Fiddle music is for everyone!
The Greentree Fiddle Contest is committed to maintaining high standards and spirited competition while creating an environment that encourages musicians from all walks of life to participate, regardless of prior fiddle contest experience. Old Time fiddle music is vital to the history of Missouri, and we believe that the best way to see this tradition continue and flourish is to welcome new participants with open arms, and share knowledge without restraint. The following resources are provided to bring anyone new to the scene "up to speed" on fiddle contest culture, and to spark a love for this craft in the hearts of a new generation of fiddlers in Missouri.
An Intro to Fiddle History
History of Fiddle Contests (National Old Time Fiddlers Contest and Festival)
Influential Missouri Fiddlers (Missouri Traditional Fiddle and Dance Network)
Old Time and Appalachian Fiddle Music (BabaYagaMusic)
Influential Missouri Fiddlers (Missouri Traditional Fiddle and Dance Network)
Old Time and Appalachian Fiddle Music (BabaYagaMusic)
A Note on Culture and Style
While Old Time Fiddle is a strong musical tradition with a distinct history and unique stylistic attributes, American fiddle music is as much of a melting pot as the people who brought their beautifully varied cultural styles to the areas in which they settled. Borrowing tunes from different fiddle cultures is not unheard of, but the culturally sensitive fiddler will do their best to understand the background of tunes they learn. For example, it is possible to play "Drowsy Maggie", a famous Irish reel, in the style of an Old Time breakdown, as it satisfies the tempo and meter requirements. Taking the notes on the page at face value, one could apply traditional Old Time embellishments such as double stops, instead of traditional Celtic embellishments such as turns and trills. Such stylistic interpretation and experimentation has gone on for centuries as musicians of different cultures have shared tunes. All of this being said, it is worth noting that not everyone in the wider fiddle community would consider this to be appropriate, as preserving regional and cultural styles is chiefly accomplished through adherence to traditional tunes and performance conventions. Because fiddling is historically an aural tradition (passed down by learning by ear, not memorizing from sheet music), stylistic differences between cultural styles are a source of great pride and historical significance for players. While the broad availability of sheet music in our modern era makes fiddle music accessible to everyone, it also threatens to dilute the unique sound of each regional style. Happily, our modern world also presents an antidote to this problem with the equally available and accessible recordings of current and past master fiddlers of all different styles. For the musician wishing to participate in fiddle culture in the most authentic way, avid listening is critical. Ultimately, the Greentree Fiddle Contest takes the stance that all fiddling is good fiddling, and does not wish to deter participants out of the fear of causing offence. Rather, we encourage participants to listen to and play music they love, while pursuing knowledge through research of the cultural and historical context of tunes with which they engage.
Required Tunes
In keeping with tradition, you will need to prepare three tunes for this competition: a breakdown, a waltz, and a tune of choice. But which tunes qualify, and where can you find them?
A "breakdown" is an upbeat tune in 2/4 or 4/4 time. These tunes are traditionally played for lively square dances. There is no exact tempo requirement for a tune to qualify as a breakdown, but the quick tempo distinguishes this style from slower duple-meter tunes such as marches. The term "breakdown" and "hoedown" are often used interchangeably, while the former may be more often used when referencing a stand-alone musical performance (such as in a fiddle contest), and the latter when referencing music played for dancing. There are many types of tunes that are categorized by subtle cultural and/or stylistic differences that would be permissible to perform in this category, including reels and hornpipes.
A "waltz" is a moderate-to-slow tune in 3/4 time. Emphasis is placed on the first beat of each measure, and bowings are generally smoother and more graceful.
A "tune of choice" can be any style of tune outside of a breakdown or waltz (Youth Division competitors may play a second breakdown). This could include (but is not limited to) a jig (upbeat tune in 6/8), rag (duple meter with heavy emphasis on syncopation), or polka (fast tune in 2/4). Fiddlers often choose a tune where they can "let loose" and really show off!
A "breakdown" is an upbeat tune in 2/4 or 4/4 time. These tunes are traditionally played for lively square dances. There is no exact tempo requirement for a tune to qualify as a breakdown, but the quick tempo distinguishes this style from slower duple-meter tunes such as marches. The term "breakdown" and "hoedown" are often used interchangeably, while the former may be more often used when referencing a stand-alone musical performance (such as in a fiddle contest), and the latter when referencing music played for dancing. There are many types of tunes that are categorized by subtle cultural and/or stylistic differences that would be permissible to perform in this category, including reels and hornpipes.
