Sedayne: just had a listen to the Troll Pipe. Sounds great -better than I'd expected!
For anyone who hasn't come across the Humstrum, I'll try and describe it: It is carved from a piece of wood - the one I saw was, I think (it's decades ago), about 20" long - into a sort of broad bat shape. The narrow end was carved into a violin-type head, with four pegs. The neck continued down to the broad end, which was scooped out into a shallow convex shape, with a squared-off end. This end had a recess across it, which held the cocoa tin, at right- angles to the strings. The strings went over the tin, and were held by nails to the end of the instrument, the sting tension giving the necessary downward pressure to hold the tin in place. The tin acted as both bridge and resonator. The strings were obviously on a flat plane, so that when played with a bow, all strings sounded together. I don't know what the tuning is, or even if it's standard, but presume it would be a tonic/dominant drone, with either single or double melody stings. I think it's the nearest thing to an 'English fiddle'. The fiddle as we knw it -i.e. the violin - is not of English origin, and is very widely played as a traditional instrument. I think you could really only describe it as a traditional English instrument in terms of playing style, and I'm not convinced that there was a distinctive English style pre-Swarbrick, although I'm sure somebody will shoot me down in flames! Ireland and Scotland do have distinct styles, and so the fiddle is recognised as a traditional instrument in those societies. In Shetland, there is a tradition of fiddling which pre-dates the violin; it goes back to the Norse origins of that society, and their earlier fiddle was some form of 3-stringed (I think) nordic instrument. This was gradually superceded by the violin after Shetland became annexed to Scotland. But as there is an unbroken tradition of fiddling, there is still a distinct Shetland style. Gawd, I'm waffling 'ere.
John Kelly.