There are two main influences on The Otway Pioneers.

Firstly, and sadly, my family lost our beloved uncle during the week. Music is always a lifeline during such times, but while I played I found the mournful, tragic violin airs to be somehow jarring. The beautiful, slow old Celtic airs, often in a major key, were the healing ones. This influenced my writing, and it celebrates the good life of a good man.

Secondly, my mind has been filled with old stories of the family farm in the Otways. This tune feels like it could have been whistled while my grandfather and uncles walked home from their work on the land, a bag of spuds over their shoulder and a few shillings in their pockets. A raw tune, but cheery and content.

One last word on the composition and recording. One night I sat down and sang this tune to myself, "lilting" in the old Irish manner, in a way that felt like I'd just plucked the tune from the air. I almost feel like it was given me, it arrived in its complete form so naturally. I recorded it in one take, without editing or accompaniment of the raw melody.

Tags: fiddle, folk, irish, week 3 2014, View by:Claire Johnstone