A SCOTTISH LEGACY features Ian Melrose's acoustic guitar on 15 traditional Scottish tunes. These songs were originally intended for fiddle, but Melrose puts his own distinct stamp on each of these selections.
This album takes an intimate look at traditional jigs, reels, and ballads. More importantly, Melrose's virtuosic playing brings out both the mysticism and the whimsy inherent in Celtic music. Avoiding watered-down arrangements, "Mrs. McLeod" and "Huntington's Castle" convey the very heart and soul of the Scottish people. On each selection, Melrose's deft finger-picking style allows the music to breathe freely. Indeed, there is great flow to this album. Melrose is not afraid to use rubato or fluctuating tempos, and he performs each piece with great deference and musical insight. On four of these selections, Melrose also uses a slide guitar. Of these, "Mairi Bhan Og/The Mackay's March" is the most poignant. On this medley, a droning keyboard supports the foreboding melody, as Melrose glides smoothly into each note. Overall, this is a very emotional album that seeks to bring to life the beauty and character of the Celts and their music.