That Devil Paganini may be partly responsible for the necessity for Classical Violinists to hold the instrument in certain ways - he considerably upgraded the skill levels expected.

Many other ways of holding the violin/fiddle/viedle have been used throughout history - upright on the lap, resting on the arm, etc.

What these have in common relative to the 'standard Classical position' are less capability to get more out of the instrument, in terms of range of bow stroke techniques, the range of 'positions' you can reach easily, how rapidly you can play passages, tone production, etc.

A String Instrument Historian would be able to give you more detail.

If you want ot play only a very limited style of music on any instrument, then who cares how you hold it?

'Rules are for blind obedience by Fools & Children and merely guidance for the Wise & Experienced'.

So if you don't at least start off 'the right way' you will find it difficult to improve after a while - just ask any Piano Accordion player who started off 'the easy way' of playing the Stradella Bass...

Robin