Tom McConville and Pauline Cato: September 24th 2004
Tom McConville (fiddle) and Pauline Cato (Northumbrian pipes) are formidable performers: a blend of fiddle and song with the distinctive Northumbrian pipes producing a mesmerising sound, punctuated by Tom’s wry humour. Tom and Pauline’s infectious enthusiasm for their music comes across wherever they perform. Their repertoire is rooted in the north east of England, but they have also explored the contemporary scene. Especially enjoyable is Tom’s singing and interpretation of ‘Beeswing’, by Richard Thompson.
From Pauline Cato & Tom McConville’s website
Pauline Cato and Tom McConville are our foremost Northumbrian Pipes and Fiddle duo. Their fiddle and pipes blend effortlessly together to produce a unique and full sound. Pauline and Tom specialise in both dynamic unison playing and beautifully arranged harmonies.
Their albums, ‘By Land And Sea’ and ‘The Surprise’ were chosen as The Daily Telegraph’s Folk Album Of The Year in 1996 and 1999 respectively.
Pauline Cato is a highly respected Northumbrian Piper. Her style is traditional, but she is also well known for expanding the repertoire of the pipes and is often in demand for new projects. Most recently this has included the premier performance of A Northumbrian Symphony by Robert Sherlaw-Johnson and the soundtrack to the TV series Badger. A qualified teacher, her virtuoso playing is not only exciting and accurate, but also extremely musical. She is currently also working as an AHRB Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield.
Tom McConville is one of the leading fiddle players in the British Isles. He is a brilliant musician with a unique style and beautiful tone. He is always in demand for his sensitive contributions to other musicians’ recordings. Tom is also a wonderful singer; his interpretation of both traditional and contemporary song is greatly admired by other singers throughout the world. As well as running fiddle workshops, Tom is a teacher of the Alexander Technique and is a member of the recognised society of practitioners (S.T.A.T.).
Pauline Cato & Tom McConville’s website can be found at www.tomcatmusic.com. Their albums can be ordered from the site or by mailing sales@tomcatmusic.com.
Reviews
“energy, wit and conviction“ (The Living Tradition)
“leading contemporary virtuosi“ (The Bagpipe Society)
“a magical sound.....totally captivating“ (Folkwrite)
“exemplary.......exquisite......endorsed“ (Fyfe On Folk)
Recordings
‘By Land And Sea’ and ‘The Surprise’ were chosen as The Daily Telegraph’s Folk Album of the Year in 1996 and 1999 respectively. The full range of their recordings can be found on their website.