In this issue

Fall 2019 features include Kenny Kosek: Tales from the "Fertile Crescent of Fiddle Music"; Memories of Manitoba's Carl Grexton; An Interview with Carl Grexton; Tatiana Hargreaves: Hard-driving Fiddle; George Jackson: Coming Home to Dance Music; Ryan Young: A Study in Contrasts; Fiddle-icious Traditions. Columns and tunes: Violin Maker's Corner; On Improvisation; Waltzes & Airs ("The Tombigbee Waltz," arranged by Jay Ungar & Molly Mason); Tunesmiths ("Chips and Sauce," by Ira Bernstein); Jody's Column ("Pretty Little Indian," as played by Curly Ray Cline); Fiddle Tune History ("Vance No More"); Bluegrass Fiddling ("Johnny's Girl," by Johnny Warren); The Practicing Fiddler: Common Bowing Patterns for Breakdowns & Jigs ("Mississippi Sawyer," "Irishman's Heart to the Ladies"); Scottish Fiddling with Pete Clark ("Captain Henry Brian Myers," "Patrick's Strathspey," by Pete Clark); The Hidden Note: Pioneering Women Fiddlers ("The Bag of Spuds," as played by Liz Carroll); Notes on Learning: The Beat Not Played; In Memoriam: Paddy Fahy; The Intrepid Fiddler ("Blue Runner," by Bébé Carrière); Fiddle Tune Crossword Puzzle; Reviews of Recordings and Books; Fiddle-toon (comic).

Kenny Kosek: Tales From The 'Fertile Crescent Of Fiddle Music'

It was nearly a half century ago that Breakfast Special swung by the Rutgers University student center for a performance at the Tuesday Night Folk Music Concert Series.

10+ mins

Memories Of Manitoba's Carl Grexton

An old man’s squint reveals much as he digs into a fiddle. How he squeezes the instrument, shuffles his feet, puckers his lips, staring – at what? Listen and look.

8 mins

'I Wouldn't Trade My Style …' An Interview With Carl Grexton

[This is an edited transcription of a conversation between Will Henry and fiddler Carl Grexton, who was 74 at the time. It was recorded at Grexton’s home in Grandview, Manitoba, on March 13, 1984.]

10+ mins

Tatiana Hargreaves - Hard-Driving Fiddle

As a fiddler, Tatiana Hargreaves has done more before the age of 25 than most fiddlers do in an entire lifetime.

9 mins

George Jackson: 'Coming Home To Dance Music'

We know the world is full of fiddlers.

8 mins

Ryan Young: A Study In Contrasts

Ryan Young is a study in contrasts. Known for wild and percussive playing onstage with Trampled by Turtles, he is almost shy offstage.

6 mins

Violin Maker's Corner

Hello friends, I am pleased you have joined me this quarter as I, and the wonderful staff here at Fiddler Magazine, kick off a brand new column!

3 mins

Waltzes & Airs

A River of Possibilities

1 min

Ira Bernstein's “Chips and Sauce”

Ira Bernstein’s “Chips and Sauce”

6 mins

The Hidden Note

Cherish the Ladies, Part II: Pioneering Women Fiddlers

4 mins

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Fiddler Magazine Description:

Founded in 1994, Fiddler Magazine is an informative, educational, and entertaining resource for fiddlers, accompanists, and appreciative listeners. Each quarterly issue (+/- 55 pages each) features a variety of different styles of fiddling, as well as plenty of other articles and columns. Regular columns include: Bluegrass Fiddling, “The Practicing Fiddler,” Fiddle Tune History, On Improvisation, Irish Fiddling, Scottish Fiddling, and reviews of CDs, books, and DVDs. Each issue also includes transcriptions of several tunes.