Champion Fiddler, Inspired Performer
Event: 2013 Colorado Scottish Fiddle (Violin) Competition for kids grades 3rd through 12th in four categories Date: Saturday, October 5, 2013 Time: 1:00 to 5:00, performance times will have to be scheduled. Students will perform for a judge. Location: Kirk (Church) of Bonnie Brae (United Church of Christ), 1201 South Steele Street (Steele and Arizona), [...]
I don’t know where I learned this tune, but I’ve known it for a long time. It wasn’t one of our family band tunes, so I probably heard an older player play it when I was a kid. That is one of the coolest things about fiddling to me. Fiddling provides a connection between the [...]
The only thing I know about Big John McNeil is that it’s a popular Canadian fiddle tune. It’s a fun tune to play, not too difficult, but when you play it as fast as they do, just about anything can tie your fingers in a not. It also has some similarities with Durham’s Bull. I [...]
There’s really nothing in life quite like pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone, and fiddle tune a day has been a great way for me to do this. We got today’s tune in just under the wire. It was recorded at 11:46PM with me, Lydia, Terry Ludiker, and Bob Gardner. We pulled it off just [...]
Robert Burns was a legend of a Scotsman. He was a poet and musician, and a rock star of the 18th century if ever there was one. My Love is Like a Red Red Rose (A Red Red Rose) is a stunningly beautiful melody, with words to match. I will let the song speak for [...]
Rosebud of Avenmore is a really pretty waltz that I have heard people play in fiddle contests since I was a kid. I have to be honest and say that I have heard it many times, but I may not have played it all the way through before tonight. It was listed as someone’s favorite [...]
Wind That Shakes the Barley is an Irish Reel that begs to be played a little bit slower to me. It has a catchy melody and is fun to play. I hope I don’t run out of Irish tunes before Saint Patrick’s Day. Today I recorded my tune with Steve Eulberg and a couple of [...]
I don’t remember when I first heard Mason’s Apron, but I know it was a long time ago. I seem to recall having a recording of Mark O’Connor playing it. The thing that really sticks with me about this tune is its similarity to a couple of other tunes – Ace of Spades, and Red [...]
One of the really fun things about the Fiddle Tune a Day experience is learning the history of the tunes I have played for a long time. This tune has a very interesting story to tell. Stool of Repentance, is a Scottish Jig, and the Stool of Repentance was also a kind of Scottish institution [...]
The first version of this song that I remember hearing was a recording of Buddy Spicher playing it on a compilation album of the World’s Best Country Fiddlers. He started out the tune by saying, “Look at the rack on that deer.” I thought that was so cool, that I copied it on my album, [...]
