Workshop topics:
Repertoire
Greater emphasis is given to stylistic aspects of the music. A number of considerations are given to the selection of tunes, including: their interest to Stewart in his studies; their interest to the general musical community; their demonstration of particular stylistic nuances; as being representative of a composer’s style. These workshops can be fiddle specific, or tailored for multi-instrument workshops. Subject matter includes:
1. James Hill & Associates – Tyneside’s most famous fiddling son and composer of many wonderful (and notoriously tricky) hornpipes was a member of a thriving musical community. The tunes they have left behind form the core of the North East fiddler’s repertoire.
2. Early Northumbrian – the manuscripts of Henry Atkinson (1694) and William Vickers (1770) form the basis of this fascinating repertoire, including some fine tune forms that have been much neglected, but which now are finding fresh admirers.
3. North East English from the 20th Century – the fiddle tradition has continued uninterrupted in the North East. Moreover, it has been added to by the likes of Jack
Davidson, Willy Taylor, Robin Dunn, Kathryn Tickell and a host of young talent frequenting the sessions around Tyneside.
4. English – for so long the poor cousin of the fiddle repertoire of these islands and often dismissed as a small collection of simplistic tunes for morris dancing, suitable more for beginners than serious fiddlers, this repertoire is finally receiving the long overdue attention it deserves. Thanks to the diligent efforts and generosity of key individuals, what has emerged is a melodically rich and stylistically diverse repertoire, every bit as rewarding and worthy of consideration as its more celebrated island relatives.
5. Own Compositions – Stewart has been writing and recording his own tunes for many years. Some have been been recorded by other artists and used in radio, TV and theatre productions. There is also a substantial number of tunes written as teaching aids.
6. Irish – still the most popular repertoire heard in sessions, and not surprisingly given the number of fantastic fiddle tunes and so many wonderful exponents of them.
7. Scottish – a hugely rich repertoire, very influential on both the Irish and the English, and including not only a fabulous traditional repertoire, but also many outstanding fiddle composers.
8. Contemporary Folk – arguably we are living in a golden age of folk music, with so many outstanding performers on the scene, many of whom are writing tunes in the traditional idiom, but with all the diverse influence of our modern multi-cultural society.
Next Workshop topic: General Performance
Back to Workshops
Recordings
-
Upcoming Events
Jun29Wed7:00 pm NEFS 2022 Block 4 – Online @ Videos & ZoomNEFS 2022 Block 4 – Online @ Videos & ZoomJun 29 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pmNorth East Fiddle School returns with another block of fully online materials, plus a single day workshop in-person. Technique and tunes are taught through Video Tutorials which are added to weekly and can be accessed...Jul6Wed7:00 pm NEFS 2022 Block 4 – Online @ Videos & ZoomNEFS 2022 Block 4 – Online @ Videos & ZoomJul 6 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pmNorth East Fiddle School returns with another block of fully online materials, plus a single day workshop in-person. Technique and tunes are taught through Video Tutorials which are added to weekly and can be accessed...Jul8Fri3:00 pm JSArts Fiddle Foundations @ Rydal HallJSArts Fiddle Foundations @ Rydal HallJul 8 @ 3:00 pm – Jul 10 @ 3:00 pmFiddle Foundations 8th – 18th July 2022 Rydal Hall, Ambleside LA22 9LX 3.00 pm start and finish time. Join Stewart in the beautiful surroundings of Rydal Hall in the Lake District for a weekend of...Jul13Wed7:00 pm NEFS 2022 Block 4 – Online @ Videos & ZoomNEFS 2022 Block 4 – Online @ Videos & ZoomJul 13 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pmNorth East Fiddle School returns with another block of fully online materials, plus a single day workshop in-person. Technique and tunes are taught through Video Tutorials which are added to weekly and can be accessed... Facebook Feed
Error: Server configuration issueTags
30 Years Collection Bill Elliot Bottle Bank Band CD Launch Community Strings Fiddle Day Frank McLaughlin George Welch Graham Dixon Halsway Manor HISS Holly & Ivy James Hill Jimmy's Fiddle JSArts Maddison's Thread Mick West Trio Minstrelsy Morpeth Gathering North East Fiddle School Northumbrian Shop Solo TFA workshop