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old cowboy - Posted - 04/14/2021: 11:27:00
I love listening to John Hartford play! Never saw another fiddler who could move the bow so little and get so many notes from it! I wish I could find more of his fiddle playing. The man lived a fascinating life. Too bad it ended so tragically. Loved the way he slurred so many notes together especially when he played Big Rock Candy Mountain.
Brian Wood - Posted - 04/14/2021: 12:24:07
quote:
Originally posted by old cowboy
I love listening to John Hartford play! Never saw another fiddler who could move the bow so little and get so many notes from it! I wish I could find more of his fiddle playing. The man lived a fascinating life. Too bad it ended so tragically. Loved the way he slurred so many notes together especially when he played Big Rock Candy Mountain.
I'm also a fan of his fiddle playing. I don't know of another fiddler who gets more notes from a bow stroke than he could, and he sounded good doing it. But I wouldn't generally recommend bowing that way for most fiddlers because the movement of the bow gives movement to the tune, generally. And he didn't play everything the way you're describing. In fact he was known for mixing up his bowing to keep things interesting.
farmerjones - Posted - 04/14/2021: 15:36:16
I've always contended John Hartford's, Hamilton Ironworks CD changed my life.
Here's another: Goto fiddle.com (fiddler magazine home) click on "Store/subscribe." Scroll down to the John Hartford DVD. It's like being in his home office, getting a fiddle lesson.
coryobert - Posted - 04/14/2021: 16:37:06
I just picked up a set of his "fiddle device" 3x5 cards. You can read about them and purchase from Megan Lynch's FiddleStar website.
It's sort of like what Steve say's, getting a real personal insight into a fiddle legends mind. Those Hartford fiddle CDs are hypnotic to me.
ChickenMan - Posted - 04/14/2021: 18:42:52
quote:
Originally posted by coryobert
I just picked up a set of his "fiddle device" 3x5 cards. You can read about them and purchase from Megan Lynch's FiddleStar website.
It's sort of like what Steve say's, getting a real personal insight into a fiddle legends mind. Those Hartford fiddle CDs are hypnotic to me.
I just ordered a set too.
banjopaolo - Posted - 04/17/2021: 10:36:46
Always loved everything Hartford did! times ago I recorded one of his fiddle composition on my viola, maybe you enjoy!
tonyelder - Posted - 04/17/2021: 12:38:35
I became a fan back in my bluegrass days (years ago). My wife and I became good friends with John's first wife (Betty) through a mutual friend (Ginger Boatwright). We had opportunity to met his son Jamie a few times because of our friendship with Betty - and his daughter Katie a few times as well. We haven't seen Betty in a few years now. That's a shame. She is such a great lady and friend.
I was fortunate enough to buy one of John's fiddles that he had for 20 years. As the story is told by Jamie, it was given to him when he told his dad that he wanted to learn to play the fiddle. So, John gave him this fiddle. Jamie kept it for another 20 years.
I told Jamie he could buy it back if he ever wanted it. He thanked me and said - its your fiddle, enjoy! Great guy.
There are a few other stories I could tell but... I'm very proud to have it with me and be able to play it whenever...
Edited by - tonyelder on 04/17/2021 12:39:14
