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Dewdrop Hornpipe – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 33

February 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I learned Dew Drop Hornipe from Lisa Barrett, when I stayed at their  house when I was in High School. I remember Dick telling me that it was a tune I could play as a breakdown at any fiddle contest. I haven’t played it in many contests, but I do still enjoy playing it. There is an especially cool fingering on the shift down the second time through the B Part.

I’m playing it at the Hey Cupcake Airstream food trailer on South Congress in Austin, TX. There was a guy busking in front of it when I came by. I asked him if he wanted to join me playing on youtube, and he split. I hope I didn’t scare him off. :)

 

This is all that Fiddler’s Companion Had to Say about Dew Drop Hornpipe

DEW DROP HORNPIPE. American, Hornpipe. A Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The ‘B’ part of this melody appears in the tune “Brilliancy.” There was a variety house called the Dew Drop In in New York in the Civil War years. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 85. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 119.

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Festival Waltz – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 30

January 30, 2012 By 1 Comment

Festival Waltz is a beautiful waltz that I have long enjoyed playing, and have played at many fiddle contests. My happiest memory of this tune was playing it at the High Plains fiddle contest when I was fourteen or so along with Sally Johnson and Beaumont Rag. It was the first time I won first place at a fiddle contest, and boy it sure felt good.

 

Festival Waltz according to the Fiddler’s Companion

FESTIVAL WALTZ. Bluegrass, Waltz. USA, Missouri. A Major. Standard tuning. AA (Brody): ABB’ (Matthiesen). Composed (copyrighted 1972) by Kenny Baker, longtime fiddler for Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys. It has become a popular “contest” waltz, prone to embellishment. Source for notated version: Bo Bradham (Charlottesville, VA) [Matthiesen]. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 103‑104. Matthiesen (Waltz Book II), 1995; pgs. 18-19. American Heritage 516, Jana Greif‑ “I Love Fiddlin.’”  County 736, Kenny Baker‑ “Kenny Baker Country.” County 2705, Kenny Baker – “Master Fiddler.” Missouri State Old Time Fiddlers’ Association, Lyman Enloe (b. 1906, Mo.).  Rounder 0046, Mark O’Conner‑ “National Junior Fiddle Champion.” Ruthie Dornfeld – “American Cafe Orchestra.” Pete Jung & Bo Bradham- “Moving Clouds.”

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Black and White Rag – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 25

January 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When I first learned Black and White Rag, it was off of the 4 World Champion Fiddlers album that featured Jim “Texas Shorty” Chancellor, Mark O’Connor, Terry Morris, and Benny Thomas. Terry was the one that played Black and White, and I still think love the endings he put on the A Part (2 of the endings I play on this tune were more or less copied from his version.) I played this tune quite a bit in my contest rounds back when I was still in high school, and it usually served me well. I knew that it was a piano tune originally, but up until today I was under the impression that it was a Scott Joplin tune.

I have learned lots of cool things already doing the fiddle tune a day about the history of these tunes, and it turns out the Black and White Rag was written by George Botsford and made famous by a lady by the name of Winifred Atwell. And, at some point it became one of the most popular rags played by contest fiddlers.

 

The History of Black and White Rag according to Wikipedia

Black and White Rag is a 1908 ragtime composition by George Botsford.

The first known recording of this piece was by Albert Benzler, recorded on Lakeside/U.S.Everlasting Cylinder #380 in June 1911. This recording is somewhat rare (Lakeside/U.S.Everlasting cylinders, though molded celluloid on a wax/fiber core, were made in small batches), and significant. Edison featured the Black & White Rag on one of his Early Diamond Disc Records (50116)from 1913 played by a Brass Orchestra.

One of the best known versions of this piece of music was recorded in 1952 by pianist Winifred Atwell, and helped her to establish an international profile. Originally the B-side of another composition, Cross Hands Boogie, Black and White Rag was championed by the popular disc jockey Jack Jackson, and started a craze for Atwell’s honky-tonk style of playing. The recording became a million selling gold record, and in the UK was later used as the theme tune for the long-running BBC2 television snooker tournament, Pot Black.

Black and White Rag was also later arranged for use as the music in the original 1985 BBC Computer game, Repton, and some of its sequels.

The tune has also become a fiddle standard with recordings by musicians such as Johnny Gimble and Bennie Thomasson.

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Grain Valley Waltz – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 18

January 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I have judged a lot of fiddle contests, and one of my favorite characters to have met at a fiddle contest is J.C. Hounshell. I had the opportunity to judge the Grand Lake National Fiddling Championships with J.C. a few years back. After the contest, we went back to the Grand hotel with Gayle and LaRue Hopson and played some tunes. I had a great time learning (new to me) old fiddle tunes from J.C, and am so appreciative of having that chance.

Grain Valley Waltz is one of the tunes he played for me that night. I really love how old-timey it sounds, and the fact that it’s a Bb Waltz with the second part in G minor. I am thankful that I had the chance to learn this tune from J.C.

* NOTE: I erroneously wrote that JC had passed away, and have been gratefully corrected by Deena Bistadeau. Thanks, Deena. And, Sorry, JC. I’m glad to hear that you are doing well.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and if you are up to it, record your own version of it, and post it as a reply to my video…

 

As a side note, I have searched for this song on the Internet, and haven’t found another recording of it. I did find a reference to Grain Valley Missouri, so there is a decent chance that this tune references that location.

