Old School Old Time – CD

Description

The debut recording of Fiddle Whamdiddle:  Old School Old Time

This is a collection of 15 tracks of old-time music, including a couple of originals from each fellow, learned and shared by many generations of players and now picked up and taught to each other, coming out in some refreshing arrangements that highlight the beauty of the instruments and the liveliness of the tradition.

Are you saying, “I know what a fiddle is but what is a whamdiddle?”  The whamdiddle is a slang name for the hammered dulcimer; “hog fiddle” is a slang name for the mountain dulcimer, both are traditional American folks instruments.  Together with the fiddle they make for a porch-picking, knee-slapping good time.

“This album is a breath of fresh air for the old-time music community.  Smart song selections, fresh accessible arrangements, and great performances by Vi Wickam, Steve Eulberg and the supporting musicians make for a very enjoyable listening experience. – Matthew Hartz, National Fiddle Champion

A celebration of Old Time Dance Tunes for fiddle and both fretted and hammered dulcimers.
Tight, spirited, and varied arrangements  by two excellent folk musicians.
Present throughout is an obvious love of both the material and the craft of presenting it.
Well done. – Don Pedi

“Your recording is a wonderful piece of art…you blend your playing skills and I liked your choice of tunes.  You should be very happy and count on record sales.”

Bill Robinson, St. Charles, Illinois
3rd Generation hammered dulcimer player

Listen to some mixes from the recording:

Miss McLeod’s Reel/Have You Ever Gone to Meeting Uncle Joe?

Ragtime Annie

Here is a bit of information about where Steve and Vi learned the tunes that are on this album.

Vi Wickam is a 3rd generation Colorado fiddler with several fiddling awards under his belt, most recently serving as a judge at the National Old-Time Fidders Contest in Weiser, ID.

Steve Eulberg has won several prizes in the Walnut Valley Flatpicking Festival, in Winfield, KS, most recently serving as a featured performer there.  Together their cross-pollination produces the foot-stomping, heart-pumping, head-bobbing music that snagged audiences all summer on the streets of Fort Collins as performers in Streetmosphere.

Vi Wickam has been filming a Fiddle Tune a Day since January 1, 2012 and the pair have played for several of these Fiddle Tune a Day videos.

Here they are playing a tune NOT on this recording:

We are grateful to the many artists whose work helps to make this avaialble for you:  Aaron Youngberg of Swingfingers Studio in Masonville recorded & mixed the CD, Charlie Pilzer of Airshow is mastering.  Christina Gressianu’s photography brings the flavor of the sound to a visual medium.

Special thanks to Jill Stillwell and the City of Fort Collins for allowing us to do the album cover photo shoot in the one-room Upper Box Elder School at the old Fort Collins Museum.  Still the best Old School we know!

Format: CD

Track Listing:

Sandy Boys Liberty BlackTail Weasel & the GroundSquirrel Clan Ragtime Annie Miss McLeod’s Reel/Have You Ever Gone to Meeting Uncle Joe? Peekaboo Waltz Spider Bit the Baby St. Anne’s Reel Barlow Knife Spotted Pony Higgedy Jig Fisher’s Hornpipe Versuvienne Golden Slippers Boil’em Cabbage Down

Musicians:

Vi Wickam, Steve Eulberg, Brent Hawley

Engineer:

Aaron Youngberg, Swingfingers Studio

Mastering Engineer:

Charlie Pilzer, Airshow Mastering