Photo: Bill Bailey for Coldsnap Festival · CC BY 2.0 · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Alasdair Fraser
Person · male · United Kingdom · Clackmannan · born 1955 · recording since 1984
Scottish fiddler
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Also known as Alasdair Fraser · Alisdair Fraser · Alistair Fraser · 阿拉斯代尔·弗雷泽
Timeline
21 events▣ Album 19◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1
1950s
1980s
· Debut release
Debut release: Portrait of a Scottish Fiddler
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography243 words · 2 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1372219566
Biography
Alasdair Fraser (born 14 May 1955, Clackmannan, Scotland) is a Scottish fiddler, composer, performer, and recording artist.
Fraser operates Culburnie Records and is a leading artist on the label. He has founded various summer fiddling programs: the Valley of the Moon fiddle camp in California begun in 1984; Sierra Fiddle Camp in California begun in 2006; Crisol de Cuerda, a trad strings program in Spain begun in 2008; and Stringmania!, a trad strings program in Australia in 2016. Adept in various Scottish idioms, in recent years, with cellist Natalie Haas, he has helped reconstruct and revive the Scottish tradition of playing traditional music on violin and cello ("wee fiddle" and "big fiddle"). Fraser lives near Grass Valley, California with his wife and two sons.
He has won the Scottish National Fiddle Championship two times.
In December 2011, Fraser was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.
In November 2023, the violin on which Fraser had performed for the previous forty years was stolen from a rental car in downtown Portland, Oregon, along with his favored bows, a cello, and music notations. The cello was found and returned the same day. The violin and bows were recovered by local music store David Kerr Violin Shop the following month and returned intact to Fraser.
Compilation appearances
The Narada Wilderness Collection
Celtic Odyssey (Narada)
Celtic Dance (Narada)
The Narada Nutcracker
Treasure Planet soundtrack (featured soloist, co-composer on "Silver Leaves" (contains "Alasdair Fraser's Compliments to Lorna Mitchell"))
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 8 | 49.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 20 | 87.1th |
| Studio albums | 20 | 96.4th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 21 | 94.3th |
| Recording span (years) | 42 | 82.7th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (20 release groups · 20 studio albums)
Albums · 20
Portrait of a Scottish Fiddler
1984 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 43:10
A1Strathspey & Reel Medley / Sands of Murness / Auld Willie Hunter2:50A2Hornpipe & Reel Medley / The Acrobat / The Shelburne Reel2:58A3Lament, Air & Reel Medley / Tog Orm Mo Phiob/ Braigh Loc Iall / Miss Brady3:10A4March, Strathspey & Reel Medley / Mrs E.M. Ross's Welcome to Kiltarlity Cottage / The Kirrie Kebbuck / Culburnie Cottage3:46A5Slow Air / The Weeping Birches of Kilmorack3:20A6Selection of Jigs / Miss MacPherson Gran / Loch of Lumgair2:33A7Lament / MacCrimmon's Lament3:09B1Marching Air / Miss Wharton Duffr1:50B2Slow Strathspey & Reel Medley / J.F. Dickies's Delight / J.F. Dickie's Reel3:15B3Reel, Jig & Reel Medley / Allan's Reel / Fiddler's Whim / Kiley's Reel3:18B4Slow Air / The Nameless Lassie1:59B5March, Strathspey & Reel Medley / The Braes of Castle Grant / Captain Horne / The Apple Tree4:09B6Pastoral / Down the Vale4:23B7Hornpipe & Reel Medley / The Mathematician / Sir David Davison of Cantray2:301989 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 41:51
1Laughing Wolf / Mountain Madness3:142Traditional Gaelic Melody3:143Tommy's Tarbukas2:314Bennachie Sunrise / Willie's Trip to Toronto6:065Slow Train5:456Invercassley Falls / Trip to Ballyshannon4:537Calliope House / The Cowboy Jig4:048Bovaglie's Plaid3:559The Banks of Spey / Brenda Stubbert's Reel3:5410The Road North4:151995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 56:46
