Would you kindly forgive an interested question from a mere Englishman who likes old-time American music, but whose acquaintance with fiddle tunes is limited to occasionally playing bass in a barn-dance band? I recall reading some stories about the old fiddlers playing the early Opry and Louisiana Hayride and things, and I remember clearly the story about one fiddler who was disgusted after being pulled off after about half an hour... his words were 'I just won a four-day fiddlin' contest, and here's my medal to prove it'.

I have * always * wanted to know - what the hell did those fiddlers do for four days? I love the reference to a A day and a D day (above), but did they keep the same tunes going for hours, or did they have a vast knowledge of different tunes, or were they brilliant improvisers who could think up variations on a tune for ages?

Apologies if it's a silly question from an alien culture... but I've always wondered. - Ian B