Book Description
For years fiddlers and folklorists have prized the old-time fiddle tunes from Kentucky. Many of the most outstanding country music artists hail from the state, including Bill Monroe, widely regarded as the founder of bluegrass music. Even Aaron Copland lifted, note-for-note, a Kentucky fiddler's performance of “Bonaparte's Retreat” for the “Hoedown” section of his ballet Rodeo.
That tune and nearly 200 others are transcribed here, most for the first time. They are taken from recordings of Kentucky fiddlers, many of whom were born before 1900, practitioners of a style of playing now extremely rare. Jeff Todd Titon places the tunes in their historical context, provides biographical sketches of the performers, and offers suggestions for contemporary fiddlers who want to use the book for performance. A compact disc of recordings is also included.
Customer Reviews:
Indispensable Resource for Fiddlers.......2007-08-22
This is an indispensable resource for people interested in the fiddling traditions of Kentucky. It includes transcriptions of 170 tunes from a number of Kentucky fiddlers, some well-known (relatively speaking) and some rather obscure. The tunes also run the gamut of familiar (Arkansas Traveler) to obscure (Cotton Bonnet, Pick a Little Cotton and Spin Some Too, and many many other examples). Transcription alone may not be enough to convey the sound and feeling of the tunes so Titon has included a CD with this volume which is a selection of tunes from the book played by the source fiddlers. I wish Titon had included more tunes on this CD as it only covers a few of the 170 tunes in the book. However, for those who wish to locate more of the source tunes, there is a great resource where one can download many of them for this book (but certainly not all). It is the Digital Library of Appalachia (do a Google search and you will find it). Here you can search for a tune or fiddler and download MP3's for free. Much of Titon's book is based on field recordings done by folklorists like Bruce Greene and John Harrod, and these people have donated their recordings to the various libraries involved in the Digital Library project. For example, one can download the complete home recordings of Kentucky fiddler John Salyer on this website-- this includes all the Salyer tunes in Titon's volume and many more that are not transcribed in his book.
In my experience not all of the transcriptions exactly match the source tunes, but Titon admits in the introduction it is nearly impossible to fully capture a fiddler's setting for a tune on the written page. This is true, and I use this resource as a companion to the source tunes to clarify certain passages when needed and learn the tunes primarily by listening to them. Titon's transcriptions are clean and simple, and he does not muddy the page with a lot of prescribed bowing patterns-- he allows the fiddler to interpret the transcription and come up with his/her own bowing patterns for the tunes.
Each tune has a brief history printed below the transcription along with a list of other fiddlers who have recorded the tune (published and unpublished versions) and other books where the tune has been transcribed.
This volume also includes an excellent introduction on the evolution of old-time fiddling in Kentucky and the various tune types that have evolved in Kentucky (Titon outlines 3 different types distinguished by region). Titon includes a capsule biography section that gives a brief bio on each of the fiddlers whose tunes are transcribed in the book and in many cases a photo of the fiddler.
Overall, this is a great resource and learning tool for fiddlers and others interested in Appalachian fiddling traditions. It is in my opinion one of the best (if not the best) books on the subject of Appalachian fiddling. Highly recommended!
must have for any fiddler's library.......2006-07-09
This is a terrific book for anyone who loves old time fiddle music. Easy to read transcriptions of some different regional styles, including references to field recordings and other artists. The back of the book features biograpies of important Kentucky fiddlers with many great old photos.
