You look so calm and deliberate when you play. If I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror while playing the fiddle it looks like I don't know how to swim. Maybe that's why it sounds so shitty...
@@benkiserappalachianmusic it’s a good tuning for it, I remember when I was learning, I had made a couple of notes that reminded me of the banjo version, then figured it out from there.
When learning these tunes that were recorded with all these variations in phrasing and extra beats etc, do you learn the whole recording directly, or learn the variations and add them in at your own discretion?
@@tomsomervillemusic I find that the best way to learn fiddle tunes from field recordings is to just listen to them repeatedly until you can memorize it without having to hear it, which makes it come easier when you sit down and learn to play it. I execute variations as I go, since there is no “right way” to play old-time fiddle, meaning no one should ever copy other fiddlers, but take influence from them, combining your playing, nuances, variations, skill, repertoire, habits and techniques to create your _own_ style. This is what makes every old-time fiddler unique in their own way. You will _always_ fall short when you copy someone else’s playing, trust me, I’ve been there. I hope my answer proves helpful for you, Tom.
@ this all makes sense. I find it’s sometimes difficult to walk the line between finding my own style and being historically accurate. I think there’s definitely a way to preserve the spirit of tunes while not trying to imitate the recordings note by note, which then helps add on to the tradition instead of taking away. As far As i can tell your playing walks that line well.
Terrific playing, Ben! This is a tune I especially love, and I played banjo on a recording of it with the Cliffhangers some years ago, with Mark Simos on fiddle, also tuned to cross F. Our version was an amalgam of Hiram Stamper’s and Art Stamper’s versions; we also employed some of Hiram’s “dwells”, though not as many if them as you do here. I think of that as such a trademark of Hiram’s fiddling! I hope to cross paths with you some day, and would love to share a few tunes with you should the occasion arise!
I just noticed that you included a link to Art Stamper playing this tune at Clifftop. That's Mark Simos (the fiddler in our band the Cliffhangers) fiddling with Art, and I'm playing banjo, though I'm mostly out of the frame or hidden behind the bass on the right (Art's left). In fact, this session (at an album release party for a solo CD of Mark's songs) was probably Mark's inspiration to working up our Hiram/Art version of this tune for our CD a few years later!
Awesome Tune also it’s the other Ben we have played together at Floyd before just wanted to let you know I getting together a string band and wanted to know if you where interested in joining just tell what social media you have.
@@benkiserappalachianmusic We are having our first practice at the chestcree school of the arts from 4-6 tomorrow as well as our second next Friday at the Galax public library from 3:30-5 keep on playing.These videos are awesome and it's always a blessing to hear some old Kentucky tunes.
You look so calm and deliberate when you play. If I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror while playing the fiddle it looks like I don't know how to swim. Maybe that's why it sounds so shitty...
Got to love those backgrounds, Ben. Music is good, too 😊
This is a beautiful tune and easy enough to get to know and enjoy. Thank you so much and God bless you,
*One Love, Fam*
Slick bowing, you ever play Cackling Hen out of that tuning, it is the first one I learned out of.
Thanks! I don’t play Cackling Hen in this tuning, but I do play a tune called “Old Hen She Cackled” (from John Salyer) in this tuning
@@benkiserappalachianmusic it’s a good tuning for it, I remember when I was learning, I had made a couple of notes that reminded me of the banjo version, then figured it out from there.
When learning these tunes that were recorded with all these variations in phrasing and extra beats etc, do you learn the whole recording directly, or learn the variations and add them in at your own discretion?
@@tomsomervillemusic I find that the best way to learn fiddle tunes from field recordings is to just listen to them repeatedly until you can memorize it without having to hear it, which makes it come easier when you sit down and learn to play it. I execute variations as I go, since there is no “right way” to play old-time fiddle, meaning no one should ever copy other fiddlers, but take influence from them, combining your playing, nuances, variations, skill, repertoire, habits and techniques to create your _own_ style. This is what makes every old-time fiddler unique in their own way. You will _always_ fall short when you copy someone else’s playing, trust me, I’ve been there.
I hope my answer proves helpful for you, Tom.
@ this all makes sense. I find it’s sometimes difficult to walk the line between finding my own style and being historically accurate. I think there’s definitely a way to preserve the spirit of tunes while not trying to imitate the recordings note by note, which then helps add on to the tradition instead of taking away.
As far As i can tell your playing walks that line well.
Sounds awesome! What tuning is this?
Thanks! The tuning is FCFC from low to high
@@benkiserappalachianmusicthanks! It sounds really cool
Terrific playing, Ben! This is a tune I especially love, and I played banjo on a recording of it with the Cliffhangers some years ago, with Mark Simos on fiddle, also tuned to cross F. Our version was an amalgam of Hiram Stamper’s and Art Stamper’s versions; we also employed some of Hiram’s “dwells”, though not as many if them as you do here. I think of that as such a trademark of Hiram’s fiddling! I hope to cross paths with you some day, and would love to share a few tunes with you should the occasion arise!
I just noticed that you included a link to Art Stamper playing this tune at Clifftop. That's Mark Simos (the fiddler in our band the Cliffhangers) fiddling with Art, and I'm playing banjo, though I'm mostly out of the frame or hidden behind the bass on the right (Art's left). In fact, this session (at an album release party for a solo CD of Mark's songs) was probably Mark's inspiration to working up our Hiram/Art version of this tune for our CD a few years later!
Awesome Tune also it’s the other Ben we have played together at Floyd before just wanted to let you know I getting together a string band and wanted to know if you where interested in joining just tell what social media you have.
Thanks! I remember playing with you a while back, I’ll definitely let you know if I’m interested!
@@benkiserappalachianmusic We are having our first practice at the chestcree school of the arts from 4-6 tomorrow as well as our second next Friday at the Galax public library from 3:30-5 keep on playing.These videos are awesome and it's always a blessing to hear some old Kentucky tunes.