On Aug 16, 2006, at 1:49 PM, Kim Patrick Clow wrote:
A friend of mine recently purchased a violin from someone in rural
Mississippi.
It's obvious from the photo that "3rd position" was never used on the
violin; and someone commented on the difference between a "fiddler"
and a "violinist." The implication being, "serious" musicians are
violinist, anyone else merely a "fiddler."
But isn't pejorative distinction a recent one? I recall reading that
during Handel's commission for the "Royal Fireworks Music," King
George expressly did NOT want "fiddles."
John Howell has discussed the non-pejorative nature of "fiddle."
However, as to restrictions to low positions, that was/is indeed
characteristic of many actual folk fiddlers (as opposed to the
folk-style professionals John cites).
The separation of "fiddle" from "violin" was gradual. By ca. 1820,
"fiddle" had become a lighthearted, slangy way of saying "violin," but
it could still be used to refer to the instrument of a classical
violinist. Some 30-40 years later, however, the modern distinction
between folk and classical had taken hold.
Interestingly, back when fiddle and violin were still synonyms, there
was a third word, "crowder" to designate what we would now call a
fiddler. Crowder comes from "crowd" (Welsh crwth), the standard English
name for the Mediaeval lyre, and it is easy to see how, as that
instrument went out of fashion, that it took on countrified
connotations.
So how did there come to be two different words for the violin anyway?
Well, "fiddle" is the older, and was/is the standard English name for
the Mediaeval/Renaissance instrument that is today often called
"vielle." When the violin, a direct descendant, was introduced, the
name fiddle was retained for it. The violin was originally used for
dances and such, but when the Italians started using it for serious
purposes, the Italian name "violino" was imported, and quickly
Englished to "violin."
Andrew Stiller
Kallisti Music Press
http://home.netcom.com/~kallisti/
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