Fiddle fun
Hey Y’all,
Next fiddle club meeting will be
Sunday, November 20 at 6:30p
Atlantic Bar & Grill (5062 Lincoln)
We’ll play a few English ceilidh (pronounced ‘kaylee’) tunes, which will be posted soon. And we’ll try them out with a couple of easy dances. Invite your friends and family to come along and dance. No admission fee. No registration required.
And here’s some cool stuff I found that I wanted to share.
First off, is my snapshot of a photograph from the 1920s taken by Frank Hohenberger, a native of Indianapolis who opened a photo studio in Nashville, the county seat of bucolic Brown County, Indiana. Hohenberger is famous for his portraits of the people, homesteads and landscapes of Brown County. This photo, title “The Old Fiddler” may have been taken in Indiana, or perhaps on one of Hohenberger’s trips to Kentucky. The identity of the fiddler is unknown.
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This print is in a display of Hohenberger portraits hanging on the walls of the Indiana Memorial Union at Indiana University in Bloomington. I used to see it nearly every day as I cut through the Union on my way to the library. Several books of Hohenberger’s photos have been published by Indiana University Press. Most notable is the book compiled by my friend Dillon Bustin, a dance caller and banjoist now living in Massachusetts, with the great title If You Don’t Out Die Me.
And from a neighboring continent, the haunting sounds of a three string fiddle–rabeca de tres cordas–played by the makerLeonildo Pereira from the southern coast of Brazil.
Here are some photos of Sr. Pereira and his instrument.
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For more information and a fabulous map, check out rabeca.org.
And come back in a few days for some fun English tunes to learn.
Paul Tyler, convener
Filed under: Musings by Paul | November 10, 2011 | Comments (0)
Tunes from Lynn Frederick
These tunes were originally collected by the late Jeff Goehring in the 1980s from traditional fiddlers in south and central Ohio. Jeff and Lynn played together in the Red Mules String Band. Many of Jeff’s field recordings are available on CD from the Field Recorder’s Collective, including albums featuring Lonnie Seymour, Jimmie Wheeler and John Hannah mentioned below. Also available are CDs featuring Cecil Plum, Arnold Sharp and Ward Jarvis. All can be found at www.fieldrecorder.com.
The guitar accompaniment heard on the recordings below is by Beth Braden, who was also a Red Mule. (Click the arrow to play and listen; right click the blue link to download mp3 to your computer.)
Two tunes from Lonnie Seymour of Chillicothe, Ohio. Lonnie’s playing can be heard on Field Recorders Collective CD FRC403.
Tomahawk in A
Tomahawk slow
Log Chain in D
Log Chain slow
A tune from Jimmie Wheeler of Portsmouth, Ohio (FRC401) . . .
Cauliflower
Cauliflower slow
. . . and one from Estil Adams of Washington Courthouse, Ohio
Putner’s Run in G
Putner’s Run slow
Here’s a tune from John Hannah, a native of West Virginian who moved Columbus (FRC405).
Daddy Whipped the Baby in G
Daddy Whipped slow
This one is from Missouri fiddler Bob Holt. Lynn learned it from Jeff Goehring.
Blue Mule in G
Blue Mule slow
Lynn Frederick with Fred Campeau will guest at the Fiddle Club of the World meeting onSunday, October 23 at 6:30p at the Atlantic Bar & Grill (5063 Lincoln). More info here. Single meeting dues are $15. Register here by date (10/23/2011). For yearly dues of $60-which covers all meetings for the next 12 months–click here.
Filed under: Tunes by Paul | October 6, 2011 | Comments (0)
Meetings & Guests for Fall 2011
All events happen at the Atlantic Bar & Grill (5062 Lincoln)
You can now join Fiddle Club of the World for $60 yearly dues. This allows you to 1) support our effort to bring notable fiddlers to the Old Town School for friendly and up close interactions with our local players, 2) save up to 50% off of single meeting dues, and 3) get a cool Fiddle Club card with your name and renewal date inscribed. You don’t have to be a fiddler to join or attend. Everyone is welcome.
Lynn Frederick with Fred Campeau
Sunday, October 23, 6:30 – Old-Time
| A Midwestern mainstay of old-time music,* Lynn Frederick, a native of Indiana now living in Ohio, played with the Rhythm Gorillas in the ’80s and the Red Mules String Band in the ’90s. From Red Mules fiddler, the late Jeff Goerhing, Lynn learned the half dozen Buckeye tunes he will share with Fiddle Club (watch for a forthcoming “Tunes” post). A multi-instrumentalist, singer and dance caller, Lynn will also give us a few of the great old songs in his repertoire.
