Aros Centre, Portree, Isle of Skye, 10 April 2009

Duncan Chisholm and Ivan Drever (photo - Terry Williams)

DUNCAN CHISHOLM and Ivan Drever have a relaxed manner that belies their standing as one of Scotland’s top duos, currently celebrating 20 years of music-making together. Guitarist Ivan is well known as a singer-songwriter on the traditional music scene, and for his early involvement with Wolfstone.

Duncan has spent the last decade at the forefront of Scottish fiddle playing, working with Wolfstone, Runrig, and Blazin’ Fiddles. They also perform regularly throughout the UK, Europe and the USA.

The programme reflected their musical journey. “It’s Good To See You,” Ivan sang in the first song of the evening. ‘Lullaby for Gail’ – a lovely, warm piece, beautifully played on fiddle – was written by a Spanish bagpiper. Duncan introduced Phil Cunningham’s composition, ‘The Gentle Light That Wakes Me’, with an epic tale that ended in Madrid, in the bull ring. Ivan told how he wrote ‘El Caballo Blanco’ in a traffic jam on a Spanish motorway. They’ve spent a lot of time in Spain.

The craic was good, but music was the focus. The opening notes heralded two mature, assured performers. No fireworks, no overt technical virtuosity. None needed. This was quality musicianship, which only years of dedication and practice can produce. Every tune, every song, glowed like well-polished, well-loved furniture.

Ivan had brought a new song, ‘My Father’s Son’, and an old one, John Prine’s ‘The Speed of the Sound of Loneliness’, which hadn’t seen the light of day for a long time. Duncan shared with us his “favourite tune in the world”, ‘The Lark in the Morning’, while ‘Canan nan Gaidheal’ was an old friend. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person dancing in my seat during ‘Mrs MacLeod of Raasay’.

Twenty years, they mused – that’s not our diamond anniversary; is it china? Whatever, Friday night’s concert was all about the music, and that was pure gold.

© Terry Williams, 2009

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• Duncan Chisholm
• Ivan Drever

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