Fiddle, anyone?

energy · Post by **energy** » Mon Sep 02, 2002 10:13 pm

On 2002-09-02 21:40, whistlingfiddler wrote:
...I think musicians need to connect with the music...

Ditto.

One thing that really bugs me is people calling my instrument a violin. Don't ask why, it just bothers me. Like when my family tells their friends "Erik plays the violin," then I play some reels, and it's not what they were expecting. It's really weird, everytime people call it a violin I say "Fiddle." I play traditional not classical! My dad went to a parent orientation for our school, and one of the moms told me "He said you play violin?" I was like "Don't say that!!" He didn't even bother to mention the whistles, bodhrán, mandolin, dobro....and don't get me started on those who call my whistles "flutes"

Actually, it's not so weird, I expect most fiddlers are that way. I know I am.

When I first decided to try fiddle, I borrowed one from a friend who didn't use it. We see each other Wednesday nights, and he brought the instrument with him then. As I was leaving later that evening, he says, "Nate, don't forget the violin." I knew I had to nip it in the bud right then. "Ray," I called to him, "until you get this thing back, it's a FIDDLE!"

Does Win Horan have a solo album out? I heard something about it a while ago, but not anything since. If she does I'll have to add it to my hundred+ wanted list...

whistlingfiddler · Post by **whistlingfiddler** » Mon Sep 02, 2002 10:38 pm

I heard that she has one coming out on the Shanachie label, and this was maybe a year ago.

Caoimhin · Post by **Caoimhin** » Tue Sep 03, 2002 2:54 am

My whistle has been called the 'flute' by my dad, thanks to what Thom (thewhistleshop) put on the customs thingy. "End Blow Flute". So from there on....That's not as badm 'cos it's half correct. My mum calls the action of playing the whistle "pi pi pu pu", etc, etc... shiver...

Jo C · Post by **Jo C** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 10:51 am

Matt Cranitch was classically trained, and Pete Cooper. You can hear it in their playing. Oh, and I seem to get the opposite problem - I play the violin and all my Iris relatives keep asking my to play the fiddle, and can't understand why I can play Mozart but I won't play jigs & reels.
Jo.

energy · Post by **energy** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 2:49 pm

On 2002-09-06 12:51, Jo C wrote:
Matt Cranitch was classically trained, and Pete Cooper. You can hear it in their playing. Oh, and I seem to get the opposite problem - I play the violin and all my Iris relatives keep asking my to play the fiddle, and can't understand why I can play Mozart but I won't play jigs & reels.
Jo.

JohnPalmer · Post by **JohnPalmer** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 10:47 pm

This is a little OT, but where can I get a decent bow, and what should I look for? Right now I'm playing on a $45 fiberglass bow. I don't have any complaints, but that's because I haven't played anything else.

Thanks,
JP

whistlingfiddler · Post by **whistlingfiddler** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 8:53 am

You can probably find a decent bow on eBay or something. I've never had a problem with bows, the one I'm playing right now is like $400 thing from 1950. It has mother of pearl and everything. My fiddle itself is from 1910 I think.

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Sat Sep 21, 2002 8:57 am

On 2002-08-30 10:46, DazedinLA wrote:
.....not as helpful as duck taping Molly Peoples Brady into my CD Walkman and ducktaping the headphones to your head.

Duck Tape?! Dude, you're really starting to worry me: I sometimes use "Duct" Tape, but I can't even imagine what "Duck" Tape is for.....

Seriously man, leave the ducks alone, before you get in trouble.

Loren

Roger O'Keeffe · Post by **Roger O'Keeffe** » Thu Sep 26, 2002 2:12 pm

In the Chieftains, Sean Keane plays the fiddle, but Martin Fay plays the violin.

whistlingfiddler · Post by **whistlingfiddler** » Fri Sep 27, 2002 8:41 am

I suppose you can call it what you want, but I just associate the word violin with classical music, and fiddle with anything folky, country, or traditional. That's why I tell people I play the fiddle

Whistlepeg · Post by **Whistlepeg** » Fri Sep 27, 2002 4:50 pm

Anyone hear seen or used the Kevin Burke fiddle instruction videos (under the Homespun label I believe)? Comments?

mike.r · Post by **mike.r** » Sun Sep 29, 2002 6:16 pm

On 2002-08-20 13:49, steve wrote:
.
Maybe someone can help me with two questions I have about Irish Fiddle - Is there any advantage to holding the bow so far away from the frog? and is a heavy deposit of rosin on the violin a badge of honor? I had heard that you don't want rosi buildup on your strings or fiddle. Thanks - Steve

There is an advantage if you prefer bowing with your arm close to your body or if you have a particularly long bow as I have.I feel in a session its simply easier to deal with bowing in a confined space and offers easier control than using the full length of the bow with a higher arm position like Kevin burke does.Im less bothered with rosin on the strings than on the fiddle itself.Strings can be changed but rosin build up over a lengthy time on the fiddle can become difficult to remove and a bit of an eye sore.

Mike