North West Highland mandolin session 2012

**kmmando** · Jul-25-2012, 4:29am

I had a great evening up in Coigach, before the excellent new Summer Isles Festival, having tunes with two delightful gentlemen of Lewis, Donnie and Murdo MacDonald. Donnie, who plays a National RM1 resonator mandolin, which is a tremendous instrument, has a fine Gaelic lilt and touch to his playing, which I greatly enjoy. His father Murdo, who I had only just met, is a very fine West Highalnd button box player, and we had a rare old time with the old gaelic and pipe repertoire. Here's a flavour of the evening, if you're interested. I suspect we were the only two mandolinists in a hundred miles!

Kevin Macleod

**kmmando** · Jul-25-2012, 4:35am

... seems to work after all!

**kmmando** · Jul-25-2012, 4:36am

... ditto!

**donaidh** · Jul-25-2012, 7:02am

Hi Kevin,

Thanks so much for uploading the videos. It was a real treat for myself and Murdo to play these tunes with you and for me personally it was another masterclass in how to play traditional music on mandolin. I will continue to try and incorporate all that great ornamentation into my playing and I think anyone who wants to develop their playing of Scottish or Irish tunes on mandolin will benefit greatly from studying your wonderful technique on these videos.

What a fantastic weekend it was - we must do it again very soon!

Donnie

**John Kelly** · Jul-25-2012, 2:20pm

Kevin, once again a great set of videos and a great wee session with two other very fine players. That resonator mandolin is quite an instrument! Thanks to Donnie and Murdo for joining you to create such a pleasurable sound.

**ptritz** · Jul-25-2012, 7:38pm

Lovely stuff for sure! Thanks for posting it.

**JeffD** · Jul-25-2012, 8:34pm

I wish I was there.

**Dave Hanson** · Jul-26-2012, 2:55am

Is it me, but that National RM1 sounds like it's shrieking, very very shrill.

Dave H

**kmmando** · Jul-26-2012, 3:12am

This was filmed on a mobile phone. Hardly hi-fi. No, its a fabulous sounding instrument, actually, I'd really like one. The Tomastik medium flatwound strings were a revelation.

Thanks to you others for the appreciative comments.

**Richard Moore** · Jul-26-2012, 5:00am

Sounded great to me but then I'm a convert already! I hadn't heard the 72nd Highlander's before and have just run through it on my RM-1... a fine tune! BTW, I use the D'Addario FW-74 flatwounds which also work great and are less expensive than the Thomastics.

**donaidh** · Jul-26-2012, 6:14am

Thank you Richard. I read on Nigel Gatherer's excellent website that The 72nd Highlanders.. was originally known as The Boy's Lament For His Dragon. It was composed by William MacKay.
Thanks for bringing the D'Addario FW-74's to my attention. I'm very happy with the Thomastik's but it would be interesting to compare the two.

Donnie

**kmmando** · Nov-04-2012, 11:30am

A few more Highland sets from Ali Beag MacLeod and me on a tricone resonator tenor, if anyones interested.

**John Kelly** · Nov-05-2012, 4:27am

Up to your usual high standards, Kevin. Great duo playing, you are so together in these sets. Resonator sounding great, as is Ali's box.

**kmmando** · Nov-06-2012, 7:46am

Cheers John, I just listen very closely to Ali's lovely phrasing and get tight to it as best I can. He's such fun to play with, a wonderful man. Trust all geos well and that you continue to play and film? I much enjoyed your previous vids Cheers, Kevin

**John Kelly** · Nov-07-2012, 4:13am

Hi Kevin, I am indeed still plodding away as well as building when I feel like it - being retired is great! Have been in e-mail contact with Donaidh re some tunes I have on SoundCloud (I am sure he is the same Donaidh who features on your videos from earlier). I am still putting stuff on YouTube, usually related to the Song-A-Week group or from Nigel's site, and I find SoundCloud great for when I do not have video stuff to go with a tune.
All the best and more posts, please!

**kmmando** · Nov-07-2012, 11:19am

Aye, same man, lovely player, great fellow and owns a really nice modern National RM1 mandolin too.
Bruce MacGregor and I are chatting on BBC radio Scotland's Travelling Folk next week 15th, if you're interested .... better talk some sense for a change! KHJM

**kmmando** · Nov-12-2012, 10:27am

Apologies for posting this elsewhere, but you might not have seen it, John - there's 3 others just to demonstrate the sound of the National tenor guitars

**John Kelly** · Nov-12-2012, 1:55pm

What a great sound you are getting from that tenor, Kevin. It is such a fine instrument for interpreting those tunes, as is the player of it!

**kmmando** · Nov-13-2012, 6:35am

Cheers ..... its a great instrument to play, 83 years old! With a delicate etched copperplate name scratched on the body of the first owner perhaps, "Regina Coleman", and also the words "this is Reggie's". I often wonder who she was, a young American girl strumming this fine shiny National in some parlour .... wonderful echoes of the past.

**Richard Moore** · Nov-13-2012, 7:26am

Extremely nice sound from that National Kevin!

**Jim Nollman** · Nov-13-2012, 2:11pm

I play a waltz, distinctly Scottish in origin, entitled "In Memoriam to Herbie Macleod". Is this all in the family?

**kmmando** · Nov-13-2012, 3:51pm

cheers!

**John Kelly** · Nov-15-2012, 3:07pm

Hi Kevin, just been listening to your interview on the radio on BBC Scotland. Excellent chat with Bruce McGregor and I enjoyed your choice of tracks, especially the last one with Ali Beag. I must say you came over really well and there was so much of interest in the interview. What next then?

**kmmando** · Nov-16-2012, 4:04am

Well I'm getting back to what I like best, out with The Occasionals tonight for a dance in aid if crones and colitis diseases. I'm relieved you thought it was ok - its a bit terrifying talking live on national radio, but Bruce is great, and a relaxed professional. Thanks John. Much appreciate your informed support! best, Kevin

**ardbeg** · Nov-16-2012, 4:47am

Hi Kevin
Just used the wonderful BBC "listen again "facility to hear the interview. Thought you came over really well, nice relaxed feel to the whole thing.
Cheers
Jim