Paul Anderson

Paul Anderson is the finest Scots fiddler of his generation. Although only in his thirties, he is already something of an icon in Scotland, a fact duly recognised by two specially commissioned portraits of him, a life size one in Aberdeen Art Gallery and a study which is in the care of the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.

In the tradition of many of Scotland’s great fiddler’s, Paul is a composer of some repute, having composed over 300 pieces in the Scots style. His music provided the theme tune for the film “Red Rose” about the life of Robert Burns, Paul composed and recorded the theme music for the PBS  television show, “Tartan TV” in the USA and in 2008 he was the musical director for HMT Aberdeen’s critically acclaimed production of “Sunset Song” by Lewis Grassic Gibbon.

During his competitive career Paul won most of the traditional fiddle championships in Scotland and in 1995 won Scotland’s premier fiddling event, the Glenfiddich Scottish fiddle championship which is held each year at Blair Castle.

A regular on Scottish T.V and radio, Paul has toured extensively and recorded eight solo albums and over forty albums with artists like Pallas, Rock Salt and Nails, The Cutting Edge and the Banchory Strathspey and Reel Society.

Paul is also a highly regarded tutor and as well as solo tuition has led workshops and master classes from Aberdeen to Australia and from Banff to British Columbia. His pupils are regular championship winners across Scotland and in 2008 two came in 1st and 2nd at the Glenfiddich Scottish Fiddle Championship.

In 2003/2004 Paul was the Aberdeenshire town of Huntly’s fiddler in residence, the first time a fiddler has held such a post anywhere in the UK and  in 2006 he began a three year AHRC research post at the Elphinstone Institute of the University of Aberdeen. His research which was believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, aimed to re-connect local musicians with the unique fiddle style of the North-East of Scotland.

As well as writing articles and giving talks and lectures on the subject Paul has also given papers on the North-east fiddle style at the 2008 North Atlantic Fiddle Convention and the 2009 London fiddle conference.
In 2008 Paul was instrumental in re-establishing a fiddle championship at the Aboyne Highland Games after a 140 year break and in 2009 in association with the Aberdeen Arms in Tarland founded the “Cromar Folk Club” which meets on the last Friday of every month.

Past performances include, Celtic Connections (Glasgow), The Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Lorient Interceltic Festival (Brittany), The Fiddler’s Spectacular (HMT Aberdeen), Orkney Folk Festival, Shetland Folk Festival, N.A.T.O’s only Burns Supper in Brussels,Glen Innes Celtic Festival (NSW Australia) and the MacRobert Hall (Tarland).

listen to Paul Anderson's 'Land of the Standing Stones' (mp3)

view the score to Paul Anderson's 'Land of the Standing Stones' (pdf)

watch Paul Anderson talking about 'Land of the Standing Stones' (mov)