teaching tunes, cantaireachd (sung vocables used to convey piping instead of notation) have remained a strong influence in his approach to playing. Fred says he hears that singing in his head every time he plays. Over a career of 20 years, Fred has combined this tradition with contemporary and eclectic influences, played in his exuberant and highly improvisational style.
 |
 |
Fred has made a name for himself in both the Scottish competition piping circuit and the folk music scene. He won gold medals at the Oban and Inverness competitions and was seven times winner of the Macallan trophy at Lorient Celtic Festival in Brittany. He is a former member of Clan Alba and Capercaillie, as well as a solo artist in his own right. He has released three albums, The Broken Chanter, The Sound of the Sun, and Up South. |
In 2004, Fred Morrison was voted Instrumentalist of the Year at Scots Trad Music Awards. The following year he was commissioned to write the customary grand opening composition for the Celtic Connections festival. The result, Paracas, was an ambitious musical journey through Gaelic culture and history which involved several pipers, folks musicians and singers, orchestra and chorus. Another appearance at Celtic Connections is scheduled for 2007, where the Fred Morrison Band, will be launched in a double bill with Salsa Celtica. The Fred Morrison Band includes Innes Watson (guitar), Paul Jennings (percussion), Duncan Lyall (bass) and Douglas Miller (piano/keyboards).
As well as Highland pipes, Fred plays bellows-blown Lowland or Border pipes, Irish uillean pipes, low whistle. He also developed the Fred Morrison Reelpipes with Highland pipemakers McCallum Bagpipes.
Fred’s tunebook was produced in response to a growing demand for his compositions. It contains 56 of his own works. His compositions have been performed and recorded by some of the world’s best known artists such as Michael McGoldrick, Sharon Shannon, Tony McManus and Croft No Five, and award winning pipebands. The launch of this collection means that many more musicians can include Fred’s music in their repertoire.
| The Fred Morrison Collection received support from the Scottish Arts Council. | |