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Huckleberry Hornpipe – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 11

January 11, 2012 By 2 Comments

Huckleberry Hornpipe is one of the first fiddle tunes that I remember playing in a fiddle contest. I didn’t play it very well at the time and didn’t do very well at the contest. Rather than thinking, “I should go practice some more.” I thought, “Gee, I must need a better song.”

That was dumb, but sometimes that’s how a 12 year old boy thinks!… Since then, I have often enjoyed playing Huckleberry Hornpipe. It’s one of those tunes that really does stick with you.

Huckleberry Hornpipe really is a great tune. It was written by the great bluegrass fiddler, Byron Berline. Enjoy!

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2011 Oklahoma State Championships

August 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It’s time to register for the 2011 Oklahoma State Picking & Fiddling
Championships, Oct. 7-9 at the Tulsa State Fair.

Anyone from anywhere may enter.

Go to www.okfiddlecontest.com to register and see photos of the prizes.

There’s a lot of exciting news for you contestants. The contests are bigger
and better than ever.

More prize money. More trophy buckles. More non-cash prizes. Rule changes
that we hope you’ll like.

How about this: If you were surprised last year that you had to buy a Fair
ticket in order to compete, well, this year you don’t! Also, you can order
tickets for family members for just $6 each (instead of $10 at the door).

It begins Friday night, Oct. 7, with the String Band contest. This will be
in a tent. The remaining days’ contests will be on the big indoor stage.
There will be a slate of celebrity judges. Each band will get a total of 15
minutes on stage. Prizes are $400, $300, $200, and $100.

Saturday it’s fiddling all day long. The Championship division pays the top
SEVEN finishers. There are now FOUR youth divisions: Junior (13-16), Jr Jr
(10-12), Youth (7-9), and Pee Wee (6 and under). Nobody has to move up to
the next division just for winning last year. Either you play in your age
division, or you play in the Championship division. Score sheets will be
viewable by all at the scoring table. Also, celebrity fiddler Jana Jae will
provide youth fiddlers with a performance evaluation to help them learn to
shine in the spotlight! ALL youth division winners will receive a trophy
buckle.

Remember, our contest is WEISER-CERTIFIED! Our winners are automatically
invited to the national championships in Weiser, Idaho in mid-June.

To accommodate the growing youth divisions, the Championship division will
not start until 6 p.m.!!!!

Sunday Oct. 9 is for mandolins, guitars, and banjos. The prizes are the same
as last year, but Firey Music in Sand Springs has also donated guitars for
the first- and second-place winners of the flatpicking contest, and gift
certificats for places three – five.

=========================================
Want to advertise in this year’s program? This year the welcome page is
written by *** Roy Clark *** !!!!

There’s still time to order a full-, half-, or quarter-page ad. Call Scott
Pendleton, 918-688-7318.

Also, very popular last year were “shout-out” ads. For $25 you can write a
classified ad wishing your fiddlers good luck! E-mail sp@isystant.com with
your ad wording.

It’s going to be a great year for live music at the Tulsa State Fair!

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Jana Jae Fiddle Camp – Grove, OK

August 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A great weekend is planned for Labor Day weekend September 2-4, 2011.  Visit grandlakefestivals.com for a schedule and details for the weekend activities.

We look forward to you joining us for a weekend of workshops, master demonstrations and group sessions as well as special appearances by fiddle groups, master fiddlers and top contest fiddlers.

Evening activities will be at Snider’s Camp on Friday and Saturday evenings with entertainment and fun contests.  Lakeside dinners will be available for $8 a plate. Workshops, demonstrations and group sessions will be held in the air-conditioned comfort of the Grove Civic Center beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, September 3 & 4.

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Indiana State Picking and Fiddling Results Posted

September 2, 2008 By Leave a Comment

The 2008 Indiana State Picking and Fiddling Championship was held last weekend at the Pike County Fairgrounds in Petersburg, Indiana.

The event was well attended with 79 contestants in 17 divisions. Contestants came from Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri to compete.

Outstanding performances by Maddie Denton and Robert Bowlin made quite statement. Maddie brought home the Grand Championship, the Hot Fiddle Category, and the Accompanist Award, while Robert won the Flatpick Guitar, Thumbpick Guitar, and Mandolin Categories.

Full Results from the contest can be found at:

http://www.IndianaStateFiddle.org/Winners08.html

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Fiddling Master Class at UE

August 15, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Donna Hebert FiddlerCome one, come all. The University of Evansville is featuring renowned fiddler Donna Hébert as a guest artist.

Here is the basic event information:

Fiddling Workshop

Thursday, August 28, 2008

4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Wheeler Concert Hall

Krannert Hall of Fine Arts

Admission: Free – no reservation necessary
Open to all string players, guitarists, banjo and mandolin players, and anyone who just wants to watch.

Guest Artist: Donna Hébert

Donna is in Indiana as a Judge for the 2008 Indiana State Picking and Fiddling Championships.

In addition to the Thursday Master Class at UE, there will be a Fiddling Workshop at the Contest site in Petersburg Indiana at 3:00 EST. 

 

To Learn more about Donna Hebert, visit her website: http://www.dhebert.com/
Contact Vi Wickam for more information about the contest, or workshop at the contest site - 812-589-0000
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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