EXPLORING THE ALEXANDER LAING FIDDLE TRAILS

Sorell & New Norfolk Districts

Peter MacFie©

14 May 2017. ALEXANDER LAING NEW NORFOLK FIDDLE EXCURSION . New Norfolk Village & the Derwent Valley for the Friends of Willow Court.

4 December 2016 – The ALEXANDER LAING SORELL FIDDLE EXCURSION. Sorell & Pitt Water for the Tasmanian Family History Society.

14 October 2012 – ALEXANDER LAING SORELL FIDDLE EXCURSION. Sorell & Pitt Water for the Hobart Town First Settlers Association.

The beauty of the Tasmanian tunes in emancipist Alexander Laing’s 1863 music Manuscript is in their very local titles. These range from dedications to people & places he respected & loved, as well as to prominent members of colonial society.

The titles allow a virtual reconstruction of his life & the possibility of exploring an unknown aspect of Tasmania’s past . As co-author of On The Fiddle From Scotland To Tasmania, Peter MacFie developed the idea of inviting interested people, including some of Laing’s descendants, to accompany him & a musical ensemble, visiting these properties to which the tunes are dedicated- and & hearing the melodies in their place of inspiration.

Carefully chosen venues, including some private homes, were chosen to highlight these tunes, with popular songs selected with which excursionists are invited to sing along.

The two largest group of tunes are from the Sorell district in SE Tasmania, and New Norfolk & the Derwent Valley north of Hobart. The first two Alexander Laing Fiddle Excursionswere around Sorell and Pittwater, while in 2017 the excursion was to New Norfolk on 14th May 2017.

Because of the inclusion of private homes, the tours are arranged by bus, with no private cars allowed onto private property.