Lime Hill

Here’s a Strathspey by prolific Cape Breton fiddler Dan R. MacDonald. Strathspeys are very fun to play and give us a chance to play very clean fast notes. In fact, the notes written as 16ths can be even a little faster than written (closer to 32nd perhaps). The key to playing them clean is to use a heavy enough bow. The ornaments in the tune are very fast notes above (what Irish players call cuts but played nearly as fast as you possibly can).

This type of dance tune originated in Scotland in the valley (or Strath) of the river Spey, but the Cape Breton style of composing them is considered a bit wilder. Sometimes they are also played smoother with less intense articulation to the 16th notes.

See also: Mary’s Strathspey

Recording by Hanneke Cassel of Lime Hill and 2 other tunes.