Hi all - this is my first post other than my original "introductory hello".  It's hard to put a real "timescale" on my progress - about 4 years ago I picked up an acoustic Skylark fiddle, and played - or - better said - experimented with it - for about 2 months with no real attempt at learning to play properly.  The only research I did was into how to hold the bow and what the violin tunings were.  Basic fingerings - I just worked out myself and managed to identify scales in G, A, C, D, and E (and their relative minors).   In spite of that I managed to scratch out a few old Scottish tunes.  These were all played by ear and generally embellished with my own (intentional, but poor) improvisations.  Recently - about 3 weeks back - I decided to commit to properly learning a bit more about fiddle playing techniques, the physical basis of music and music structure in general.   I also joined the FM community, and purchased a Harley Benton EV.  [ I still have the Skylark ]

 Anyway, here is an attempt at My Love is like a red red rose on the EV.  The HB EV has an inbuilt pre-amp with treble and bass controls - they are set to their "null" point.  This is a direct recording onto the laptop, without amplification or effects - and  it sounds a bit "sterile" although to my mind there is benefit in that as regards critical examination of intonation.

 When played through the amp, it sounds a bit better with the natural room echo, but I've avoided doing that - so it's pretty "plain".    Witness the spooky and ethereal sounding last note - an attempt at the natural (open) second-harmonic on G.    If the timing, the (intentional) pauses, and the odd crescendo feel a bit unusual, that's just my attempt at providing my own limited "interpretation and expression" to one of Rabbie Burns' best known poems ( the poem itself is just called "A red red rose" )

 Any, and all criticism most welcome!  Thanks folks!

 You'll find it on SoundCloud (or here depending on how embedded links work) at - 

https:(double-slash)soundcloud.com/bill-songster/red-red-rose-interpretation

Cheers!  

[LMAO - just reviewed the Soundcloud post - it's only been there 60 minutes or so  -two "likes" already from total strangers - I have NO IDEA WHY ! - oh well - maybe they're beginners like me ]