Gi'me Elbow Room: Folk Songs of a Scottish Childhood

Editorial Reviews
From Parents' Choice®
Acclaimed American Scottish fiddler Bonnie Rideout, joined by a children's chorus and accomplished adult artists, shares playful songs of her childhood in Scotland, nursery rhymes and Robert Louis Stevenson's children's poems set to music. Among the beguiling selections are "Wee Willie Winkie," "Fiddler From Dooney," "There was a Wee Cooper," and Stevenson's poem "From a Railway Carriage," where the enchanting sights to be seen through the window go by faster and faster as the music vividly speeds the train along. Vocalist Rod Cameron's spoken word recitations of poems are magic and the melodies and lilting rhythms on fiddle, Celtic harp, pennywhistle, guitar, piano, pipes, bodhran and dulcimer match the joyful spirit of songs and narrative. A 1998 Parents' Choice® Gold Award.

Reviewed by Lynne Heffley, Parents' Choice® 1998

NPR's Morning Edition
"One of the world's leading Scottish fiddlers." Bob Edwards,

Album Description
An introduction to Scottish music for kids and families. Includes music and songs on Scottish fiddle, Highland pipes & drums, Celtic instruments; sing alongs & street rhymes from Glasgow & Aberdeen and the Western Isles, a rousing children’s chorus & Robert Louis Stevenson’s poetry recited in Scots’ brogue. Musicians: Bonnie Rideout,vocals, fiddle, viola; with Special Guests:Rod Cameron-Narration & Vocals,Chris Caswell- harp, bagpipes, whistle & percussion,Al Petteway-guitar,Betty Rideout-piano,Douglas Rideout-ocarina,Maggie Sansone-hammered dulcimer,Nicholson Pipes & Drums,University Park E.S-Chorus. Extensive liner notes about Scottish music and culture, words to the songs and original artwork and drawings. Awards: Parents Choice Winner- Top Award- as the #1 children’s album of the year,WAMMIE winner Children’s Category. Highlights: AWARD WINNING PRODUCER: PARENTS CHOICE AWARD winner and a CHILDREN’S GRAMMY NOMINE Marcy Marxer produced and plays on Gi’Me Elbow Room and a stellar cast of contemporary Celtic musicians including the PIPE BAND and three generations of the Rideout family. Excerpts from notes: 1.Morrison’s Jig I heard this rhyme from a mother bouncing a baby on her knee during my first train ride from London to Edinburgh. The fiddle jig is a popular country dance tune. Vocals (Clarice & Molly Medrano, Adam Shaughnessy), fiddles, drums (Marcy & Chris). 2.Gie Me Elbow Room The original text to this rhyme is from Galloway. It is about a tailor, but I have substituted a variety of musicians in order to introduce instruments (Celtic harp, bodhran, fiddle, guitar, pennywhistle, pipes & children’s chorus) common in Scottish traditional music. Vocals (Bonnie) & ensemble. Melody & new lyric by Bonnie Rideout. 3. Marching Song/Scotland the Brave/Auld Lang Syne From A Child’s Garden of Verses, I have set this Robert Louis Stevenson poem, "Marching Song," to one of Scotland’s most famous pipe marches. Vocals (Bonnie), Tinkertoy can, coffee can, kazoos, pipe band.

Gi'me Elbow Room: Folk Songs of a Scottish Childhood

Tracks:

Marching Song
Gie Me Elbow Room
Morrison's Jig
My Kingdom
Bobby Shafto
The Hen's March
Hiccup
Have You Ever Seen A Lassie
From A Railway Carriage
There Was A Wee Cooper
Hoky Pok
Hurry Burry
Looking Forward
Fiddler From Dooney
Hickory Dickory Dock
Corn Riggs
My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean
Wee Willie Winkie
Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be
Northwest Passage