This Fiddle Club will feature Lynn paired up with Fred Campeau, of Volo Bogtrotters fame. They make up half of the Knock Knock Hoosiers that have performed annually at a festival in Nappanee, Indiana for the better part of three decades. Songs and tunes don’t get much older or timelier than this. |
 (click for another view) * Or is he a mainstay of Midwestern old-time? |
Go here for tunes from Lynn Frederick. Learn some or all. We’ll play them together after Lynn’s program.
Square & Ceilidh Dance workshop
Sunday, November 20, 6:30 – dance band practice** dancers welcome
Michi Regier with Peasants Abroad
Sunday, December 11, 6:30p – Ukrainian &c
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Michi Regier started out with classical violin lessons (lessons that were well-earned), but soon went off in search of Gypsy fiddling on paths that took her into the worlds of Mariachi bands and renaissance fairs. Among other gems, Michi will perform her “Fiddle Tree” travelogue in fiddle, English and Ukrainian, highlighting the musical folklore of the Ukraine, which she studied first-hand in 2003 at the Lysenko Conservatory in L’viv. She also plays with the Milwaukee based Water Street Bridge.
Peasants Abroad is the Madison, Wisconsin duo of Ashli Fain on mandolin and percussionist Richard Miller. Both will also demonstrate some dancing to the accompaniment of Michi Regier’s exotic fiddling. |
(click image for another view)
Single dues for a meeting with a featured fiddler are $15. Register here by date.
Or you may choose the yearly dues option for $60.
** To be a Fiddle Club player, come to a Fiddle Club event. There are no single dues for meetings at which we just play tunes, watch films or dance. Come and join us, even if you don’t have a Fiddle Club card. If you decide to register for one, we appreciate your support.
Filed under: Meeting Schedule by Paul | October 5, 2011 | Comments (0)
Big News
The Fiddle Club of the World is ready to start rolling again. But first this big news (with some fiddle content).
A documentary film I’ve been working on will premiere on WTTW, Channel 11, at 8pm on Thursday, September 15. I was music supervisor for
The Hayloft Gang: The Story of the National Barn Dance
and also wrote the lead article for the companion book of the same name. I’m excited.
And if you get excited too, you should check out the online video contest modeled after the National Barn Dance-sponsored Home Talent Shows. You could win fabulous prizes for playing old-time music. You should check it out. (Just click the ‘prizes’ link above.)
Fiddle Club Schedule for Fall 2011
All meetings on Sundays at 6:30pm at the Atlantic Bar & Grill (5062 Lincoln)
September 18: jam session with some teaching.
(I’ll share a Czech tune and a Métis tune I just learned.)
October 23: Fred Campeau, featured guest
(A Volo Bogtrotter and one of the best square dance fiddlers in Chicago)
November 20: dance band practice
(because we’re going to have another dance)
December 11: Michi Regier with Peasants Abroad
a musical trip to Ukraine
Details to follow.
Paul Tyler, convener
Filed under: Meeting Schedule by Paul | September 14, 2011 | Comments (1)
Coming in Fall 2011
Fall meeting dates: September 18, October 23, November 20, December 11. All meetings will be held at the Atlantic Bar & Grill (5062 Lincoln). We’ll have at least two featured guests in the Fall. Invitations are out to, among others, Fred Campeau, Gail Heil, Jimmie Keane & Sean Cleland, and Scott Prouty. Scheduling yet to do.
The Fiddle Club square and ceilidh dance in July was a big success. We’ll plan for another. So for at least one of our fall meetings, we’ll work on our dance band repertoire.
And for those who love old-time country music, check out this fun new music video contest at Hayloft Gang.com. I’m going to be a judge. The contest is to help publicize a new documentary film on the history of the National Barn Dance, Chicago’s great country music radio show broadcast live on WLS radio and the old 8th Street Theatre from 1924 to 1960. The film is called The Hayloft Gang. I was music supervisor for the film and wrote the lead essay for the companion book of the same name.
Paul Tyler, convener
Filed under: Meeting Schedule by Paul | August 15, 2011 | Comments (0)
More dances to come
The first Fiddle Club of the World Square & Ceilidh Dance was a roaring success, with about two dozen dancers in attendance at the Atlantic Bar & Grill. The back room was surprisingly cool on such a hot night.
