The Fiddle

No instrument brings the sun to a rainy day quite like the fiddle. Its cheerful strains inspire smiles and tapping toes whether young or old. The fiddle brings back memories of square dances at the local barn or folk songs at family reunions. Its sound speaks of the South.

Folkways The Fiddle explores this musical heritage by examining the different styles of fiddle playing. Unlike guitar-picking styles, which branch from two main types , fiddle playing styles can differ dramatically from one musician to another. David Holt introduces four fiddlers who have created their own styles either from picking up the musical tradition of the region, differentiating from a basic style or combining the styles of several different musicians. In addition, Audrey Hash Ham, daughter of Albert Hash, who was a guest on Folkways Music From the Hills, teaches David how to make a fiddle from a block on wood.

Red Wilson demonstrates his style of old-time bluegrass. Fiddling runs in Wilson's family; in fact, he learned from his grandfather. Wilson also spent time playing with Wade Mainer and sings one of Mainer's songs as David accompanies on guitar.

Benton Flippen and Arvil Freeman are both from the mountains but have very different styles. Flippen is famous for the "Surry County sound"- playing two strings at once. Flippen's upbeat rhythm and slide technique belie the popular venue for Mt. Airy fiddling: square dances. Freeman, on the other hand, invented his own style of playing-a long-bow playing style reminiscent of the violin.

Arvil Freeman's unique style attracted an apprentice-Josh Goforth, who saw him at a "jam" session where the youth was playing guitar. Like Freeman, Josh has created his own style of playing, borrowing techniques from several of the senior players-Flippen, Wilson, and Freeman-and adding some accent.

Nothing demonstrates the difference in the styles of these four musicians than their renditions of the tune, "Soldier's Joy." From old-time fiddling to a contemporary bluegrass sound, these musicians show that playing the fiddle is as individual as the person who handles the instrument.