1First Light / Dawn Rant5:442Dawn Dance3:393Wooden Whale / Leaps & Bounds / Skye Barbeque5:084Stratherrick3:235Funky 1054:016Rain on Rannoch4:457Common Ground4:288Eilidh’s Frolic4:209Sally mo ghradh3:3210Independence Trail / Galen’s Arrival6:2211Pamela Rose Grant4:0112Free Rein3:1813Theme for Scotland4:051996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 39:13
1The Scolding Wives of Abertarff / I'll Break Your Head for You / Catch and Kiss the Romp / The Haggis4:422Eilean Beag Donn a' Chuain (Little Brown Island in the Sea)5:243Skye Dance6:074Nighean Donn a' Chuailein Riomhaich (Lassie With the Golden Hair)2:595Ruileadh Cailleach, Sheatadh Cailleach (An Old Woman Would Reel, an Old Woman Would Set) / The Bird's Nest / Harris Dance3:176The J.B. Reel / The Shepherdess / The J.B. Reel7:097Harris Dance / Skye Dance / Lochiel's Awa' to France / Harris Dance6:418A Nochd Gur Faoin Mo Chadal2:541998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 43:01
1Lady Louisa Gordon / Mrs Garden of Troup / the Fisher’s Wedding / Lady Harriet Hope / the Mill of Laggan4:462Blue Bonnets Over the Border / There Was an Old Woman Tossed Up in a Blanket /The Rock and the Wee Pickle Tow3:313Jessie Smith / The Braes of Mar / Jenny Dang the Weaver / Pretty Peggy3:534Domhnall Dubh / The Nine Pint Coggie / Ladar Mor a’ Chogain / Calum Finlay3:585Father John MacMillan of Barra / The Devil in the Kitchen / Miss Drummond of Perth / MacKinnon’s Rant / Traditional Reel / Margaree Reel5:386The Conundrum / The Sprig of Ivy3:337Captain Campbell / Calum Breugach / King George IV / The King’s Reel / Old Time Wedding Reels / The Cape Breton Symphony’s Welcome to the Shetland Isles / Father Francis Cameron / Sandy MacIntyre’s Trip to Boston9:208The Lea Rig5:389The McNeils of Ugadale / Dr Angus and Emily MacDonald’s Trip to San Francisco2:441999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 52:27
1Bidh Clann Ulaidh (Men of Ulster)3:562Ross' Reel No. 4 / Reichswall Forest3:163Roslin Castle / Miss Gordon of Gight6:124The Marquis of Huntley / The Ewie Wi' the Crooked Horn / John Cheap the Chapman / Peerie Weerie / West Mabou Reel5:215Calum Sgaire3:176Donald Willie and His Dog / Alex MacDonald / Chloe's Passion3:407Lady Louisa Gordon's Strathspey / The Highlands of Banffshire / The Merrymaking4:358Seathan / Na Goisidich (The Gossips)2:559Sitting in the Stern of a Boat2:5810A Mhaighdean Mhara (The Mermaid)3:2911Lieutenant Maguire's Jig / The Curlew / Sleepy Maggie / Tail Toddle5:1512The Sweetness of Mary / Devil in the Kitchen/Willie Davie / The Sound of Mull / High Road to Linton5:3513Theidh Mi Dhachaigh (Return to Kintail)1:582001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 21 tracks · 59:50
1Miss Dumbreck / Miss Cameron of Balvenie / Clydeside Lassies3:192The Auld Brig o' Don2:493The Beauty of the North1:444Madame Neruda1:135Chapel Keithack / Belmont (By Cool Siloam's Shady Rill)4:496Earl Haig2:047Earl Grey / The Left Handed Fiddler2:038Rose-Acre1:519Craigellachie Brig / Largo's Fairy Dance2:4710The Ancient Barons of Kilravock2:2211Mrs. McPherson of Gibton / The Novelty3:5412Lady Charlotte Campbell's New Strathsprey / Lady Charlotte Campbell's Reel2:5013Miss Hannah of Elgin / Sir George Clark of Penicuik / Major L. Stewart of the Island of Java Reel3:4414Mrs. Jamieson's Favourite2:1315The Rose-Bud of Allenvale3:0616Seann Triubhais Uileachain2:5017Da Forfeit o' da Ship / Da Grocer / Jack Is Yet Alive2:4718Mr. A.G. Wilken's Favourite / Jenny Hardie's Reel3:5519Mrs. Major L. Stewart of the Island of Java1:3220The Iron Man / The Smith's a Gallant Fireman / The Forth Bridge Reel / Gillan's Reel / The Auld Wheel3:3621Niel Gow's Lament of the Death of His Second Wife4:22Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, Volume 2
2004 · studio album
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Tracklist · 21 tracks · 1:07:17
