The times., 1899-03-06
THE VIOLINLSH
And THE FIDDLER
One Plays Compositions, the
Other Plays Tunes.
FiddIing Comes by Nature, While
the Higher Art Is Taught.
OId-Time Melodies md Dance Music
Played without Need of an
Instructor.
CFrom the Kansas City Start

There is a recognized difference between
the fiddle and the violin. and yet greater
difference between the fiddler and the vio-
linist. A fiddle may be described as vio-
lin. immature and unpretentious, which
anybody may play by ear or in any fash
ion that seems good TO him. a fiddler is
one who plays a fiddle, because he
wants to and because nature has bestowed
on him the gift violinist studies under
some other violinist. A fiddler no more
studies than does a mocking bird or Il
meadow lark. The violiIist has standard
that he plays up TO and school that he
plays in. and he expects, as long as it is
of any use TO expect anything fame or
fortune. 4 fiddler expects Sl.50 or nothing.
a yioiinist plays compositions, a fiddler
plays tunes. A violinist plays with all his
art. and fiddler plays with all his might.
The human family is divided in its al
legiance between these two musicians.
The yiolinist has his admirers and there
are a number beside who say they admire
him when they do not even understand
him. The fiddler retains the affections of
an innumerable host of those common peo
pie of whom God has been pleased to make
so many. The yiolinist belongs TO the city,
the fiddler TO the country. which is much
the larger. The name violinist brings up
the opera. IDe orchestra, Inc orchestra
chairs and the proscenum, and the audi
torium, and the boxes. and the fine clothes:
and the word fiddler calls up the village
hall. or the farmhouse room from which
the furniture has been removed or set
back and the lustre of coal oil lamps,
and a musician who throws all his soul
and both hands and arms and his big right
foot into his performance, and Herewith
native beauty, and untaught grace, and
young love. all balancing or going all
hands round.
In the irresponsible conflict for the pub
lie car ii is probable that the violinist has
a growing advantage: he has much the bet
ter showing in the advertising. 1t may be
that in time the conservatory Will win the
field, and that the conductor with his baton
will wave the fiddler off the face of the
earth. In the meantime it is a satisfaction
to know that the fiddler has had his hour
of glory; of complete and satisfying rec
ognition.
AT Terre Haute the other day course of
fiddlers' contests which has been going on
up and down the Wabash Valley for some
months eliminated. so TO speak, in grand
display of the fddlers art in the opera
house under the auspices of Post G, Trav-
elers' Protective Association. On the stage
were gathered tiddlers from far and near;
in front the largest audience ever gathered
in a theatre in Terre Haute.
The programme opened with the Ar
kansas Traveller by the entire strength of
the company. There had been no rehears-
al; none was needed. yiolinist might
have needed his notes. To play the Ar
kansas Traveller" without notes is the fid-
dler's diploma. 1t is the certificate of his
ordination as fiddler. Written originally
by yiolnist, the air migrated TO Arkan-
sas, got into politics. became attached to a
story and "a Iecitative, and the common
property of all fddlers.
There were in this grand convOcation OF
fiddlers many old men and many old fd-
dies One of the prizes was taken by a
fiddler of eighty years, whose instrument
had yielded music for a century. The prize
TO the youngest fiddler was taken by a girl
of twelve There were single fddlers ana
families of fiddlers, and Wabash township,
Clark county, H., was awarded prize as
| a township of fddelrs.
And then the music showed that the fid-
dler had not forgotten his cunning nor his
| old-time airs The first prize went to a
| coal miner and fiddler for Hell on the
| Wabash" And then all hearts rejoiced
| and feet beat time to the Devils Dream
| and then there was old Dan Tucker"
oldest Of negro melodies, and The Girl /
Left Behind Me" one of the best of march
| ing tunes for tired soldier men; and YAH
| kee Doodle" and one of the latest and
! most elaborate was Listen TO the Mock
| ing Bird"
| Yes, listen to the mocliing bird, and list
| en- to the old-time fiddler. since they both
| are graduates Of the same conservatory.
| and both play from native wood notes
| wild" written somewhere in the brain.
Both give forth that music which to the
| ears attuned and not too cultured or too
proud, listen and is glad. 1t is the music
| that speaks 10 and gains response from the
| sparkling eye and the dancing blood and
| the flying feet. Some better music may
come. but 10 thousands and thousands and
| thousands no finer music has come