Barry Dransfield

Who is 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. Lord of All I Behold was voted Melody Maker folk album of the year. His 1972 album for Polydor, called simply, 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. He generally avoids electric instruments, but is innovative nevertheless. 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 Barry singing the opening line, "Oh, A Blacksmith Courted Me". Fiddler's Dream has been re-issued on Castle with many bonus tracks.