A father of four children, he spoke of his parenting and fiddling journey progressing side by side. For instance, of the many songs he has composed, he has written one original composition for each of his children. And that brings us to the age-old question: Is there a difference between a violin and a fiddle? The answer is no, not a physical difference. A violin is a violin; the difference is how it is played, classical or fiddling, both genres a perfect fit for the instrument. Or, how about this inside fiddlers’ joke: A violin has strings, a fiddle has strangs.
YOUNG FIDDLERS
Just because the Old Time Fiddlers play old-time music, not all are, shall we say, old-timers. Fortunately there is a fine mix of older musicians and younger players to carry on the fiddling tradition. Case in point: the exceptionally talented brother, sister duo, Kate and Ethan Powers. These two are in a family of 11 children, most musically talented as well, with one sister a wicked spoon player. The family lives in Sequim and has been a part of the Old Time Fiddlers for a few years. Listening to Kate play, it’s difficult to believe she began playing the violin/fiddle just five years ago. She was another who first played classical violin, joining the Port Angeles Symphony. But fiddling won out, especially after she received a scholarship from WOTFA to learn the art.
Above: Ryan McKasson, well-known Scottish fiddler, performs at the Quimper Grange in Port Townsend at an all-day Old Time Fiddlers jamming session and workshop. Right: Ethan Powers takes a break at the all-day Old Time Fiddlers jamming session and workshop at the Quimper Grange in Port Townsend. A gifted musician, Powers holds a banjo he made. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26
But when it came time to play a tune with the techniques, the fiddlers got it right away. And this all with no printed music. It’s amazing how much music is in the heads of these talented people, even though some confessed to having only played their instruments for a couple of years. From what I learned, fiddlers learns hundreds, even thousands of tunes almost entirely by ear and learn from other musicians at jam sessions such as this one. There is certainly no shortage of talent among the District 15 players. Take Bill Woods, for instance. He and McKasson are long-time friends and both enjoy — OK, they said love — Scottish and Irish music, which just happens to really suit the fiddling style. Woods plays the bodhran (pronounced bough-rawn), an Irish frame drum ranging from 10 to 26 inches in diameter. Goatskin is tacked on one side, with the other side open-ended for one hand to be placed against the inside of the drum head to control the pitch and timbre. One or two crossbars are usually fixed inside the frame. The bodhran may be played with a double-headed stick or with the hand. According to Irish Music magazine, the bodhran evolved in the mid-19th century from the tambourine. Sounds complicated, but Woods on the bodhran and McKasson on the fiddle made such extraordinary music those listening were simply mesmerized. Like many a fiddler, McKasson, who lives in Lakewood, a neighboring city to Tacoma, played classical violin before fiddling. “I like the style of fiddle music, it puts a smile on my face,” he said.
Summer 2016 LOP 29