Then, if you really want to know what this stuff sounds like... there is a cd included which is guaranteed to inspire you to play or just go to Kentucky as I did.
not that great.......2004-07-15
Maybe my expectations for this book were off base. The book has 170 fiddle tunes and also alot of historical and geographical references of where in Kentucky they originated from. I see that the book was funded in part by grants and it does read like alot of Masters Theses and grant proposals that I've encounted. Which is to say I think it's packaged well but also has alot of b.s. in there. I wouldn't recommend this book especially if if you want to learn some fiddle tunes, which gets back to the fact that maybe I was expecting something else altogether. On the cd there's 26 of the 170 tunes and only 9 of these are in standard tuning. Also the pitch is often way off and the transcription don't seem to jibe either. The better thing to do is just forget about the transcription and try and fiddle along. In this repect there are some pretty interesting recordings. What this book is mainly is a reference book so if you want to learn some fiddle tunes I'd say to spend your money on something else such as the Fiddler's Magazine Favorites book which comes with 2 cds and all the tunes accuratly transcribed. I don't see it on Amazon but Fiddlers Magazine puts it out ... Another good book is the Advanced Fiddling Book by Craig Duncan. It does get pretty advanced but some of the tunes are more beginning and intermediate. Also not on Amazon from what I can see but I think it's through Mel Bay. Mel Bay's Complete Fiddling Book, also by Duncan (and available thru Amazon) has some good beginning to intermediate tunes but the video which must be ordered seperatly through Mel Bay doesn't have all that many of the 300 tunes in the book so if you want a recorded rendition this is a problem as only about 10% of the tunes are on the video. What it does have though is good. Again I can see how the other reviewers gave this Kentucky Fiddle Tunes book 5 stars because it's a nice package and a decent reference book but you better be into altered tunings quite a bit... Anyway there's no way I'd tell a friend it was anything above 2 stars.
Kentucky Fiddling.......2004-01-31
There are very few good compilations of fiddle tunes from various states. While there are excellent tunebooks from a range of fiddle traditions, it is also important to have great collections of good tunes from individual states and regions. This book is an important addition to the research on fiddling traditions that comprise an important part of American folk music. The introductory materials in the book provide a fine understanding of the background of fiddle traditions in Kentucky. Titon then presents the transcriptions of dozens of great tunes, and the book includes an audio CD to help provide a better understanding of old-time fiddling in Kentucky. Highly recommended for fiddlers and old-time music fans.
Get it now, don't wait.......2002-10-17
It took me a while to cough up the do, re, mi for this one, but I'm glad I did now it's in my hands. I love this book because it's all about the music. It has enough ethnomusicoligy in it to assure you it's honest. It has a wealth of wonderful tunes both in print and on a CD. The CD gets the underlying rhythm across like notation just can't do. And the stories about the old boys and girls are a bonus. Too many old time fiddle books seem to be a catalogue of old boys. You sometimes wonder if the author ever heard them play. Not this book. This is a university press publication, so if it sells out it probably won't be available again for a long time, if ever. So get it now.
Book Description
Teach yourself authentic bluegrass, with clear instructions from a professional. Covers the basics, bowing and left-handed techniques and solo backup. A section also includes personal advice on performance. Plus a complete section of the best bluegrass songs and tunes to learn from. B/w photos.
Customer Reviews:
"TEACH YOURSELF" IS THE KEY.......2006-11-10
A NICE COLLECTION OF BLUEGRASS TUNES, AND A GREAT ACCOMPANYING CD TO PLAY ALONG-- BUT YOU BETTER BE A RATHER ACCOMPLISHED FIDDLER BEFORE YOU TRY THESE TUNES--- DEFINITELY NOT FOR THE BEGINNER
Challenging, enjoyable, fun..........2006-03-11
I love this book. I've played violin for 10 years or so, but only recently have I found an interest in playing bluegrass. This book was perfect for my situation; challenging, but not for life-long fiddlers either. I love the "breaks" that this book gives. Double-stops, slides, 16th note triplets, this book's got 'em. I really enjoy it.
Title a bit misleading.......2005-03-18
The title and it's description is misleading. The first part of the book states something along the lines that "This book is intended for those who have played violin and want to start playing bluegrass" I started playing fiddle just a few months ago with an instructor and purchased this book to help me along. I'm not interested in learning sheet music (nor is my instructor the kind who teaches it), more so just back porch picking. This wasn't the book for me.
Applying fiddle technique to double bass.......2003-07-03
IF YOU ARE A BEGINNER, don't expect to walk in and be able to teach yourself how to use a violin bow to make good sound. If you want to learn how to play a bowed string instrument, GET A TEACHER - you will not learn it in a book.
