Recorded in 1983, New Hampshire fiddler
Skip Gorman's sixth album,
New Englander's Choice, is a lively collection of hornpipes, jigs, reels, and airs, largely taken from the fiddle and dance traditions of the Northeast region. A veteran folk musician and avid song collector,
Gorman gathered some of his favorite fiddle tunes learned from years of playing and listening to traditional music in and around his native New England. Among the traditional selections are five of
Gorman's original songs played in a similar style. He is accompanied throughout on piano, guitar, and occasionally accordion. The fiddle and country dance music of the North East comes from a large pool of influences, most notably the British Isles and French Canada. Although many of these tunes are Celtic in origin,
Gorman plays with a unique Yankee bounce that is indicative of New England fiddle music, showing just how big a role the melting pot of musical cultures has played in American folk music over the years.