Hello again to all, Just to explain, I am very interested in traditional Virginia music, ergo my involvement (and Barbara's) in projects like Virginia Roots Music: http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whoweare/exhibits/rootsmusic/index.htm and LVA's traveling exhibition "Old Dominion Songsters: Traditional Blues in Virginia" which is currently starting its run at the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center. I play a little, too. I found this citation in the Goertzen article cited below which I read while developing Virginia Roots Music. The article is primarily about modern fiddle contests and the development of national and regional styles. I'm glad my co-workers are relatively circumspect when writing emails. Gregg Gregg D. Kimball Director of Publications and Educational Services Library of Virginia 804/692-3722 [log in to unmask] Support the Library of Virginia -----Original Message----- From: Barbara Batson Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 1:42 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Patrick Henry and Virginia Fiddling You are the only person I know who could come up with this! Or did Tim give you the cite? It would be a fun (and riotous) event to re-enact. Barbara > -----Original Message----- > From: Gregg Kimball > Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 12:01 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Patrick Henry and Virginia Fiddling > > Hello all, > > All this talk of Patrick Henry and fiddling made me think of an > interesting newspaper excerpt that is often cited as the first > documentation of a fiddle contest in colonial America. For a specific, > recent citation, try Chris Goertzen, > "Balancing local and national approaches at American fiddle contests" in > American Music, Fall, 1996. He, in turn, cites the Virginia Gazette of > November 26, 1736. Here is the quote: > > "We hear from Hanover County, that on Tuesday next, (being St. Andrews > Day), some merry-dispos'd Gentlemen of the said County, design to > celebrate that Festival, by setting up divers Prizes to be contended for > in the following Manner, (to wit) A neat Hunting Saddle, with a fine > broadcloth Housing, fring'd and flowr'd &c. to be run for (the Quarter,) > by any Number of Horses and Mares: A fine Cremona Fiddle to be plaid > for, by any Number of Country Fiddlers, (Mr. Langford's Scholars > excepted:) With divers other considerable Prizes, for Dancing, > Singing, Foot-ballplay, Jumping, Wrestling, &c. particularly a fine pair > of Silk Stockings to be given to the Handsomest Maid upon the Green, to > be judg'd of by the Company. At Page's Warehouse, Commonly call'd > Crutchfield in the said County of Hanover, where all Persons will find > good Entertainment." > > Goertzen finds the connection to St. Andrew's Day suggestive of perhaps > a Scottish fiddle contest tradition. At any rate, it looks like P. > Henry had some local fiddle players to emulate. > > Gregg > > Gregg D. Kimball > Director of Publications > and Educational Services > Library of Virginia > 804/692-3722 > [log in to unmask] > Support the Library of Virginia > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html