Barry Dransfield
Barry Dransfield, is an English folk singer, fiddler, cellist and guitarist. He has appeared as a session musician on numerous albums by other artists, and has released his own albums as well. The Rout of the Blues was voted Melody Maker folk album of the year. His 1972 album for Polydor simply called Barry Dransfield was voted the rarest folk album in Record Hunter, worth approximately £400. Unlike most fiddlers he is comfortable playing in the "off the chest" position, instead of under the chin.
Together with his brother Robin, he was a member of a bluegrass/old-time band while still in his teens. Always innovative, he generally avoids electric instruments. The instrumental "Blacksmith", on Fiddler's Dream, is a complex set of variations in Romantic Paganini style, with no obvious relation to the song "Blacksmith", but ending with a double-tracked voice of Dransfield singing the finishing line, "Oh, Witness Have I None, save God All Mighty". Fiddler's Dream has been re-issued on Castle with many bonus tracks.
In films
Dransfield has composed music for several films for TV and the wide screen: S.O.S. Titanic, Adelaide Harris, Play Away, Samson an Delilah, Ballymena Opera House and The Wreck of the Julie Plante. He acted the part of the blind fiddler in The Bounty . In 1986, he changed career to become a so-called "Fiddle Doctor", repairing violins and cellos. In 1994, he joined the Steeleye Span UK tour.Discography
Rout of the Blues Lord of All I Behold Morris On Barry Dransfield The Fiddler's Dream as a member of the band The DransfieldsPopular to Contrary Belief Bowin' and Scrapin' Be Your Own Man Troubadours of British Folk, Vol. 1 Wings Of TheSphinx Up To Now- ''Unruly''