1Watson's Scotch Measure / Lady Mary Hay's Scotch Measure2:242Muirland Willie / Hoop Her & Gird Her / Merrily Danced the Quaker's Wife / The Hemp Dresser2:163The Yellow-Haired Laddie / Afton Water2:584Argyle Bowling Green / Earl of Hyndford's Reel / Miss Farquharson of Incercauld's Reel / Hon. Mrs. Campbell of Lochnell's Reel3:035Hey, Tutti, Taitie (Scots, Wha Hae)3:026The Bashful Lover / Corn Rigs / Sic a Wife as Willie Had / Duncan Grey / Red House3:117O'er the Muir Amang the Heather3:298The Miller's Daughter / My Wife's a Wanton Wee Thing / Deuks Dang Ower My Daddy / I Hae a Wife3:239Ca' the Ewes1:3610Invercauld's Reel / The Lea Rig / Rattlin Roarin Willie / Col. David Stewart of Garth3:0111Killiecrankie2:1612Loch Erroch Side / Rothiemurchus Rant / Bonnie Lass of Fisherrow / The Marquis of Queensberry4:3313Lads of Leith / The Highway to Edinburgh3:2014Miss Johnstone / Mr. Ferguson of Raith's Strathspey / Green Grow the Rashes / Tibby Fowler o' the Glen / The Drummer3:5015My Nanie O2:1116Sir Walter Scott / Dainty Davie / Mr. John Trotter of Castlelaw's Hornpipe3:3717Wandering Willie / Major Graham of Inchbrakie / McLauchlane's Scots Measure5:3418Within a Mile of Edinburgh Town / Bonnie Wee Thing / Wha Can Help It2:5519Cadgers in the Canongate / Bonnie Anne / The Highlandman Kissed His Mother / Push About the Jorum / Lady Mackintosh's Reel / Edinburgh Castle Reel / Up, and Warn' A', Willie4:4520For A' That an' A' That (A Man's a Man)2:4221Goodnight & Joy Be wi' Ye A' / The Gates of Edinburgh / The Bottom of the Punch Bowl / The Cairdin' o't3:112004 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:04:58
1Calliope Meets Frank5:552Stirling Castle Set6:383Josefin’s Waltz4:114St Kilda Wedding / Brose & Butter4:375The Scandinavian4:596Archibald MacDonald of Keppoch4:407The Sailor’s Wife / The Lads of Duns3:128Shetland Set4:059Prince Charles’ Last View of Scotland4:2410The Duchess6:1511Rob Roy Crosses the Minch5:3012Da Slockit Light3:5313The High Reel Set6:39Scottish Fantasies for Violin and Orchestra
2005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:21:33
Disc 11Scottish Fantasy, op. 46: Introduction. Grave3:362Scottish Fantasy, op. 46: I. Adagio cantabile4:403Scottish Fantasy, op. 46: II. Scherzo. Allegro6:174Scottish Fantasy, op. 46: III. Andante sostenuto6:565Scottish Fantasy, op. 46: IV. Finale: Allegro guerriero9:426Airs écossais, op. 347:33Disc 21Pibroch Suite, op. 42: I. Rhapsody. Lento8:392Pibroch Suite, op. 42: II. Caprice. Allegretto10:153Pibroch Suite, op. 42: III. Dance. Allegro vivace4:494Scottish Rhapsody "Prince Charlie"13:065Medley of Scots Tunes6:002007 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:00:22
1Valley of the Moon Reel4:012Between5:563Alien Ceilidh4:014Salamanca4:335Cuillin Nights3:576John MacDonald’s5:227Miss Laura Risk4:198Giga De Tenerife3:099Natalie Mariah4:1010Trip to Pakistan3:2511Christina3:4112Cameron’s Caper5:2513Willie Fernie4:0714Rob Fraser’s Welcome to San Francisco4:162011 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:02:15
1Highlander’s Farewell to Ireland / Farewell to Ireland / O’Er the Water to Charlie / Highlander’s Farewell7:312Jig Runrig Fergie MacDonald / The Ramnee Ceilidh4:433The Pitnacree Ferryman4:034Grand Etang / Hull’s Reel4:525Nathaniel Gow’s Lament for the Death of His Brother / The Gallowglass5:446The Wee Man From Uist / The High Drive4:457McLaughlin’s Strathspey4:168Gloomy Winter’s Noo Awa’5:099Whitewater4:1510Farewell to Nigg4:4011A Bruxa / A Muiñeira de Chantada4:3112Cragmont3:4713La Sansonette3:592012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:00:26
1March and Waltz3:352Scotch Circle (R6x32)3:453Hooper's Jig (J8x32)4:504The Laird of Atherton (S3x32)3:205Flowers of Edinburgh (R8x32)4:506The Hollin Buss (J8x32)4:557Miss Milligan's Strathspey (S8x32)8:348Cadgers in the Canongate (R8x48)6:519Jubilee Jig (J8x32)5:0310MacDonald of the Isles (S3x32)3:2711MacDonald of the Isles Encore (S3x32)3:2512Lady Syusan Stewart's Reel (R8x32)4:4413Waltz3:072012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 57:31
1Ye're Welcome, Charly Stuart (R8x32)4:552Balquidder Strathspey (S8x32)8:493The Nurseryman (J8x32)5:024Peat Fire Flame (R8x40)5The Birks of Invermay (S8x32)8:526Fair Jenny's Jig (J8x32)4:447The Roberston Rant (S1x80)2:518Wicked Willy (R4x32)2:279The Duke of Atholl's Reel (J8x32)4:4710Dalkeith's Strathspey (S8x32)8:3411Sleepy Maggie (R8x32)4:4012Niel Gow's Lament for the Death of his Second Wife1:502012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:09:08