Album Description

An introduction to Scottish music for kids and families. Includes music and songs on Scottish fiddle, Highland pipes & drums, Celtic instruments; sing alongs & street rhymes from Glasgow & Aberdeen and the Western Isles, a rousing children's chorus & Robert Louis Stevenson's poetry recited in Scots' brogue. Musicians: Bonnie Rideout,vocals, fiddle, viola; with Special Guests:Rod Cameron-Narration & Vocals,Chris Caswell- harp, bagpipes, whistle & percussion,Al Petteway-guitar,Betty Rideout-piano,Douglas Rideout-ocarina,Maggie Sansone-hammered dulcimer,Nicholson Pipes & Drums,University Park E.S-Chorus. Extensive liner notes about Scottish music and culture, words to the songs and original artwork and drawings. Awards: Parents Choice Winner- Top Award- as the #1 children's album of the year,WAMMIE winner Children's Category. Highlights: AWARD WINNING PRODUCER: PARENTS CHOICE AWARD winner and a CHILDREN'S GRAMMY NOMINE Marcy Marxer produced and plays on Gi'Me Elbow Room and a stellar cast of contemporary Celtic musicians including the PIPE BAND and three generations of the Rideout family. Excerpts from notes: 1.Morrison's Jig I heard this rhyme from a mother bouncing a baby on her knee during my first train ride from London to Edinburgh. The fiddle jig is a popular country dance tune. Vocals (Clarice & Molly Medrano, Adam Shaughnessy), fiddles, drums (Marcy & Chris). 2.Gie Me Elbow Room The original text to this rhyme is from Galloway. It is about a tailor, but I have substituted a variety of musicians in order to introduce instruments (Celtic harp, bodhran, fiddle, guitar, pennywhistle, pipes & children's chorus) common in Scottish traditional music. Vocals (Bonnie) & ensemble. Melody & new lyric by Bonnie Rideout. 3. Marching Song/Scotland the Brave/Auld Lang Syne From A Child's Garden of Verses, I have set this Robert Louis Stevenson poem, "Marching Song," to one of Scotland's most famous pipe marches. Vocals (Bonnie), Tinkertoy can, coffee can, kazoos, pipe band.

Customer Reviews:

Love it so much I am buying it!.......2006-06-20

We discovered this fabulous set of tunes at our library. After checking it out 3 times this year, I realize we need to own this. It is a delightful collection of tunes and poems. My child loves the chance to hear accents from the British Isles. I love the bagpipes!

For the child within.......2004-07-18

Bonnie Rideout's "Gimme Elbow Room" is a pure joy. I keep this CD in my classroom just for the fun of it. The Hen's March is a wonderful change of pace during a rainy day session. The quality of the recording is excellent and the vocals are clear and not 'too sweet' for adults to enjoy. Enjoy this with children and visit another time and place with Bonnie Rideout. You will not be disappointed.

Kid's Music for Adults.......2003-01-03

If you're stuck in a car on a road trip, you could do much worse than to have this CD along. The kids love it, to be sure, but musically and lyrically it's masterful enough for the adults in the car to listen again and again.

Along with Garcia/Grisman's "Not for Kids Only," the Persuasions's "Good Ship Lollipop," and the Seeger's "American Folk Songs for Children," this CD allows us to share the joy of music with our children without driving ourselves insane in the process.

Great fun!

It's Made For Kids (But I Like It, Too!).......2001-06-19

If you've read my other reviews, you will know that I am a traditionalist. For the past two years, Bonnie Rideout has been consistently in my top five listens, and this cd is one that finds itself being played more often than not. When the kids are around, the entire set is listened to, but when it's adult time, I'm a wee bit more selective. My personel favorites are 'Bobby Shafto' and 'The Hen's March,' but all are equally enjoyable. Bonnie is such a great fiddle player! A 'newbie' (to Bonnie and to Scottish music in general) may think how could anyone listen to all Scottish fiddle music, but for those of you who haven't given it a chance, you will be in for a pleasant surprise. Bonnie's music is consistently traditional, and yet contemporary at the same time. It's alive, different, upbeat, moody, and just plain GREAT! Everyone of her albums are worth getting - I have 'em all - and if you get a chance, go see her in concert. Thank you, Bonnie, from one Michiganian to another!

Our Family's Favorite.......2001-03-30

This CD is filled with joy! Sometimes gentle, but mostly exuberant, each song is a treasure. The music is complex and energetic; every note seems to come straight from the hearts of the performers. The wide variety of instruments (fiddle, bag pipes, dulcimer, harp, just to name a few) provide many layers of listening interest. You don't need to listen carefully to hear Bonnie Rideout make her fiddle cluck like a chicken or race like a steam locomotive. Children deserve to hear GOOD music, so forgo the Barney tapes and get this instead. This is a favorite CD for all the members of my family, children and adults alike!!!

Music:

Music

Music