Farmhouse Fiddlers: Music & Dance Traditions in the Rural Midwest [Paperback]

Philip Martin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1994

Award-winning oral history, with over 100 historical photographs, takes an entertaining look at the folkways and colorful character of rural fiddlers in the Midwest in the early 1900s. The text and images celebrate the days of "house party" socials, barn dances, and old-time fiddler contests, based on interviews by the author with elder musicians and dancers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A perfect marriage of photography and spoken history." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

"A valuable study . . . carefully documented." -- Choice

"Marvelous." -- Sing Out! magazine

About the Author

The author is a folklorist, fiddle-player, and author of several books on cultural heritage.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Midwest Traditions; 1St Edition edition (October 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883953065
• ISBN-13: 978-1883953065
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #911,492 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For my main blog for writers, visit: http://writershandbook.wordpress.com/
For my blog on fantasy literature, visit: http://creepingpastdragons.wordpress.com/

I mostly write about how to become a successful writer (advice on writing skills and career development) and on traditional culture (old-time fiddling, folk art, etc.). I run and can be reached at Great Lakes Literary (http://www.greatlakeslit.com/) where I offer editing, book-doctor, and marketing help for writers and their book projects. I describe myself as a Midwestern guy: neighborly, down-to-earth, patient, practical, results-oriented. Contact me if you need help to write a great book and get published.

I am the series editor of The New Writer's Handbook, an annual anthology of advice for writers to help them improve literary skills and advance their careers. The inaugural 2007 edition won Gold in the 2007 Book of the Year Awards (Careers category), a national competition for the best books by independent presses.

My book on traditional music, Farmhouse Fiddlers: Music & Dance Traditions in the Rural Midwest (1994), won an award from the Council for Wisconsin Writers as the best nonfiction book of the year by a Wisconsin author. Another book, The Writer's Guide to Fantasy Literature (2002), won widespread praise ("Rich with insights, thorough and knowledgeable, it's the best and most reliable guide to a multi-faceted subject." -- Lloyd Alexander, Newbery Award winner) and is now out in a substantially revised edition, A Guide to Fantasy Literature, for readers of fantasy, along with tips for writers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Delightful book about old fiddling in Wisconsin, August 17, 2000

By 

Bob Borcherding (Okemos, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Farmhouse Fiddlers: Music & Dance Traditions in the Rural Midwest (Paperback)

"Farmhouse Fiddlers Music and Dance Traditions in the Rural Midwest" by Phil Martin

In far too many homes, "Grandpa's fiddle" adorns a wall, is tucked away under a bed, or stored in the attic, never again to ring out the old tunes, nor to collect the dust of dancers. Our nation's tradition of house-party fiddling has largely been stilled, though there are many areas where fiddling is still strong, though primarily because of bluegrass and contest fiddling. We are fortunate that there are those willing to spend the effort to seek out those who were a part of the old traditions and share their memories with us.

The past has always been intriguing, yet enigmatic; it belongs to us, yet it doesn't--understanding it takes a special sort of knowledge, which Phil Martin sought out and presents in his book, "Farmhouse Fiddlers." The author explains, through narrative and quotation, the way people entertained themselves, retelling tales of fiddling and dancing gathered from those who lived during the era of the close-knit farm community. Mr. Martin's book gives a compelling, slightly romanticized view of the life of northern farmers, primarily of Wisconsin, and how they lived--his telling reminiscent of the sentimentality of a Garrison Keillor-told tale or Ken Burns' series, "The Civil War". It is interesting that fiddling has become such a sentimental link to our past, reminding us of simpler times and wholesomeness--surprisingly so, considering how the fiddle was once viewed by some as the "devil's box."

Although well researched, this book is not a textbook, nor is it presented with the stuffiness and "folklore-bigotry" I have come to expect from folklorists, although there are plenty of notes cited in the text. Nor is it a tunebook; there is nary a note of music in it. It is a book to read, enjoy, and leave on one's coffee table. It explains much about the society of that era and might lead the reader to muse on the problems of our own society, by comparison. The reader will find tales of fiddlers and other musicians, stories of traveling bands, accounts of how things evolved, waxed and waned, regarding fiddling, music, instrumentation, travel, work, neighborhoods, and towns. The author first sets the ambience of the farm community with narrative, then uses quotations to bring a more in-depth, personalized view of the social structure of the time. He also makes good use of interesting old photographs, which are well reproduced.

If you are interested in "days-gone-by", fiddling, dancing, or Wisconsin, this book will tickle your fancy. I found the book to be quite interesting, though at the beginning, when narrative dominates, I feared the book would lack "punch." As I read further, though, I found myself more and more interested in descriptions of how and why the old traditions began and ended, thoughtfully explained through the use of quotations. In this day and age, when it seems everything can be explained in a contrived 30 minute television show, this book refreshingly gives us insight, and a feeling of home.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating look at our WI music tradition, July 23, 2008

By 

Inna Larsen (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Farmhouse Fiddlers: Music & Dance Traditions in the Rural Midwest (Paperback)

I read this cover to cover and it is a fascinatin glimpse into our cultural past here in WI. I very much enjoyed the pictures and the vignettes of fiddlers. It is definitely not a dry university text.

Inna Larsen, member of the hardanger fiddlers association of America

4.0 out of 5 stars Rural Roots Music, June 10, 2004

By 

grasshopper4 (Arkansas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Farmhouse Fiddlers: Music & Dance Traditions in the Rural Midwest (Paperback)

The fiddlers featured in this book generally play the old-time fiddle tunes that form an important base for contemporary musical forms such as bluegrass, western swing, country and western, and other genres. There are terrific photographs of fiddlers and good stories from the musicians' life experiences. The book provides a great background on square dance and local music-making traditions, and the engaging presentation of the photographs adds to the undertanding of the social context and history of American fiddling.