Mel Bay The Phillips Collection of American Fiddle Tunes Vol 1 [Paperback]

Stacy Phillips (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1994

Meticulously collected from recordings, square and contra dances, fiddle contests, jam sessions and individual fiddlers- this book is meant to provide a snapshot of what American fiddlers were playing and listening to in the latter part of the 20th Century. As the vinyl record format disappears from the marketplace, a great deal of recorded fiddle music will no longer be available. In this book, Stacy Phillips shares the fruits of some timely collecting for all fiddlers to enjoy. Bowings, fingerings, and guitar chords are provided for each melody line.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stacy Phillips is a recognized authority on the subject of the resophonic guitar's history, players, and literature. Through his numerous workshops and Mel Bay Publications books, he has done much to educate novice players of this instrument, playing a central role in its resurgence in popularity. He has published twenty books on various aspects of Dobro® and fiddle playing that are acknowledged as the standards in their fields. He has undertook the major musicological project of researching and bringing to light the delightfully spirited Klezmer tradition. Stacy currently tours with the "Stacy Phillips Duet." He has two solo albums and has performed and/or recorded with Peter Rowan, Leon Redbone, Dave Brombert, Mark O'Connor, and Bela Fleck.

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (June 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1562225820
• ISBN-13: 978-1562225827
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #567,905 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable for serious fiddlers, October 17, 2007

By 

katshan (Nashville, IN USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mel Bay The Phillips Collection of American Fiddle Tunes Vol 1 (Paperback)

This book contains many, many tunes transcribed in close accuracy according to the manner in which the old fiddlers played them originally. This is one of those books that are a 'must have' for serious fiddlers. Stacy Phillips has done an outstanding job in his faithfulness to tradition. It would be wonderful if Mel Bay's The Phillips Collection of American Fiddle Tunes Vol. 2 would come back into circulation - it is currently an out of print book. It would be better if anyone could buy Vol. 1 & 2 without having to search through out of print titles and pay a premium for Vol. 2.

I can't recommend this book, Vol. 1 highly enough. It's something that can be used for years to come and is a wonderful working book as well as a reference.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful fiddle tunes, July 28, 2008

By 

D. Riverblue Cloudwalker "Riverblue" (California) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mel Bay The Phillips Collection of American Fiddle Tunes Vol 1 (Paperback)

This is a nice thick book full of wonderful fiddle tunes. Many well-known (Apple Blossom, Buffalo Gals, Blackberry Blossom, Cumberland Gap) and also some lesser-known pieces (Hell Up Coal Holler, Creek Nation, Raven's Gap), sometimes with more than one version of a tune presented: for instance, there are 4 versions of Blackberry Blossom given. Many of the tunes are written with single notes and are simpler for beginners: others are scored full of double stops and present more of a challenge. Tune length ranges from 2 lines to half a page. Old-Time Fiddling is my favorite fiddle style and this book, the Volume 1 edition, presents perhaps the richest collections of tunes in that style that I've found. My one complaint about the book is that it wasn't prepared in a spiral-bound manner: that would have made it far easier to turn pages and keep the book open on a music stand. Volume 2 of the Phillips Collection, which has been rumored to be out of print, seems to still be available at ordinary prices: I just purchased a copy today (7/28/08) after searching online and finding it at a sheet music/music book warehouse. Don't give up if you want volume 2!
Those enjoying Old-Time Fiddling might also want to buy the book "Old Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes", which has some wonderful, truly traditional Old Time tunes that I haven't seen/heard anywhere else, together with a CD.
Many traditional Old-Time fiddlers don't learn "by the notes" and learn only by ear, but if for you as for me the notes on the printed page give you joy to behold and are part of the pleasure of fiddling, or you live too far from hoe-downs, you'll enjoy adding to your collection with this excellent book and its approximately 720 fiddle tunes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Premier Old Time Fiddle Collection, November 27, 2011

By 

PD Allen "Author of Quantum Meditations" (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mel Bay The Phillips Collection of American Fiddle Tunes Vol 1 (Paperback)

What the O'Neil collection is to Irish fiddle tunes, this collection is to the US old time fiddle tradition. There are about 760 Hoedowns, Breakdowns and Reels in this volume, representing all regions of old time fiddling. All are faithfully transcribed, with suggested bowing. The first few pages of the book offer some advice on old time fiddling, particularly bow licks, and some notes on reading the notation.

The notation is very clear and readable. Every title is accompanied by the performer or composer's name in parenthesis, other names for the tune, drone instructions, or open tunings.

It is very difficult to learn old time fiddling from transcriptions, but this book has done an admirable job. For those who are new to this fiddling idiom, I would suggest collecting recordings from a wide variety of performers, JP Fraley, Tommy Jarrell, Ed Haley, Eck Robertson and too many more to mention. SugarontheGourd.com is an online twenty-four hour OT radio station where you can hear many of these rare recordings.

This book is olny the first volume of the collection. The second volume contained waltzes, show tunes, marches, rags, hornpipes and jigs. It has been republished as several smaller collections. I recommend them all.