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Expanding the community of tradition bearers and those who want to learn more about the music, stories, dance, foodways, art, and cultural heritage of Michigan and beyond.
Friday, August 22, 2014
2014 Fall Barn Tour
From the Michigan Barn Preservation Network, information about their Fall Barn Tour:
Monday, August 18, 2014
Fiddlers and Collectors: Jim McKinney and Glenn Hendrix
Jim McKinney and Glenn Hendrix have a lot in common. Both are accomplished fiddlers. Both were born in Southern Michigan in the 1950s. Both have been involved with musical organizations like the Original Michigan Fiddlers Association or the Original Dulcimer Players Club. Both have known many fiddlers from previous generations. Both enjoy playing for dances. No doubt, both play many of the same fiddle tunes. Yet, one of the most unique commonalities between the two soft-spoken fiddlers is the fact that they have been involved in the collection, transcription, publication, and general preservation of Michigan fiddling.
In February, I interviewed both of these remarkable fiddlers. I was on a fieldwork trip interviewing Michigan’s fiddlers as part of a National Endowment for the Arts grant project administered through the Michigan State University Museum. I make my living as a fiddler and storyteller. I am a native of Michigan who has made the fiddle playing of the Great Lakes region – especially Michigan, one of my primary research interests. This led to the founding of a website dedicated to Michigan Fiddlers.
Besides the six recordings on his discography with the Golden Griffon Stringtet, his wife Loretta McKinney, or solo, and besides the awards won for original fiddle tunes compositions, his competition laurels, his induction into the Michigan Fiddlers Hall of Fame, or his work running the Michigan State Championship Old-Time Fiddlers Contest at the Huron Applefest, Jim McKinney has transcribed and compiled a remarkable collection of fiddle tunes. Beyond that, Jim played a major part in the production of a book of tunes and stories from the life and repertoire of Michigan Heritage Award Winner Les Raber entitled Come Dance With Me: Original Fiddle Compositions and Favorite Tunes of Les Raber. Jim also produced the CD, Come Dance With Me. . . Again that, along with other recordings, shares Les Raber’s fiddling with the public. More information about this work can be found at the Golden Griffon Stringtet website. Jim’s transcription and publication projects continue with other fiddlers, and it is likely that before long the public will get the chance to benefit from Jim’s work again.
Jim is unusually precise when it comes to his descriptions of what he believes comprises Michigan style fiddling, at least among the players he knew. At the Michigan State Championship Old-Time Fiddlers Contest he hopes to encourage more players to pursue this style through requiring the playing of particular dances – a waltz, a schottische, a jig, and a reel. Jim began requiring these tunes after he took oversight of the pre-existing contest. In addition, Jim identifies a very structured phrasing, danceable tempos, and staying close to the melody as an aspect of Michigan style.
The above video is one of many found of YouTube of the Golden Griffon Stringtet. In this selection, they can be seen playing for a dance in Holland, Michigan.
It’s an honor to play a fiddle that has a long history. If you ever have the pleasure to listen to Glenn Hendrix fiddle, he may be playing the fiddle of a notable late fiddler from Beaver Island by the name of Patrick Bonner. The fiddle is on loan to Glenn from Bonner’s family. Though residing downstate, Glenn can regularly be found on Beaver Island in the summertime with Bonner’s fiddle, playing tunes for the islanders and visitors. It makes sense for the fiddle to be in Glenn’s possession. Glenn made the tunes of Bonner a special interest and undertook the painstaking process of transcribing recordings of Bonner made by Great Lakes folksong and music collector Ivan Walton. This work became the book An Island of Fiddlers: Fiddle Tunes of Patrick Bonner, Beaver Island, Michigan. In it, Glenn examines Bonner’s life and shares a significant repertoire of tunes. To learn more about Patrick Bonner from Glenn’s own research, visit the Patrick Bonner Page at MichiganFiddle. This information was generously made available to the public by Glenn.
Glenn worked with Pattie Greenman to produce Michigan Jamboree: Fiddle Tunes for Round and Square Dances. This is an important and so far one-of-a-kind publication of Michigan tunes from a variety of different fiddlers and regions in Michigan. Glenn has collected much music around the state and his transcription efforts continue. He currently performs actively on the fiddle, and over the years his travels around the state have equipped him with a wide repertoire that includes the Finnish traditions of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The Keweenaw juts far into Lake Superior at the top of the state. Glenn is a member of the Original Michigan Fiddlers Association and currently produces the regular OMFA newsletter which always includes history and a tune transcription.
Click here to hear a recording of Glenn Hendrix sharing about the history of the Patrick Bonner tune “Beaver Island Schottische,” followed by a performance of that tune.
Written by Trae McMaken in conjunction with the Michigan Traditional Arts Program of the MSU Museum.
In February, I interviewed both of these remarkable fiddlers. I was on a fieldwork trip interviewing Michigan’s fiddlers as part of a National Endowment for the Arts grant project administered through the Michigan State University Museum. I make my living as a fiddler and storyteller. I am a native of Michigan who has made the fiddle playing of the Great Lakes region – especially Michigan, one of my primary research interests. This led to the founding of a website dedicated to Michigan Fiddlers.
