Posted by oldtimewine on Friday, December 10, 2010
A great question for all is what is old time music to you? For me it's a sparkle in a persons eye when your playing a tune or that smile you get from people watching you play. The curiosity of how you play the same tune compared to 100 other people at a festival and its never the same. The spark that flew from my scratchy fiddling that made an older man dance his heart out while i played,lol. (Thats a true story ;) ) Old time is something you cant get out of any music... what is it to you?
15 comments on “what is old time music to you?”
robinja Says:
Friday, December 10, 2010 @8:51:46 AM
Old time music to me is toe-tapping music. Whether it's a single fiddle, a string band, or a 20-person jam - toes, heads, or whole bodies will spontaneously move to the beat. Another flavor of old time music is chill-bump inducing music. A single fiddle tuned to DDAD playing a slow, comtemplative tune such as Wounded Hoosier. A fiddle and banjo duet playing a spooky modal tune. Or a string band playing a tune that you just know your grandmother and grandfather square-danced to back in the day is enough to induce chill bumps. Finally, old time music is singing from the heart, whether it's a rollicking tune about whiskey, a nonsense tune about an old jawbone, a reverent song about God, a song about barnyard animals, or a murder ballad.
David M. Says:
Friday, December 10, 2010 @9:24:37 AM
To me it's a step back in time and harkens back to a long lost time. It's ancient tones and ancient tunes. Traditional. American. Dance music. Storytelling. I love it.
bj Says:
Friday, December 10, 2010 @4:22:08 PM
It's the toetapping. Or the open mouthed wonder. There's something in this music that reaches deep inside most people, even those who would normally be oblivious.
I often bring my fiddle with me when I set up at an antique sale. I can see instantly in certain faces that they've never heard this stuff, but there's something in it that's calling powerfully to them, and it almost makes me wonder if, in a past life, an ancestor danced to the same sort of fiddling. You can see them walk by in time to the music, or maybe doing a little jig step. And they often stop at my booth and look at every dang thing I have just so they can hear the music for a little while longer. (Yes, there's a method to my Oldtime Madness ;-) )
But the most magical time was when Jane and I were busking. A tiny dog stopped walking and sat right in front of us, staring up at us in wonder, and refusing to acknowledge tugs on her leash. She then very delicately got up on her hind legs and started pirouetting to the music. Three kids joined her. I swear it was just amazing. And of course the tune went on and on. Don'tcha know Jane had her eyes closed and missed the whole dang thing. She was having a Banjo Zen Moment or something.
oldtimewine Says:
Friday, December 10, 2010 @6:12:29 PM
old time music always comes with great stories like yours BJ. Its like you said it touches people who have never heard it. i like your old time madness comment too lol
fiddlepogo Says:
Friday, December 10, 2010 @7:32:21 PM
David M's comment + the toetapping pretty much sums it up for me.
M-D Says:
Friday, December 10, 2010 @11:06:54 PM
To me, it's the music of my people, here in the vanishing Ozarks.
carlb Says:
Saturday, December 11, 2010 @7:55:12 AM
It's the music
It's an addiction
It's the people who play it with you
It's the memories of those I heard play and are gone
It's giving back what you've learned to others, especially to those who live where you learned much
It's ...........................................
Humbled by this instrument Says:
Saturday, December 11, 2010 @5:30:33 PM
It's old...and it's...old all the time...and it's...played by these people who hold their bows incorrectly and need to learn Classical. Other than that, I agree with everybody else here.
oldtimewine Says:
Sunday, December 12, 2010 @5:28:16 AM
i guess everyone has an opinion....but you can bow like a sheep tail wag and get a good sound.
Humbled by this instrument Says:
Sunday, December 12, 2010 @9:46:11 AM
And I've heard that good sound from "incorrect" bowers, too, oldtimewine. In fact, I've heard some of the most incredible old time played just a few miles from my doorstep. Too bad there's no longer a regular jam going.
oldtimewine Says:
Monday, December 13, 2010 @5:37:35 AM
its a hard thing to find, old time jams anymore. its a dying thing ya know?
carlb Says:
Monday, December 13, 2010 @7:59:02 AM
from Oldtimewine:
"its a hard thing to find, old time jams anymore. its a dying thing ya know?"
I guess it depends where you live. I don't know all of the areas of the country that have plenty of regular old time jams, some seem to be near urban areas these days, e.g. Phladelphia, Wasington-Baltimore and also in some smaller areas like Charlottesville, VA and greater Floyd-Hillsville-Galax-Independence. I'm sure there are many more. However, some areas of the country are almost devoid of old time jams.
oldtimewine Says:
Tuesday, December 14, 2010 @5:04:47 AM
i get where your coming from i meant more in my area. I travel to VA and WV to play mostly but i found recently a couple who plays old time music close so i am excited about that! it's mostly bluegrass with an old time player here or there.
carlb Says:
Thursday, December 16, 2010 @7:14:15 AM
Since you're about a two hour drive from Ashville, NC, you might want to check out events and jams in that area, maybe not on a regular bases but every once in a while. I know there are alot of old time players in that area.
oldtimewine Says:
Friday, December 17, 2010 @5:43:31 AM
thanks for the tip! ill check it out. i have started seeking out the old time muscians in my area recently and think i'm on to something. thanks again
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