English fiddlers from tradition

Subject: English fiddlers
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 04:35 PM

Does anybody have recommendations on recordings of rural English fiddlers who played fiddle tunes and/or Morris dance tunes?

Contemporary interpretations of this material are of some interest, but I'm especially wondering about recordings of the old timers (a relative term!), the "tradition bearers".

Thanks in advance...

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: Tradsinger
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 04:49 PM

Well the one to go for is Steven Baldwin from Newent, who played for border morris and was recorded in the 1950s. You can get the CD from Musical Traditions - see
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/records.htm

Enjoy

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:16 PM

Jinky Wells, one time fiddler and fool of Bampton Morris, comes to mind. He appears with many other traditional musicians and singers on the "Voice of the People" series of CDs. Google him and see what you come up with.

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's Apprentice
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:31 PM

I was reminded while listening to one of the VOP CDs of Walter Bulwer of Shipdham in Norfolk, accompanied by his wife Daisy on piano.

Walter and Daisy Bulwer

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: treewind
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:31 PM

Fred Pigeon, a baker from Dorset.
An acquired taste, though - very scratchy and out of tune.
(check out the other suggestions first)

Anahata

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:34 PM

Eeley Whent,from east anglia.
WalterBulwer English CountryMusic topic12t296.

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:47 PM

Will Taylor northumbrian shepherd,.Harry Cox.
William Hocken[BoscastleBreakdown]
Eeley Whent was of the same standard as Baldwin and Bulwer.
Will Taylor was excellent. didnt Spanker Austin,play the fiddle?a visit to musical traditions might help you.

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:48 PM

A Story to Tell: Keith Summers in Suffolk 1972-79'Spanker' Austin - if you ever met him - bloody hell - fiddle player from Woodbridge. Bloody hell, the stories I could tell you about him. ...
www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/summers.htm - 207k - Cached - Similar pages

A Story to TellMary Anne - Arthur 'Spanker' Austin. Soldier's Joy - Fred List. ... We also have a tantalisingly short track of 'Spanker' Austin playing Mary Anne on the ...
www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/summers.htm - 12k - Cached - Similar pages
More results from www.mustrad.org.uk »

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: Tootler
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:50 PM

Voice of the People:

TSCD659
RIG-A-JIG-JIG
Dance Music of the South of England         

TSCD669
RANTING & REELING
Dance Music of the North of England

Go to: http://www.topicrecords.co.uk/acatalog/index2.html

Select "Voice of the People" from the menu on the left, scroll down to the list of albums. The title of each is a link to a full track listing.

Plenty of fiddle music on both

Geoff

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:56 PM

SingSayandPlay 12ts375 Topic,features Eeley Whent,good player.

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 06:36 PM

All the Musical Tradition and Topic recordings are available from CAMSCO Music. Of course.

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: GUEST,dazbo at work
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 06:08 AM

Jon Boden tells a funny story about Jinky Wells: how a collector saw him playing for the morris and in the pub asked to inspect Jinky's fiddle. He looked it over and strummed the strings, pulled a bit of a face and proceeded tuned it. He handed it back to Jinky and said "Here you are Mr. Wells, I've tuned it up for you. Whereupon Jinky took the fiddle, put it under his chin and began to play Vivaldi's Spring from the Four Seasons. The collectors jaw dropped with surprise at Jinky's skillful playing. Jinky then retuned the fiddle to where it had been.

Obvioulsly, JB does it better with suitable illustration on his fiddle.

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 04:20 PM

Dazbo, I really, really hope that's a true story, 'cos if it is, there's still people out there who deserve it to happen to them.

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 05:09 PM

Thanks to all! I now have the two Topic VoP recordings mentioned above on order (Northern & Southern dance tunes), and am in the process of downloading Topic's "English Country Music" as I write, with Walter & Daisy Bulwer and others. I look forward to investigating each of the other suggestions as well.

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 06:34 PM

In the direct line of Bampton fiddle players from Jinky Wells is Matt Green who is alive and playing and is probably younger than many regulars here.

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 01 Feb 08 - 04:26 AM

Peter Kennedy's recordings of Ned Pearson, Jim Rutherford, George & John Hepple and others.....in the VWML at C# house I believe.

Continuing tradition:

Ron Purvis
Margaret Watchorn

and others

Paws

Subject: RE: English fiddlers from tradition
From: dermod in salisbury
Date: 01 Feb 08 - 10:38 AM

Mat Green plays with the Oxford based Magpie Lane. I saw them recently in concert.   Mat holds the fiddle in the crook of his elbow rather than under the chin, with the bow held towards the middle of the stick. In consequence he gets astonishing power from the instrument, almost wacking it with the bowhair. The finger work is also very dextrous, suprising given twisted angle of the wrist.   Definitely a style to learn from.