Intelligent & Interesting article: “12 Questions Violinists ask about Fiddling”
I came across this nice article by Donna Herbert at Strings Magazine, about the differences between the classical “violin” and the folk “fiddle” tradition. It’s refreshingly courteous to both sides of the question.
http://stringsmagazine.com/12-questions-violinists-ask-about-fiddling/
“How many times have you heard someone (perhaps yourself) ask, “What’s the difference between playing a violin and fiddling?” Beyond the short answer, “spelling,” this age-old conundrum invites the ponderer to step beyond stereotypes and assumptions, and to explore music’s many meanings. I’ve encountered the question many times myself. I began as a classically trained violinist, then switched to playing folk music in my 20s. ”