A fiddle that was reportedly used by Robert Burns will be performed live on stage in Glasgow this December.
The Baroque Gregg fiddle, which is believed to have once been played by Scotland’s Bard, will be returned to use in a partnership between Hoolie in the Hydro and the National Trust for Scotland. It will be used during live performances at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow and Carnegie Hall in New York.
The ornate fiddle was built around 1750, and is kept on display at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway where the poet was born. Burns’ dance teacher William Gregg is said to have played the fiddle more than 250 years ago.
Musicians Alistair McCulloch of the Royal Conservatoire Scotland and David Moore from the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra have thus far been the only people with permission to play it. However, multi-instrumentalist Ewen Henderson will use the Gregg fiddle in front of thousands at Hoolie in the Hydro this December.
The fiddle is believed to have been played at the Bachelor’s Club in Tarbolton, where Burns was learning dance steps. It was previously named among the 25 Objects That Shaped Scotland’s History by VisitScotland.
Henderson travelled to the Burns Museum in Alloway to learn the intricacies of the precious instrument from its guardians. He will take the stage with it on December 7 it at Hoolie 100, which will be commemorating 100 years of Scottish music.
The fiddle will then be played in the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage in New York City as part of NYC Tartan Week on April 5. Celebrated fiddle player and composer Duncan Chisholm will perform with it at Carnegie Hall for Hoolie in New York.
Hoolie in the Hydro began in 2021, organised by musician and broadcaster Gary Innes. The National Trust for Scotland is Hoolie 100’s charity partner, with a permanent and professional base in the US, and the intention is to honour Scotland’s rich musical history.
Innes commented: “Robert Burns is an unparalleled figure within Scotland’s culture, so to be able to bring part of his legacy to the Hoolie stages, both at home and across the Atlantic, is remarkable. With the Hoolie brand, I am always looking to break new ground and create memories, reflecting the excitement, energy and heritage of Scotland’s vibrant traditional music scene.
“To be able to work with the National Trust for Scotland on something as special as this feels like a landmark occasion – I hope it will create a moment of magic for both the musicians and our audiences.”
Head of fundraising at the National Trust for Scotland Ali MacLeod added: “This is an exciting partnership celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Scotland. It’s a unique opportunity to blend entertainment with heritage, creating an enriching experience for all involved.
“Among the places and objects we seek to protect and promote are the birthplace and archive of Robert Burns, including the extraordinary Gregg fiddle, and the archive of Gaelic language and song amassed by John Lorne Campbell and Margaret Fay Shaw on the isle of Canna in the Inner Hebrides.
“These are just two examples of ways we protect and share the heritage of Scotland’s vibrant traditional music scene. By joining forces with the Hoolie events, we can make a significant impact on cultural preservation and engagement.”
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