I wrote the Harlaxton Hornpipe in the basement of Neu Chapel on the campus of University of Evansville. It was the fall of 1996, and I was getting ready to leave for England to spend a semester abroad at Harlaxton College, near Grantham, Lincolnshire. I had my copy of Cole’s 1000 fiddle tunes and I was playing through new (to me) hornpipes and reels – I remember Leviathan Hornpipe was one of the tunes I was learning, and this tune came to me.Β It’s a little bit like Bitter Creek turned upside down. Spending a semester abroad is one of the best decisions I have ever made. And bringing my fiddle with me made it all the more amazing. I got to busk around England, and in Scotland and Germany, play with a Ceilidh band, go to Irish Jam sessions with real Irish people, sleep at hostels, and meet so many amazing people. It opened my eyes to how big the world is and how much we are all alike. If you have an opportunity to travel abroad, Go for it! And if you have a chance to influence a student, tell them, “Don’t pass it up! You may only get this chance once.” That’s my 2 cents.
Absolutely! Travel in some areas can be dispiriting though. I took my fiddle when I went to the Bluegrass Jam in Fort Collins and nobody there even spoke to me despite the fact I had come 4000 miles! Them Coloradoans have no time for outsiders. I know that now I live here. Glad you got to experience hospitality and friendliness as us English and Irish know it. Beats the pants off frosty old Colorado eh?
Wow! I’m so sorry to hear that you had a lousy experience at the Bluegrass Jam. Let me apologize to you for that happening. There is no excuse for that.
Hey, Vi. This is really cool. Did you go to Univ of Evansville? My Dad, Clark Kimberling, teaches math there. Also I know Carol Dallinger, violin prof, and English prof Mike Carson (English) well. And Thomas Fiddick, beloved father of my nest friend, now deceased. I studied violin with Delmar Pettys there in the 80's during high school and went on the study classical violin. I am taking a year now of trying to learn fiddle. Your videos are a great help. Helps me figure which tunes I like best and what to do with them.
We went to Harlaxton in 81, the year the students were killed speeding down the drive, you probably heard about that. We lived in the Garden Cottage. Our family (my parents are also musicians–Dad play recorder, mom keyboard) played a concert in the long gallery.
Oops I wasn't done. Read bottom post first.
Anyway, I grew up in Evansville, knew a bunch of folks you probably know. Nice to know there was fiddlin' going on in the basement of Neu Chapel. I never would have guessed. Keep it up!
Hi Vi, this was great. I am a classical violinist from Evansville (long ago) and am getting a lot from your daily tunes as I try to do some fiddling. I sent you a message of FB, as best as I could. Loved to see your Harlaxton Hornpipe, am going to post it on my page.
Best to you!
Hi Amy, thanks a bunch. I’m glad you are enjoying fiddle tune a day. Best of luck with the fiddling. You might also enjoy my other project, http://www.myTalentForge.com
Hey, Evansvillians and UE folks, a Harlaxton Hornpipe! Did anybody know this fiddler back in Indiana or since, hence? This is a jolly good tune–read the story below.
What software did you use to reverse the image in the video?
Hi Howard, I used Windows Movie Maker for all of the Fiddle Tune a Day videos. I accidentally recorded this video upside down, and thought that it would keep my viewers on their toes if I just flipped it vertically rather than flipping and rotating it. π And, since the Harlaxton Reel is kind of like Bitter Creek with a lot of the figures flipped around, it’s even more appropriate. π
first thing I noticed!
π
Wonderful musical performance !
Thanks, Michael. This tune always reminds me of my time in England.
Thanks, Michael. This tune always reminds me of my time in England.
Very lovely.
Thanks, Norma!