A stunning new album showcases the fiddle music of Simon Thoumire in what may be one of the finest fiddle performances of all time
When a master fiddler meets masterful compositions, something magical happens. Patsy Reid’s new album “I Am Disposed To Mirth” is exactly that kind of magic – a breathtaking interpretation of Simon Thoumire’s fiddle music that makes the extraordinarily complex sound effortless.
Released on December 5th and available on Bandcamp, this album represents a significant milestone in contemporary Scottish fiddle music. Reid, who has become one of the most admired fiddle players in the UK, brings her unique blend of traditional and classical expertise to Thoumire’s innovative compositions, creating what could genuinely be considered one of the finest fiddle performances ever recorded.
The Music: Where Tradition Meets Innovation
The heart of this album lies in Thoumire’s compositions, many originally written for The Scots Fiddle Collection – a Creative Scotland commission that premiered at the Scots Fiddle Festival in 2007. These aren’t your typical 32-bar Scottish dance tunes. Following in the footsteps of composers like Bartók, Dvořák, and Kodály, Thoumire takes ancient Scottish melodies as foundations and develops them into contemporary concert works that bridge Scotland’s musical heritage with modern classical composition techniques.
What makes Patsy Reid’s interpretation so remarkable is how she navigates these challenging pieces with apparent ease. These compositions demand exceptional technical mastery – the kind that comes from Reid’s unique background combining childhood learning by ear at Alasdair Fraser’s fiddle camps with a Post-grad Diploma in Classical Violin Performance from the Royal Northern College of Music. She makes music that would challenge most professional violinists sound as natural as breathing.
A Collaborative Masterpiece
Reid isn’t alone on this journey. The album features an impressive cast of collaborators:
- Jack Smedley on fiddle (track 2)
- Alice Allen on cello (tracks 3 & 9) – Reid’s partner in the Strathspey Queens
- David Bowden on double bass (track 3)
- Seonaid Aitken and Kristan Harvey adding fiddle layers (track 3)
Produced by Reid herself and recorded, mixed, and mastered by Stuart Hamilton at Castlesound, the production quality matches the performance quality – crystal clear, allowing every nuance of Reid’s playing to shine through. Reid performs on a James Briggs fiddle from 1905 and a Hugh Cooper viola from 1907, instruments whose age and quality add depth to the recording.
Why This Album Matters
“I Am Disposed To Mirth” represents more than just another fiddle album. It’s a statement about the virtuosity and artistry of Scotland’s traditional musicians, showcasing technical mastery and interpretative depth that deserves recognition far beyond traditional music circles. Reid’s ability to maintain the essential character of traditional Scottish melodies while allowing them to evolve in new directions is nothing short of remarkable.
As English folk singer Jim Moray notes, “Patsy transcends simply being a folk musician. She has an understanding of what to play and when and how to play it that rivals the best of any genre.” This album is the perfect demonstration of that transcendent quality.
For those familiar with Reid’s work – whether her solo albums, her explorations of historical manuscripts with the Strathspey Queens, or her countless collaborations with artists from Dougie Maclean to Mark Knopfler – this album showcases her at the peak of her powers. For newcomers, it’s an ideal introduction to why she’s become such a sought-after performer, educator, and collaborator.
The Artists Behind the Music
Patsy Reid has built a remarkable career that spans traditional and classical worlds. From performing alongside Kylie Minogue at the 2014 Commonwealth Games to touring with Zakir Hussain, from working with Mark Knopfler on his Local Hero adaptation to being a one-woman string quartet on countless albums, Reid brings extraordinary versatility to everything she touches. As lead tutor for Mull Music Makers, technique specialist for the traditional degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and Musical Director of Mull Fiddle Week, she’s also shaping the next generation of traditional musicians.
Simon Thoumire, the composer whose work forms the backbone of this album, is a BBC Radio 2 Young Traditional Musician Award winner (1989) and virtuoso English concertina player. As founder of Hands Up for Trad and creator of both the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award and the Scots Trad Music Awards, Thoumire has been a driving force in Scottish traditional music for decades.
Listen Now
“I Am Disposed To Mirth” is available on Bandcamp from December 5th. This is an album that demands attention – not just from traditional music enthusiasts, but from anyone who appreciates exceptional musicianship and innovative composition. Reid’s performance shines a much-needed light on some of the lesser-played music from Scotland’s rich fiddle tradition, proving that traditional music continues to evolve and inspire in the 21st century.
Don’t miss this extraordinary achievement in Scottish fiddle music.
“I Am Disposed To Mirth” by Patsy Reid
Released December 5, 2025
Available on Bandcamp
Design by Somhairle Macdonald