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| Jim McKinney photo by A. Trae McMaken, Feb. 2014 |
Jim is unusually precise when it comes to his descriptions of what he believes comprises Michigan style fiddling, at least among the players he knew. At the Michigan State Championship Old-Time Fiddlers Contest he hopes to encourage more players to pursue this style through requiring the playing of particular dances – a waltz, a schottische, a jig, and a reel. Jim began requiring these tunes after he took oversight of the pre-existing contest. In addition, Jim identifies a very structured phrasing, danceable tempos, and staying close to the melody as an aspect of Michigan style.
Jim continues to perform with the Golden Griffon Stringtet and also calls dances.
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| Glenn Hendrix photo by A. Trae McMaken, Feb. 2014 |
Glenn worked with Pattie Greenman to produce Michigan Jamboree: Fiddle Tunes for Round and Square Dances. This is an important and so far one-of-a-kind publication of Michigan tunes from a variety of different fiddlers and regions in Michigan. Glenn has collected much music around the state and his transcription efforts continue. He currently performs actively on the fiddle, and over the years his travels around the state have equipped him with a wide repertoire that includes the Finnish traditions of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The Keweenaw juts far into Lake Superior at the top of the state. Glenn is a member of the Original Michigan Fiddlers Association and currently produces the regular OMFA newsletter which always includes history and a tune transcription.
Click here to hear a recording of Glenn Hendrix sharing about the history of the Patrick Bonner tune “Beaver Island Schottische,” followed by a performance of that tune.
Written by Trae McMaken in conjunction with the Michigan Traditional Arts Program of the MSU Museum.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
The 2014 Great Lakes Folk Festival: A Visit in Highlights
This year's Great Lakes Folk Festival is fast approaching. From August 8-10, the streets of downtown East Lansing, Michigan, will be flooded with music, people, food, art, and traditional cultural activities of all kinds. While donations are happily accepted and encouraged, this festival is free and open the the public!
The festival opens Friday at 6pm with recycled and traditional art vendors, music, food and more. Performances will take place on two stages, ranging from Klezmer to Celtic, Buck Dance to Blues.
Saturday starts early with an advanced fiddle workshop taught by Celtic/French Canadian fiddler Pierre Schryer. This will take place at 10:00am in the Marriott Hotel, and costs $25 for adults and $15 with a valid student ID. If fiddling isn't your forte, try out the Pete Seeger community sing led by Sally Potter, Seth Bernard, and May Erlewine. Looking to move your body? Try out swing dancing or waltzing, happening at the Dance Stage. Whatever your favorite traditional genre, we are sure to have something to catch your ears, with acts like Detour Bluegrass, Girsa, Thomas Maupin, and Ruby John.
Kicking things off with a second opportunity to learn the fiddle, Trae McMaken teaches an intermediate old time fiddling workshop at 10:00am Sunday in the Marriott Hotel for the same price as the workshop on Saturday. Not to be missed, the Michigan Heritage Awards (3:00pm, Campus and Community Stage) will honor the work of Karl Byarski, Danny Johnston, and Alan Lomax, individuals nominated by their communities due to their dedication to preserving and disseminating traditional culture. Many of the acts to see on Saturday will be performing again on Sunday, so don't fret if you missed something!
Unsure of when you'll be stopping by? There will be ongoing activities throughout the weekend for your enjoyment, including an International Games Tent, Tibetan monks creating sand mandalas, an artisan marketplace, and various activities for children centered around the traditional arts. One of our main themes this year is fiddling, specifically that which happens in Michigan. Regardless of when you arrive, be sure to listening for the lilting tones of the fiddle.
See you there!
The festival opens Friday at 6pm with recycled and traditional art vendors, music, food and more. Performances will take place on two stages, ranging from Klezmer to Celtic, Buck Dance to Blues.
Saturday starts early with an advanced fiddle workshop taught by Celtic/French Canadian fiddler Pierre Schryer. This will take place at 10:00am in the Marriott Hotel, and costs $25 for adults and $15 with a valid student ID. If fiddling isn't your forte, try out the Pete Seeger community sing led by Sally Potter, Seth Bernard, and May Erlewine. Looking to move your body? Try out swing dancing or waltzing, happening at the Dance Stage. Whatever your favorite traditional genre, we are sure to have something to catch your ears, with acts like Detour Bluegrass, Girsa, Thomas Maupin, and Ruby John.
Kicking things off with a second opportunity to learn the fiddle, Trae McMaken teaches an intermediate old time fiddling workshop at 10:00am Sunday in the Marriott Hotel for the same price as the workshop on Saturday. Not to be missed, the Michigan Heritage Awards (3:00pm, Campus and Community Stage) will honor the work of Karl Byarski, Danny Johnston, and Alan Lomax, individuals nominated by their communities due to their dedication to preserving and disseminating traditional culture. Many of the acts to see on Saturday will be performing again on Sunday, so don't fret if you missed something!
Unsure of when you'll be stopping by? There will be ongoing activities throughout the weekend for your enjoyment, including an International Games Tent, Tibetan monks creating sand mandalas, an artisan marketplace, and various activities for children centered around the traditional arts. One of our main themes this year is fiddling, specifically that which happens in Michigan. Regardless of when you arrive, be sure to listening for the lilting tones of the fiddle.
See you there!
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