There’s a new fiddle contest on next summer’s schedule, but it isn’t going to be a typical contest. This event reflects the historical nature of Stagecoach Days, which harkens back to the Victorian Era in Mantorville, Minnesota. Fiddlers will need to play tunes that date to 1901 or earlier. This opens the event up to fiddlers who love old time, Upper Midwest Fiddling, Scandinavian, Irish, Scottish – you get the picture! We will keep you posted on complete details and a registration form, but in the mean time, here are a few tune suggestions.
Like any fiddle contest, fiddlers need to play one fast tune and a waltz or slower tune (for example, an air). It’s pretty easy to find a fast tune – most polkas, reels, schottisches, hornpipes and jigs played by Nordic, Irish, Upper Midwest, Missouri or other Old Time fiddlers will do just fine. But what about those waltzes? Here to save the day is a list of waltzes from the Howe’s Musician’s Companion and Howe’s Musician’s Omnibus (see my earlier blog post) published in 1850 – 1863. They are lovely tunes that are fun to play. I’ve also included a playlist of videos to demonstrate the waltzes.
The Stagecoach Days Fiddle Contest is sponsored by the Minnesota State Fiddlers Association and Roadfarming.com
