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paulanderson

Home
Bio
Photos
Store
Contact
Videos
Speaking Scots/Doric
Poetry featuring Paul.
Art
Reviews
Songs and ballads written by Paul.
Commissioning music from Paul
Paul's Photography
Fiddle Workshops
Blog - Adventures of a Scottish Fiddler

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Macpherson's Rant

From the recording Beauties of the North

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Macpherson's Rant
by Paul Anderson

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Back to the Hills, by James Scott Skinner.

Paul explores the distinct fiddle tradition of the North-East of Scotland.

Lament for the Oilman

Grace after the Glen was commissioned by Carl Cimini from Pittsburg for his wife Sally

A Sky News feature on Queen Elizabeth, featuring Paul which aired on the day of her death on the 8th of September 2022.

The opening track from Paul's Covid memorial for Aberdeenshire, called Mountain to Sea.

Paul accompanied by Hamish Napier in St Margaret's in Braemar.

The Rose of Glen Davan was written for Gillian Hendry who features in the video which was shot at Glendavan house on the banks of Loch Davan. The video also features her then partner Matt Milne who is now Gillian's husband.

Donnachaidh Mor" was written for an unfinished movie called "The Jacobite Officer" which was based on the book of the same name by Matthew Donnachie.

Paul plays the music of Scotland's great fiddle composers on their own fiddles. Performed in Migvie Kirk near Tarland which is owned by Paul and his family.

A set of tunes by Nathaniel Gow from a recital of music of the great Scottish fiddle composers, performed on their own fiddlers; the recital was part of the 2020 Celtic Connections in Glasgow. Gow’s fiddle was made by Joseph Ruddiman of Aberdeen in 1777.

Tullochgorum is considered a classic of the Scots fiddle repertoire. This performance also includes the variations composed by James Scott Skinner.

Paul performes the beautiful slow air "Lament for King George V" by Donald Riddell at Aberdeen Music Hall. The concert was organised by Paul as a fundraiser for The Friends of Anchor, a Cancer Charity in Aberdeen.

This footage filmed at the first full rehearsal of "The Silk Road" where Paul was invited to join the Hunan Music and Dance Theatre, as part of their performance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2025. The group come from Hunan Province in China.

Trailer for "Hibiscus and Thistle" which was filmed at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe concert in the Signet Library and broadcast on Chinese TV.

"Fiddler on the Hoof" was a TV Pilot written and presented by Paul but was never commissioned as a series as had been hoped.

Paul performing one of his most popular compositions "The Beauty of Cromar Before me" in St Margaret's in Braemar, accompanied by guitarist Alastair MacDougall.

The original recording of Luskentyre by Paul with Ali Napier in 1999. Luskentyre is a magnificent beach on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides and is a favourite place of Paul's.

Performed as part of the King's Choir "Celtic Christmas" concert in Norfolk, Virginia.

Paul's composition "Luskentyre" performed by Chinese musician Ling Peng on the traditional Chinese instrument, the Erhu.

The Bluegrass classic "Orange Blossom Special" performed by Paul in St Margaret's in Braemar accompanied on piano by Ali Napier.

A montage of footage from the show "Iona" which featured Paul's music, the poetry of Francy Devine and the art of John Lowrie Morrison (JoLoMo). It was part of the 2025 Celtic Connections in Glasgow and took place in Barony Hall.

Mackintosh's Lament is one of the great Pibroch (Piobaireachd) in the Highland Bagpipe repertoire and possibly dates around the time of the death of Lachlan Mackintosh, 14th Chief of Clan Mackintosh around 1520. It's one of Paul's favourite pieces of music.

A Ballad of Blue, Granite and Green was composed and arranged by Paul and Ben McMillan for a Visit Aberdeenshire advertising campaign. Sadly the music was little used as it was finished just as the Covid Lockdown kicked in.

"Farewell to the King" was inspired by the historic King Mabeth who was killed in battle near Lumphanan in 1057.

"Ghostdancers" by the Aberdeen Prog Rock legends "Pallas" featured Paul on fiddle.

In 2024 the Scottish Punk legends "The Skids" returned to their native Dunfermeline for an acoustic set in the Abbey where King Robert the Bruce is buried. Best known for their hit "Into the Valley," Paul who knows the singer Richard Robson joined the band for a couple of songs including this one; "Hurray on Boys."

During the Kincardine Castle songwriting retreat in 2024 Paul composed "The Makar" for his friend Verlon Thompson while waiting for Verlon to finish breakfast. This was the first time Verlon heard the piece written in his honour, about half an hour after it was composed.
In Scots, a "Makar" (maker) is a maker of poetry or music so an appropriate Scots title for a great songwriter. Verlon lives in Nashville but comes originally from Oklahoma.

Land of the Standing Stones was commissioned by Aberdeenshire Council to commemorate Scotland's international year of homecoming which took place in 2009.

"These are my Mountains" sung by Scottish actors Kevin McKidd as part of "The Speyside Sessions" which was a number 1 selling album which raised money for the charity Save the Children. Paul featured on many of the tracks on the album including this one.

Filmed during the "Friends of Anchor" fundraising concert at Aberdeen Music Hall, featuring Kevin McKidd (vocals and guitar) Ali Napier (keyboard) Bryan Tolland (guitar) Ross Ainslie (low whistle) and Paul Anderson (fiddle).

One of Scottish fiddle legend James Scott Skinner's most popular pieces "Bovaglie's Plaid," Paul is accompanied by guitar legend Tony McManus.

This "teaser" video is for the MJM track "Blown Away" which Paul played fiddle on.

Filmed during the concert finale in the Victory Hall in Aboyne in 2004. Paul joined the virtuoso Russian group Koshka for the famous classic "Czardas."

Paul is joined by his friend James Gorgon on percussion for the Bluegrass classic "Orange Blossom Special." Filmed in the Flying Stag Bar in the Fife Arms Hotel in Braemar, Aberdeenshire.

Filmed following a Carol Service in St Paul's Cathederal in London in 2023. Paul took the chance to play in St Paul's incredible acoustic.

This music was inspired by Scotland's iconic and noble Red Deer.

Duncluce Castle on the Antrim Coast of Ulster is one of the most impressive cliff top ruins in all of the British Isles, only rivaled by Dunnottar in Aberdeenshire. Irish Guitarist Gary Moore composed this piece, inspired by traditional Irish music. Although recorded and performed by Gary on electric guitar the piece lends itself well to the fiddle, especially in the acoustic of Migvie Kirk. Gary Moore tragically died of a heart attack in 2011 but remains one of the greatest lead guitarists of all time.

As one of Scotland's most acclaimed traditional fiddlers and composers, Paul has composed over 700 pieces of music including a Symphony and all of the music for the critically acclaimed Aberdeen Performing Arts touring production of Lewis Grassic Gibbon's classic novel “Sunset Song.”

If you're looking for a unique gift for a loved one or something to mark a special event, why not contact Paul about commissioning a an original piece of music.

fingal0444@gmail.com

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