During the 19th century a type of fiddle music began to emerge in Texas. Other string instruments like banjos and guitars joined the fiddles. Fiddle sessions sprung up everywhere from living rooms, porches, and also in local Texas Dancehalls. The influence reflected the diverse population of the post Civil War Texas including, African-American, Appalachian, Cajun, Czech, German, Irish, Mexican, Polish, and Scottish. What evolved was a wonder art known as TEXAS FIDDLING!
November 7th, thanks to Texas Folk Life and Texas Dance Hall Preservation, Inc., The 2nd Annual FESTIVAL OF TEXAS FIDDLING took place at La Bahia Turn Verein, in Burton, Texas. This event brought together some of the best master fiddlest in Texas including; Brian Marshall, Ed Poulard, Howard Rains and Tricia Spencer, Mark Rubin (Upright Bass) and many other exceptional musicians. These musicians not only played they discussed technics and the history of the many different forms of fiddle music.
That evening, folks attending the festival were in for a treat… Hot Club of Cowtown, a western swing band, provided the music for an evening dance.
It was the perfect ending of a musical journey through an important part of our Texas history.
We should thank both Folk Life of Texas and Texas Dance Hall Preservation, and applaud these fine musicians for their efforts to keep Texas music and our historic dance hall preserved for generation to come
The festival was held at La Bahia Turn Verein, community/dance hall a beautiful historic building, which will be the subject of another blog entry – what an interesting history this old building has.
“The music comes from the fiddler’s heart, through his strings and straight into your heart.” Father John Angus Rankin, Cape Breton musician