While I do play some violin, I'm primarily a bassist, and I decided to have little fun - by playing bluegrass fiddle licks on double bass. This is no small undertaking, but many of the tunes here can be played on bass in different octaves (depending on your playing ability.) Some are easier than others, but the more difficult ones could be transposed into easier keys or played at a different octave where the fingering might be easier. The CD is helpful - tracks with solo fiddle allow you to hear the style, and those without are for fun practice and improvisation.
If you are a bassist, I suggest having some knowledge of the Rabbath Bass Method first - Book 1 played up an octave would be a good start. This book is a great way to expand your bass technique and learn a new style of music.
Keep in mind I'm not using this book as it was intended (i.e. for violin.) Good luck.
Great for getting into bluegrass fiddling!.......2002-04-16
I agree with the other reviews, this is definitely not intended for players with no violin/fiddle experience. However, for someone who already knows how to play and wants to venture into bluegrass, it's perfect. Each tune has sheet music with backup and breaks, plus the cd has each tune twice - once with the fiddle and once without. The tempos are good - challenging but not impossible. It's like having a very patient band behind you - they never get tired!
Book Description
The most complete bluegrass fiddle book ever published. Authentic transcriptions of bluegrass breaks in the styles of 25 major players, including Eck Robertson, Fiddin' Arthur Smith, Chubby Wise, Vassar Clements, and Kenny Baker.
Average customer rating:
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Mel Bay 50 Tunes for Fiddle, Vol. 1: Traditional, Old Time, Bluegrass & Celtic Solos
Mark Geslison
Manufacturer: Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Guitar
| Instruments & Performers
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
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ASIN: 0786664657
Release Date: 2004-10-12 |
Product Description
50 Tunes Volume 1 for Fiddle is one book in a 5-book series. The 50 Tunes series is a collection of Bluegrass, Old Time and Celtic tunes for ensembles, families and individuals. This book contains the same 50 tunes as those found in the other 4 books of the series, but carefully designed for the fiddle. The parts in this book range from beginner to advanced. All tunes contain a simple melody and most of the tunes contain an intermediate or advanced part. Many tunes contain a harmony part to match the melody. Since fiddle contests are a tradition in American and Celtic fiddling, 50 Tunes Volume 1 for Fiddle contains hoedowns, waltzes, reels, rags, hornpipes, jigs, polkas and airs. Some of the tunes are authentic to true championship fiddling and were arranged and recorded by a former national champion fiddler. Companion CDs included.
Customer Reviews:
We Love It!.......2007-01-22
We like the way the book is arranged, and the CD's really help in learning the tunes. They are so well done, we enjoy just listening to them! Our daughters are looking forward to learning and performing these tunes.
Book Description
Over 450 authentic bluegrass licks and how to apply them to create your own solos, fills, and backup. Special sections on riffs using double stops, riffs using upper positions, and different ways of playing Orange Blossom Special.
Customer Reviews:
Good if you can Read music........2003-10-19
This is a good book generally. I does have 450 licks of 2 or 3 measures. If you can learn all of these it would vastly improve your playing. However, the included Cd only has 75 of the licks in the book so if you are not adept at reading music you might not be able to utilize all of them. Some of the recordings seem to be slighty out of pitch.