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Cyndy & Mitzi
Music was supplied by a rehearsed Ceilidh Band of 4 fiddlers, 3 guitarists, a harmonica player and a jaranero. Two other fiddle players sat in and learned the tunes on the spot (for the most part).
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Judy & Walter
Here’s what we danced.
Squares: Chase the Rabbit, Star for Three, & a big circle square from the Deep South.
Ceilidhs: Cumberland Reel, Tacco e Punta, Gay Gordons, & Dashing White Sergeant.
Rounds: Seven Step, a schottische, Raatikko, & 2 waltzes
(click to enlarge)
Calling a square dance
Thanks to Jason McInnes for the photos. There are also a couple of videos on the Fiddle Club of the World Facebook page.
Plans are afoot to coordinate the First Friday Square Dances with Fiddle Club. That means our next dance will be Friday, September 2, from 7 to 9:30 at the Old Town School. We’ll also schedule one for the December meeting at the Atlantic.
Paul Tyler, convener
Chicago Chapter
Filed under: Photos,Reports by Paul | July 19, 2011 | Comments (0)
Fiddlers & Dancers
Our square and ceilidh dance is tonight.
All are welcome.
6:30-9:30, Atlantic Bar & Grill (5062 Lincoln)
Admission $5 for dancers
Fiddle Club members who want to run through some of the tunes once more should show up about 5 or 5:30. Many of the tunes we’ll play can be found here or here. Or click the blue links in the lists below.
Square Dance Tunes
Daylight in the Morning, Granny, Steppin’ in the Parlour, Streak o’ Lean, Sugar in the Gourd, Who’ll Cut the Britches
Ceilidh Dance Tunes
Fire on the Mountain, Roscoe, She Oughta Been a Lady (aka Twin Sisters), Ten Cents,
Couple Dance Tunes
Cuz Teahan’s Polka, Edward Ost’s Brude Polka, Hast Schottische, Koputus Polska, Raatiko, Seven Step, Tacco e Punta (aka Shortnin’ Bread), Victor’s Waltz,
Filed under: Meeting Schedule by Paul | July 17, 2011 | Comments (0)
A Ceilidh Dance is a community dance
Music by the Fiddle Club of the World (Chicago Chapter)
Calling by Paul Tyler
All dances will be taught. All are easy to learn and fun to do.
Besides some old-time squares we’ll do set or group dances like Cumberland Reel, La Cardeuse, Dashing White Sergeant, Heel-and-Toe Polka and Gay Gordson; plus couple dances including Seven Step, Raatikko and the schottische.
Filed under: Meeting Schedule by Paul | July 12, 2011 | Comments (0)
And the winners are
9th Midwest Fiddle Champions
Open Division
Los Pichardo – 1st place
Can I Get an Amen – 2nd
3rd Sunday String Band – 3rd
Kit Paulson – 4th
The Lopsiders – 5th
Youth/Family Division
The Fiddle Billies – 1st place
The Tuning Pegs – 2nd
Destiny Diaz & Friends – 3rd
Shumm Family – 4th
Over $1500 in prizes awarded at the end of a lovely week-long contest.
Filed under: Reports by Paul | July 11, 2011 | Comments (1)
Fiddle Team Finalists for 2011
Finals, 12:30 July 7, Folk & Roots main stage
Top prize is $400. Over $1500 in prize money!
Don’t miss these bands!
Fabulous photos by Paul Doughty
Can I Get an Amen
(click to enlarge)
John Lane & Danny Gillespie
| Kit Paulson accompanied by James Kreigsmann and David Stockman |
 (click to enlarge) |
Los Pichardo
(click to enlarge)
Yahvi, Victor, Gabriella & Zacbe Pichardo
also
The Third Sunday String Band
Angela Moss & Janet Lettrich Hamling, Rich Kurowski & Sandy Bykowski
The Lopsiders
Debi Lewis, Jim Meegan, Deborah Fausch & Shane Jones
Plus the top two from the Youth/Family Division will battle for the top prize – $150
The Fiddle Billies
from Music House
The Tuning Pegs
from the Old Town School’s kids fiddle program
- Paul Tyler, convener
Filed under: Photos,Reports by Paul | July 9, 2011 | Comments (0)
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