Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles

Subject: RE: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 02:45 PM

Rattlesnakes are on the protected list in Arizona (keep down rodents).

Many years ago, on one of the barrier islands of Texas, landward of the dune line, cattle were grazed. On a field trip there, we were collecting a few rattlesnakes for zoology classes. The cattleman asked us to stop, for that reason.
I haven't been there for a long time, but condos probably have driven off cattleman, cattle, rattlesnakes and all.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 02:24 PM

There are urban legends, and there are country tales, all invented to ensnare the mentally challenged.

Most of the old folkishness about fiddles appears to come from the tradition that "fiddle music" was somehow "evil" and that anyone who played the fiddle was sort of disreputable. (Some things never change.)

The accusation that "fiddling" was somehow connected with "devil music," made by superstitious non-fiddlers, naturally called for the fiddlers to respond with "magic" amulets and rituals. The difficult question is whether a given "magic" was because the fiddler believed it did something, or whether the fiddler did it as a put-on of those who denigrated his art.

My explanation of the rattler in the fiddle goes:

Every kid that's ever seen a rattlesnake probably killed at least one and took the rattle as a souvenir. The rattles dry out and get fragile, and there's no place safer to put one than inside your fiddle. People will ask "why," so you make up some B.S..

People who believe your B.S. will go get their own rattle.

John

Subject: RE: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 08:44 AM

Bill Monroe kept a rattle in his mandolin to stop dust settling, stop it getting dull.

eric

Subject: RE: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 12:26 AM

I live in an area that has rattlesnakes. A nearby town has a "Rattlesnake Roundup" every year. Snakes are not killed but they are brought in to be weighed and then returned to the spot from which they were taken. Because the snakes are somewhat common in this area, all students in a high school ecology class are taught how to handle snakes and be safe around them. I don't recall ever hearin' about how to safely fiddle with one INSIDE my fiddle though....LOL....dang...can you imagine? All those bow pokes to the head would really piss the snake off.....

Michelle

Subject: RE: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: Kaleea
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 12:21 AM

If you really want some serious rattler rattles or rattler anything else, get yourself to Waynoka, Oklahoma the weekend after Easter for the annual Rattlesnake Roundup. You cannot imagine all the things you can do with a rattlesnake--dead or alive. I've seen fiddlers fiddlin' with rattles in, over, under, around, through, and everywhich way including loose, and attached to anything and everything you never thought possible. (how's that for total incorrect grammerocityness?!)
But rattles in the fiddles are for sissies. If you want to have a really good time, try fiddlin' with a LIVE rattler INSIDE your fiddle. Then, if you should live through that, maybe you could let your imagination go wilder than a fiddlin' rattlesnake dancer, and win some prizes for everything you never wanted to do with a rattlesnake and were terrified but drunk enough to do anyway.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 11:35 PM

Well then Q, I must fall into the mentally challenged category (like this is a big surprise, eh?) because I want to find myself a rattlesnake rattle to slide into my fiddle...kinda curious about the sound........

Michelle

Subject: RE: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: frogprince
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 09:50 PM

Hey, it makes perfect sense; how else ya gonna play a rattlin' good fiddle (or mandolin) tune...

Subject: RE: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 08:13 PM

I think it mainly just gives people something to talk about:

"You got a rattlesnake rattle inside thet Dee-Eighteen, boy?"

"Yassir. It's got elebin rattles an' a button."

"You killitcherself?"

"Yassir. I shot 'im while we 'uz deer huntin' one day. He done bit one uh m' dawgs fust, though."

"Tha's too bad." (Spits a wad of Redman and begins to play "Ol' Shep".)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 05:55 PM

There are urban legends, and there are country tales, all invented to ensnare the mentally challenged.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 03:13 PM

I put rattles in once...couldn't see that it made any difference. LOTS of things are wrapped in silk for that reason....like Tarot cards.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 02:12 PM

Another bit of folklore: Fiddler's often wrap their violins in silk scarves to keep out evil spirits (the evil spirits slide right off the slippery silk)!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: mandotim
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 01:58 PM

Lots of Bluegrass mandolin players do this as well. The usual explanation for anything a bluegrass player does is 'Bill Monroe did it this way...'.
Tim from Bit on the Side

Subject: RE: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 01:52 PM

Hm, a fiddle AND a snare drum!

~S~

Subject: Folklore: Rattlers and Fiddles
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 01:10 PM

I just finished reading about how fiddler's of the Appalachian area used to put rattlesnake rattles (tail) inside their fiddles (through the f-hole). It is said that because rattlers live when it is dry, their rattles absorb the water out of the air and it is believed that it will also take any water/humidity out of the violin as well.

I also read that this has been done in Texas as well. Folks in Texas often left their fiddles hanging on the wall. The rattlers were used to keep out the mice who might otherwise make their home there. The rattles keep out spiders too.

The resulting swooshing sound is said to enhance the sound of the fiddle as well.

Anybody ever heard of this before or tried it?

Michelle