Book Description
One of the most bizarre stories in all of popular music is the history of "Orange Blossom Special," arguably the century's best-known fiddle tune. The man credited with its ownership, Ervin T. Rouse, endured tragedy, alcoholism and mental illness. He spent his last years fiddling for tips in isolated taverns at the edge of the Florida Everglades, and died all but unknown. The man who claimed co-ownership, Chubby Wise, achieved fame as the seminal fiddler of the bluegrass genre, but struggled to overcome personal demons and to heal the scars of childhood abandonment and abuse. This fascinating book uncovers how their legacies are forever linked with the legendary diesel streamliner which inspired the tune six decades ago, as it roared through American history, bringing wonder and hope to every stop. Includes a Collector's CD of rare, unreleased original recordings of "Orange Blossom Special" by Bluegrass Etc., Byron Berline, Dennis Caplinger, Buddy Emmons, John Henry Gates, The Hellcasters, Gary Morse, Benny Martin and Mike Stevens. Also features the original Rouse Brothers recording from 1939, a live performance by Chubby Wise, and six vintage bonus tracks. Randy Noles is a publisher of city/regional magazines in Florida. During his 25-year career, he has won awards for investigative reporting, feature writing and commentary. Born in Tuscaloosa, AL, he has lived in Orlando since 1967. He is married and has two children. "If you go back and listen to Ervin and Gordon Rouse's original 1939 recording, it's easy to hear 'Orange Blossom Special''s beauty, elegance and power. It bonds the romance of rambling around on trains with the mystique of a far-away land known as Florida. It is pure country music; it is pure Americana." from the foreword by Marty Stuart
Customer Reviews:
A Special Treatment of Florida Fiddlers.......2007-07-17
This book began, in part, with Noles' curiousity about the true origins of the famous fiddle tune. A common belief amongst bluegrass and country musicians was that Chubby Wise co-wrote the tune with Ervin Rouse. But by the late 1980s, this story was coming under serious scrutiny. Noles provides convincing evidence that the tune was co-written by Ervin and Gordon Rouse and that Chubby Wise should be seen as more of a popularizer of the tune -- rather than as a co-author. Both Rouse and Wise emerge as multi-faceted men, and it's to Noles' credit that he provides sympathetic portraits of both of these fine musicians, while giving the story a fair hearing. The book is especially strong when the focus is on the musical careers of the musicians, and the "Orange Blossom Special" almost appears as another important character (along with Johnny Cash, Hank Snow, and other stars) within the story. Along with gaining a glimpse of important parts of the history of bluegrass and country music, readers gain a good understanding of ways in which opportunities are made available to musicians. Readers also will discover that sometimes there are times when not taking advantage of certain opportunities may, in fact, be a wise decision in the music business. The book also includes wonderful anecdotes that Noles collected, including terrific stories about Chubby Wise's mishaps and a very funny story about a night at the Grand Old Opry that involved split pants.
Chubby's silent family.......2006-01-05
I am chubby's great grand son on the so called dumb farmgirls side. I find it very disrespectful to write a book about a man's history without interviewing or elaborating on the one person who was there. My grandmother could shed more light on the Orange Blossom conspiracy than any one alive. she has shared very vivid and detailed stories about the man and the song. And believe me, she is no dumb farmgirl. She is brilliant and deserves some respect for keeping an entire family together while he turned his back on them.
Family Reunions with Ervin T. Rouse.......2003-05-20
I am proud to know that Ervin has finally been recognized for his raw genious in playing the fiddle, composing music, performing for us when I was growing up, and telling about many of the episodes written about in the Orange Blossom Boys. Rany Noles did his research and answered questions which needed to be made known about the life of Ervin, Gordon, his siblings and the joy they brought to many as they sang and made music with the best of Artist, including Johnny Cash. I learned more than we ever knew, as I sat, spellbound, reading the book. Now, I can say I have read the book through and through several times. It is wonderful. I was born April 28,1929 and was privileged to record the Rouse's music when they visited my home. It is my hope that a Documentary will be forthcoming. Ervin ranks right up there with Bill Monroe, The Carter Family, Flatt and Scruggs,Doc Watson, Roy Acuff, etc. He is an Icon in Blue Grass, and respected by the best of them in the business. The Orange Blossom Special is likened to The Star Spangled Banner by me and my relatives. Audrey W. Hartsoe, 24 Scott Place, Clinton, N.
C.28328 PS I did speak with Randy Noles upon receipt of the book; it is wonderful!
finally, the real story is told!.......2003-01-19
What a wonderful job Mr. Noles does in telling the story and interweaving the lives of these two unfortunate souls against a backdrop of old Florida. He is able to convert his massive research into such an interesting read; I had difficulty putting it down!