A "waltz" is a moderate-to-slow tune in 3/4 time. Emphasis is placed on the first beat of each measure, and bowings are generally smoother and more graceful.
A "tune of choice" can be any style of tune outside of a breakdown or waltz (Youth Division competitors may play a second breakdown). This could include (but is not limited to) a jig (upbeat tune in 6/8), rag (duple meter with heavy emphasis on syncopation), or polka (fast tune in 2/4). Fiddlers often choose a tune where they can "let loose" and really show off!
Fiddle Tunes and Where to Find Them
The library of fiddle tunes is nearly infinite. In preparing for this contest, you may choose to learn your tunes in one of 3 ways...
Learning by ear, in person remains the most authentic way to engage with fiddle music. If you have a relative, teacher, or family friend who fiddles, ask them to teach you a tune! The human interaction that springs from this exercise is at the heart of everything this contest stands for. If you don't happen to know a fiddler personally, we are fortunate in the St. Louis area to have a vibrant local fiddle scene. Check out the links below to find a jam session near you!
Music Folk Jams
Friends of Old Time St. Louis
Learning by ear, online is a luxury we have in modern times, and is a great introduction to learning by ear for anyone who is not quite ready to join a jam session. Many sheet music sites (see links below) also provide links to recordings of each tune for reference. For those new to learning by ear, you might try one of these, using the sheet music as a reference only. Of course, you can look up any tune on YouTube and learn from the recording. Start by searching performances by well-known Old Time fiddle players! There are also several wonderful channels that teach tunes step-by-step, like those linked below.
The Fiddle Channel
The National Fiddler Hall of Fame
FiddleHed
Learning from sheet music is the perfect gateway into fiddle music for classically trained musicians who want to stay in their "comfort zone" while learning this new style. This approach is perfectly valid, but please remember that it is absolutely mandatory to also listen to recordings or live performances of each tune as you learn! Sheet music is also a great resource to clarify rhythms and notes in tunes for which a recording is unavailable or the details are difficult to hear. Keep in mind that there are as many versions of a single tune as there are fiddlers who play it! Don't be surprised if you look up the sheet music for a particular tune, only to find about 15 different versions. There is no "correct" version. Listen, play, and experiment to find your favorite. Check out the links below for sheet music resources online.
Old Time Fiddle Tunes
Tune Vault
Tune Collections on the Internet
Learning by ear, in person remains the most authentic way to engage with fiddle music. If you have a relative, teacher, or family friend who fiddles, ask them to teach you a tune! The human interaction that springs from this exercise is at the heart of everything this contest stands for. If you don't happen to know a fiddler personally, we are fortunate in the St. Louis area to have a vibrant local fiddle scene. Check out the links below to find a jam session near you!
Music Folk Jams
Friends of Old Time St. Louis
Learning by ear, online is a luxury we have in modern times, and is a great introduction to learning by ear for anyone who is not quite ready to join a jam session. Many sheet music sites (see links below) also provide links to recordings of each tune for reference. For those new to learning by ear, you might try one of these, using the sheet music as a reference only. Of course, you can look up any tune on YouTube and learn from the recording. Start by searching performances by well-known Old Time fiddle players! There are also several wonderful channels that teach tunes step-by-step, like those linked below.
The Fiddle Channel
The National Fiddler Hall of Fame
FiddleHed
Learning from sheet music is the perfect gateway into fiddle music for classically trained musicians who want to stay in their "comfort zone" while learning this new style. This approach is perfectly valid, but please remember that it is absolutely mandatory to also listen to recordings or live performances of each tune as you learn! Sheet music is also a great resource to clarify rhythms and notes in tunes for which a recording is unavailable or the details are difficult to hear. Keep in mind that there are as many versions of a single tune as there are fiddlers who play it! Don't be surprised if you look up the sheet music for a particular tune, only to find about 15 different versions. There is no "correct" version. Listen, play, and experiment to find your favorite. Check out the links below for sheet music resources online.
Old Time Fiddle Tunes
Tune Vault
Tune Collections on the Internet
