The Fiddle is a violin frequently used in traditional Irish music. Very difficult to play, this instrument is used in songs with a strong melancholic content, or more upbeat ones that make you want to dance! But beware: a fiddle has very little in common with a classical violin: don’t make the mistake of upsetting a seasoned player in no time!
The fiddle is a violin, set up and played differently than a traditional violin. Breandan Breathnach, a great Irish fiddler used to say:
A violinist is not a fiddle player, just as a fiddle player is not a violinist. (1971)
In other words, the 2 instruments are in no way comparable! From playing techniques to hand and bow position, everything changes when you switch from one to the other!
The bridge of an Irish fiddle is slightly flatter, making it possible to move from one string to another more quickly. The bow is taken higher than that of a classical violinist, allowing even better control of fast airs.
The most commonly used effects are bending, rolling, triplets, notches, drones and slur strings. The use of vibrato is rarer, in contrast to the classical violin.
Des fiddles – Joseph Brent – cc
Fiddle playing is a complex art form that combines melody, ornament, variation of line pattern and swing. One of the most important ingredients in Irish playing is the sentimental touch in the melody called the “nyah”. The nyah in expresses both sadness and loneliness.
According to some, the ideal way to learn a tune is by ear. It’s up to you to memorize the tune and make sure it stays with you for a long time. Tunes played by written music alone would be easily forgotten.
Traditional music is like a spoken language: you have to practice it to learn it. It’s not just about learning scores.
Once you’ve mastered some basic violin technique, it’s a good idea to have a few lessons with a specialist. There’s a big difference between the sound of a classical fiddler reading a score and the music of a good player who has listened to and grasped all the musical subtleties of Irish music.
John Doherty, Neillidh Boyle, Cassidy Franc and Francie Byrne are just a few of the great fiddle players who have left their mark on their time.
Here are a few more recent players:
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