Here's a glimpse of an actual musical group in the Old West - harp, violin, and cornet. This is Telluride, CO in 1891, about a decade after the end of the great cattle drives, which were not in this area anyway. This is the commercial gold country, and the reason for this photograph (and others) is because Telluride was the location of one of the very earliest AC generation electric power systems, which was installed to power a stamp mill at the Gold King mine.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ames_Hyd...ing_Plant
I got this photo from the very interesting small book "Jazz on the Barbary Coast."

Great photo! I'd love to have a peek at their set list ... !

There may have been a time when a violinist and a fiddler were clearly different but in this day and age I see a Lot of classically trained violinist playing as great fiddlers........Times, they are a-changin'.......

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

There may have been a time when a violinist and a fiddler were clearly different but in this day and age I see a Lot of classically trained violinist playing as great fiddlers........Times, they are a-changin'.......

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Possibly fewer players going the other way, although there are some. Times are a-changin.

I have a problem though with some of the seriously good players in bluegrass going off on indulgent seeming tangents, making albums of faux jazz and classical style music. It might be that having good chops isn't enough if you're not actually steeped in the style you're emulating, especially if it sounds a lot like like jam band music. Or maybe that's just me being overly-opinionated again. 

Harp, violin, cornet is such an interesting combo! I also wonder what they sounded like, and what they were playing…jazz, I guess?!

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Originally posted by Brian Wood

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

There may have been a time when a violinist and a fiddler were clearly different but in this day and age I see a Lot of classically trained violinist playing as great fiddlers........Times, they are a-changin'.......

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Possibly fewer players going the other way, although there are some. Times are a-changin.

I have a problem though with some of the seriously good players in bluegrass going off on indulgent seeming tangents, making albums of faux jazz and classical style music. It might be that having good chops isn't enough if you're not actually steeped in the style you're emulating, especially if it sounds a lot like like jam band music. Or maybe that's just me being overly-opinionated again. 

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I don't know.. Now and then on Youtube I see clearly classically trained violinists trying to show people how to play a fiddle.. Somehow it just never seems to work... There ARE exceptions.. Deb Shebish is a very accomplished musician who can classical violin,  fiddle with the best, sit in an Irish jam and play bluegrass... all very well...

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Originally posted by DougD

Here's a glimpse of an actual musical group in the Old West - harp, violin, and cornet. This is Telluride, CO in 1891, about a decade after the end of the great cattle drives, which were not in this area anyway. This is the commercial gold country, and the reason for this photograph (and others) is because Telluride was the location of one of the very earliest AC generation electric power systems, which was installed to power a stamp mill at the Gold King mine.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ames_Hyd...ing_Plant
I got this photo from the very interesting small book "Jazz on the Barbary Coast."

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Yes, not exactly a scene from the heart of the Wild West at the height of the era, but it does show that the West wasn't as untamed at the end of the 19th century as is often supposed.

The expansion of rail travel made it relatively easy for people to move around and for things that were popular in cities to make their way out into smaller towns. Keep in mind that at this time, Dvorak was visiting America and writing his New World Symphony.

In addition to "classical" posture, the musicians are dressed up and reading music from stands.

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Originally posted by The Violin Beautiful

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Originally posted by DougD

Here's a glimpse of an actual musical group in the Old West - harp, violin, and cornet. This is Telluride, CO in 1891, about a decade after the end of the great cattle drives, which were not in this area anyway. This is the commercial gold country, and the reason for this photograph (and others) is because Telluride was the location of one of the very earliest AC generation electric power systems, which was installed to power a stamp mill at the Gold King mine.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ames_Hyd...ing_Plant
I got this photo from the very interesting small book "Jazz on the Barbary Coast."

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Yes, not exactly a scene from the heart of the Wild West at the height of the era, but it does show that the West wasn't as untamed at the end of the 19th century as is often supposed.

The expansion of rail travel made it relatively easy for people to move around and for things that were popular in cities to make their way out into smaller towns. Keep in mind that at this time, Dvorak was visiting America and writing his New World Symphony.

In addition to "classical" posture, the musicians are dressed up and reading music from stands.

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Which one is doing the transposing? The strings or the horn. Looking at the seating arrangement it wouldn't be a surprise if a fourth member to left hidden behind the crowd of Dvorak lovers existed.

"I don't know.. Now and then on Youtube I see clearly classically trained violinists trying to show people how to play a fiddle.. Somehow it just never seems to work... There ARE exceptions.."  

Couldn't agree more.  I get the impression that 'times are tough, so let me try and pick up a few extra sheckels teaching newbies how to play these laughably simple tunes - they'll never know the difference.'  No investment in truly learning the style and feeling of the genre.   Reels, jigs, hornpipes played as dry as 5 day old toast, vibrato stuck in at every opportunity.   Can't say i've ever seen the reverse - a player who is clearly a fiddler trying to teach or give tips on classical playing.    And Yah,  a select few make the crossover successfully, Uncle Itzack and  O'Connor come to mind, but few others.  Hey by all means explore other genres, but to set oneself up as a teacher in those others; almost seems kinda desperate. 

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Originally posted by wrench13

"I don't know.. Now and then on Youtube I see clearly classically trained violinists trying to show people how to play a fiddle.. Somehow it just never seems to work... There ARE exceptions.."  

Couldn't agree more.  I get the impression that 'times are tough, so let me try and pick up a few extra sheckels teaching newbies how to play these laughably simple tunes - they'll never know the difference.'  No investment in truly learning the style and feeling of the genre.   Reels, jigs, hornpipes played as dry as 5 day old toast, vibrato stuck in at every opportunity.   Can't say i've ever seen the reverse - a player who is clearly a fiddler trying to teach or give tips on classical playing.    And Yah,  a select few make the crossover successfully, Uncle Itzack and  O'Connor come to mind, but few others.  Hey by all means explore other genres, but to set oneself up as a teacher in those others; almost seems kinda desperate. 

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Originally posted by wrench13

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Originally posted by wrench13

"I don't know.. Now and then on Youtube I see clearly classically trained violinists trying to show people how to play a fiddle.. Somehow it just never seems to work... There ARE exceptions.."  

Couldn't agree more.  I get the impression that 'times are tough, so let me try and pick up a few extra sheckels teaching newbies how to play these laughably simple tunes - they'll never know the difference.'  No investment in truly learning the style and feeling of the genre.   Reels, jigs, hornpipes played as dry as 5 day old toast, vibrato stuck in at every opportunity.   Can't say i've ever seen the reverse - a player who is clearly a fiddler trying to teach or give tips on classical playing.    And Yah,  a select few make the crossover successfully, Uncle Itzack and  O'Connor come to mind, but few others.  Hey by all means explore other genres, but to set oneself up as a teacher in those others; almost seems kinda desperate. 

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Maybe these people don't realize that they fall short on the necessary skills to play a proper Folk style and underestimate what's required. A lot of classically oriented musicians have a sense that their type of refined music is higher up the food chain and therefore Folk style is simple in its nature so they can play it by default. They simply don't understand that what they are doing is inadequate but unfortunately there are people from a base of no knowledge keen to learn and eager to follow their direction. I suppose it takes all sorts to keep this earth turning. 

...fake!!! Not a one is chewin on straw, or bare footed. I don't see any tabakee runnin down the chin. And where is all the white powder stuff on the top of the fiddles - there all nice and shiny.

If you're gonna put on a show - try to make it real.