The Untold Story.......2002-11-28
I would like to know where the book tells about Chubby's other family living in Georgia and Florida. He had a wife before Rossy and she was no stupid farmgirl. He also had a daughter that loved her father more than anything. Where in the book does it talk about them. It does not say a single word because of one women could not stand to have anything to do with his other family. If women would leave married men alone (this goes both ways), maybe the right family would be in the book. The picture of Chubby's step-grandson is a slap in the face to my husband. He is the bloodline of Chubby Wise. I feel my husband's family deserves a right to tell the unknown years of what really happened and how Rossy became Mrs. Wise. I enjoy knowing Chubby was my husband's grandfather, but on the other hand, I get really upset when I hear how much pain and greif was caused by this piece of history.
Book Description
The first complete guide to bluegrass fiddling, covering the fundamentals of musical terminology, right- and left-hand techniques, double stops, slurs and slides. Twenty nine bluegrass and 14 traditional tunes arranged to develop technique and a repertoire.
Customer Reviews:
The First and Classic Book on Bluegrass Fiddle.......2007-04-20
Bluegrass Boy Gene Lowinger wrote this book in the 1970's, when it was the first of it's kind. It is still a classic; well organized, insightful and well written by someone who knows. I'm surprised how well this book has aged. I have many of the more recent bluegrass fiddle books, including the excellent Stacy Phillips books, but I keep coming back to this one. Should be in the collection of any bluegrass fiddler.
Product Description
There are 126 songs and tunes referenced in the classic books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, many of them among the finest and most loved in all of American music. This edition is of a selection of those songs, ones heard in performance on the CD, Happy Land: Musical Tributes to Laura Ingalls Wilder. Includes guitar chord symbols and piano music where applicable. A short narrative explains the historical background of each song and references where it appears in Laura Ingalls Wilder's books. Songs included: The Arkansas Traveler, Barbara Allen, The Big Sunflower, The Blue Juniata, Captain Jinks, The Devils Dream, The Girl I Left Behind Me, The Happy Land, Highland Mary, Nelly Was a Lady, Oft in the Stilly Night, Oh! Susanna, On Jordan's Story Banks, The Promised Land, Roll the Ole Chariot, Sweet By and By, Uncle Sam's Farm
Customer Reviews:
This is wonderful!.......2007-08-25
Dale Cockrell of Vanderbilt University has done the world of American Literature TWO very big favors...
First, he is in the process of gathering the music of Laura Ingalls Wilder into a series of CDs, to augment the wonderful stories.
And, because music IS an integral part of the Wilders' lives, it is only fitting that this should be done.
Second, he helped compile this book, full of sheet music, lyrics, and vignettes.
I've purchased five copies of the CD, and three of the books...they make most excellent gifts for those relatives of mine who love Laura Ingalls Wilder...my granddaughter was especially pleased to get the CD and book as a package.
I highly recommend this to anybody who loves Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Book Description
An excellent, concise method for fiddling. Appropriate for children, this text also will prepare the fiddler for transition into classics. Widely used by string teachers!
Customer Reviews:
Great Book to Start With.......2004-04-21
My real interest is old folk and cowboy music, but this comes close enough. I read this book, got hooked, bought a fiddle and played a simple tune the first day! This is the only book I've seen (yet) that shows you how to place your fingers on a violin when you pick it up and rotate it into position.
Get a book like this one, follow the instructions and start fiddling!
Book Description
Beginners will be playing double-stops, harmonies, riffs and exciting solos right from the first lesson. More than 35 great fiddle tunes are taught! This complete course includes bluegrass, old-timey, blues and Cajun styles. Songs include: Waterbound * Old Joe Clark * Tom Dooley * Hop High Ladies * Leather Britches * Soldier's Joy * Arkansas Traveler * Billy in the Low Ground * Florida Blues * and more. SIX CDs * INCLUDES MUSIC * LEVEL 1
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