The Origins of Old Time Fiddling

Tracing the Roots of Early Violin Music and Its Players

Jul 16, 2009 Sheila Aylesworth

From its origins in Europe to its transformation in Canada and the United States, fiddle music continues to be one of the most popular, music genres.

Richard Nevins states in the preface to his Old Time Fiddle Classics, CD, Vol. 2, 1927-1934, County 527, “It is likely all countless variations of country fiddling in North America can be traced to seven or eight different styles brought over by Celtic immigrants from Northern Ireland, southern Scotland and parts of England.”

Nevins describes fiddler, Eck Robertson’s 1922, rendition of Sallie Gooden, as an example of a style unchanged and “probably the oldest, extant Celtic fiddle style preserved anywhere.” Another instance of traditional fiddle music can be found in the music of the Acadian French in Nova Scotia. Canada and the Cajuns of New Orleans. Due to their self-imposed isolation, Acadian fiddle music remained free of outside influences for centuries.

The Addition of Imitative Sounds to Early Fiddling

Early Fiddling in America was done mainly by farmers and laborers at house parties. If they were lucky, there might be a guitar or banjo player to accompany them. Fiddlers added variety to their tunes, with the inclusion of instrumental and vocal tricks. The old minstrel tune, Listen to the Mockingbird was livened up with bird imitations and woodpecker sounds.

According to Bill C. Malone in his book, Country Music U.S.A., page 19, published by the University of Texas Press, Blacks in the Southern United States began fiddling during the antebellum period while they were still slaves. They were taught by whites to entertain at plantation parties, but Black fiddlers soon added their own rhythmic variations to their fiddling.

The fiddle became the favored instrument among working class people. Fiddling styles and variations differed from state to state and within areas of states. Diversity of the fiddler’s styles were determined by the way they held their instrument and their bowing and fingering techniques. Some fiddlers even sang while they played.

During the 1920s, train travel and new roads into isolated mountain areas, opened up these regions to travelling tent shows and minstrel performers. Innovative fiddlers were quick to add a variety of these styles to their fiddling, including blues and jazz..

Onset of Fiddling Contests

In Country Music U.S.A., page 18, Malone also noted, the earliest recorded fiddle contest, in which prizes were awarded, took place in 1736 in Hanover, Virginia. But one of the largest Old Time Fiddling competitions took place annually in Atlanta, Georgia. It ran from 1913 to 1935, and contestants played an eclectic variety of fiddle music. Songs of British origin included; Soldiers Joy, Irish Washerwomen and Molly Put the Kettle On. American tunes included, Flop-eared Mule, Cumberland Gap and Cripple Creek. Also included were Black influenced fiddle airs like Cotton-Eyed Joe, and Old Zip Coon better known as Turkey in the Straw.

The old time waltz, Over the Waves, which has become a staple for most fiddlers was originally written by Mexican composer, Juventino Rosa as Sobre las Olas.

Auto pioneer, Henry Ford was influential in spreading the popularity of fiddling contests. He wanted a return to the music of his youth and away from the growing popularity of ragtime and jazz music. In 1926, Ford dealerships held regional fiddling contests in the Eastern and mid-west states. The winners went on to the National Championship held in Detroit. Bunt Stephen won the contest for fiddling, The Old Speckled Hen. He won a new car and one thousand dollars in cash. Country Music, U.S.A. Bill Malone, page 42.

From fast and furious jigs and reels to Bluegrass fiddling and the swing rhythms of the Texas fiddlers, old time fiddle music has undergone many metamorphosis. Through it all, the popularity of fiddles and fiddle music has remained constant.

The copyright of the article The Origins of Old Time Fiddling in Country Music is owned by Sheila Aylesworth. Permission to republish The Origins of Old Time Fiddling in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.