1The Machine without Horses (8x32 Jig)4:572Sugar Candie (8x32 Strathspey)8:393McLaughlin's Reel (8x32 Reel)4:524The Luckenbooth Brooch (8x32 Jig)4:535Monymusk (8x32 Strathspey)8:376The Montgomeries' Rant (8x32 Reel)4:437Bonnie Anne (96 Jig)2:038The Braes of Breadalbane (8x32 Strathspey)8:329J. B. Milne (8x32 Reel)4:3910The Last of the Lairds (8x32 Jig)4:3911Neidpath Castle (3x32 Strathspey)3:2812General Stuart's Reel (8x32 Reel)4:5113Waltz and Auld Lang Syne (Waltz)4:152014 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 59:07
1The Corrie Man4:242Neil Gow’s Wife4:503Howard Booster’s Style4:024Farley Bridge4:035Keys to the Cellar4:526Connie Suite: Connie’s Birthday3:287Connie Suite: Les Jumeaux2:208Connie Suite: Pier Walk Waltz2:479Connie Suite: Hot Club d’Ecosse3:2710Connie Suite: Ouagadougou Boogie4:3811Braigh Lochiall2:4512The Referendum2:5213John Alick Beaton of Teanassie3:2614On the Wings of a Skorrie3:0715Glenfinnan Nights3:0716The Kelburn Brewer4:592017 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:03:05
1Freedom Come All Ye5:472Derrière les carreaux5:383Silver and Stuff4:314Muiñeiras4:065Waltzska for Su‐A4:046Keeping Up With Christine6:487Megan & Jarrod5:458Moon Over Mono4:009Professor Cherry Clark4:0510Foliada!5:2511The Devil & the Gypsy5:4412Hanneke’s Bridal March3:4013Polonessa Spoof3:322020 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 59:40
1A. Lien of Ålesund3:452Sweglish / Modally Challenged4:023Tollhouse Tumble3:244Moccasin Walk / Ackley Lake3:195Emerson3:596The Dreamer and the Jester5:137David & Michelle’s Wedding4:258Iain of Hundalee / Rocco & Ruadh4:499Antisyzygy3:4410Rest & Be Thankful / Start Your Engines4:5611La llegada de los trovadores3:2712The 3‐Stringed Uke3:4213Double Tonic3:4914Broadway for Greg & Tim4:0815Caledonian Carolina2:582026 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks
1Rise Up2Peninsula Waltz / Lady of the Lathe3Strathree / Polska Dot4Not That Song! / The Leahy Challenge5Burning the Midnight Oil / Turbulence6An Invitation7Take a Daunder8El Cinco Transatlántico / Jota para la Princesa Castellana9Aperture / Spill the Tea / Celtic Calico10The Sleeping Lady of Tamalpais11Cranachan / The Oatcake Club12Highland Hoedown13Peace LongingH.I.S.C.D. - Happiness is Scottish Country Dancing
— · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks
1H.I.S.C.D. (8x32H)2A Ring of Friendship (4x32J)3The Armstrongs’ Rant (8x32S)4The Wood of Fyvie (8x32R)5The Good Hearted Glasgow Jig (8x32J)6A Smashing Set of Reels (4x32R)7Ythanside (8x32S)8Kiss Under The Stairs (8x32J)9Largo Bay (2x48S)10Maple Leaf Rant (8x32R)11The Last Waltz
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Alasdair Fraser head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 8 | 49.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 20 | 87.1th |
| Studio albums | 20 | 96.4th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 21 | 94.3th |
| Recording span (years) | 42 | 82.7th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Awards & honours
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skyedance(band) | — | present | |
| Alasdair Fraser and Muriel Johnstone(band) | — | present | eponymous |
| Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas(band) | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alasdair_Fraser_%2832922788006%29.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/694949f8-b0d8-4e13-a54d-a921a780443ddiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/694949f8-b0d8-4e13-a54d-a921a780443dcore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3324114seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alasdair_Fraserbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alasdair_Fraser
Why this artist is in the database
- List of Scottish musicians
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Bill Bailey for Coldsnap Festival · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q3324114 · MusicBrainz: 694949f8-b0d8-4e13-a54d-a921a780443d
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