Fiddlesticks are traditional instruments used to add percussion to old-time and Cajun fiddle music, allowing two people to play the fiddle at the same time. While the fiddler plays in normal fashion, a second person uses a pair of straws, sticks, or knitting needles to tap out a rhythm on the strings over the upper fingerboard (between the bow and the fiddler's fingering hand).
The Cantrells (Al and Emily Cantrell) playing fiddlesticksIra Bernstein playing fiddlesticks with Riley Baugus
Also called "beating the straws" or "playing the straws," this technique probably arose in the eastern United States. British folklorist Fred McCormick reports that he has never encountered it among British and Irish fiddlers, and suggests that it may have arisen on American plantations as a substitute for African musical instruments.[1] The technique has become rarer over time as the music has changed,[2] but numerous examples have been recorded, for example in the "Mardi Gras Jig" by a group led by Cajun fiddler and singer Dewey Balfa,[3] or by Al and Emily Cantrell.[4]
References
^McCormick, Fred (20 September 1998). "The Hammons Family". Musical Traditions Internet Magazine. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
^. Louisiana Folklife Program. Archived from the original on 17 October 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
^"Les Quatre Vieux Garçons". Smithsonian Folkways. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
^"ABOUT THE CANTRELLS". Thecantrellsmusic.tripod.com. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
External links
Tim Eriksen and Peter Irvine - Sandy Boys on YouTube
August 24, 2023
fiddlesticks, other, uses, disambiguation, traditional, instruments, used, percussion, time, cajun, fiddle, music, allowing, people, play, fiddle, same, time, while, fiddler, plays, normal, fashion, second, person, uses, pair, straws, sticks, knitting, needles. For other uses see Fiddlesticks disambiguation Fiddlesticks are traditional instruments used to add percussion to old time and Cajun fiddle music allowing two people to play the fiddle at the same time While the fiddler plays in normal fashion a second person uses a pair of straws sticks or knitting needles to tap out a rhythm on the strings over the upper fingerboard between the bow and the fiddler s fingering hand The Cantrells Al and Emily Cantrell playing fiddlesticksIra Bernstein playing fiddlesticks with Riley BaugusAlso called beating the straws or playing the straws this technique probably arose in the eastern United States British folklorist Fred McCormick reports that he has never encountered it among British and Irish fiddlers and suggests that it may have arisen on American plantations as a substitute for African musical instruments 1 The technique has become rarer over time as the music has changed 2 but numerous examples have been recorded for example in the Mardi Gras Jig by a group led by Cajun fiddler and singer Dewey Balfa 3 or by Al and Emily Cantrell 4 References Edit McCormick Fred 20 September 1998 The Hammons Family Musical Traditions Internet Magazine Retrieved 10 January 2009 Spoons and Fiddle Sticks Louisiana Folklife Program Archived from the original on 17 October 2008 Retrieved 10 January 2009 Les Quatre Vieux Garcons Smithsonian Folkways Retrieved 18 July 2023 ABOUT THE CANTRELLS Thecantrellsmusic tripod com Retrieved 19 April 2021 External links EditTim Eriksen and Peter Irvine Sandy Boys on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fiddlesticks amp oldid 1166015770, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
