Connecticut's Bristol Old Tyme Fiddlers Club
1972-2007 35 Years of Fiddling!
| Photo courtesy of Alan Piotrowski |
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Our Founder and President, Gerry Lagace, was impelled, as a member of the
Old Fiddlers Club of Rhode Island, to start a fiddlers club in Connecticut.
And so, on December 10, 1972, Gerry invited twelve local musicians to his
folk’s home in Bristol to tell them how the Rhode Island fiddlers were active
in playing their fiddles and promoting the “art” of “old tyme fiddling”.
After hearing Gerry’s idea, these musicians wanted to persuade other
fiddlers in the area, to take their fiddles out of their cases, rosin up their
bows, and make them useful again. Thus
was the beginning of the Connecticut’s
Bristol Old Tyme Fiddlers Club!
Our purpose is to preserve and promote the art of the old tyme fiddlin'. The art of old time fiddling has been passed down from generation to generation and learned by ear. Each fiddler has his own style of playing a particular tune. Group playing of old tyme tunes by ear is what makes our Club unique. This is the old New England Fiddle Band style of playing.
Our first appearance was in the 1973 Bristol Mum’s Parade. We’ve performed in Rockwell and Page Parks for the City of
Bristol and for the Bristol Boys Club O. M. Show. We did performances for:
COUNTRY FAIRS (Goshen, Woodbury, Harwinton, Terryville, Bethlehem, Riverton and
Milford Oyster Festival: GAZEBOS on the TOWN GREEN (Woodbury, Southbury, Avon,
Unionville, Naugatuck, Thomaston and Fairfield and at LODGES (American Legion,
Elks, VFW, Knights of Columbus and Masonic).
We’ve entertained at: Senior Centers and Retirement Complexes.
Medical and Alzheimer Centers, Nursing and Health Care Centers, Specials
Olympic activities, church functions, private parties and outings.
We’ve performed in New York for the Rhinebeck Duchess County Fair and
the Schenectady Niskayuna Folk Festival. And,
our furthest concert performance was Madawaska,
Maine.
We have about 75 members, whose age ranges from
12 to 95.
Most of our members play the fiddle.
However, to accompany the fiddlers and add variety, we have musicians who
play: mandolins, guitars, bass, banjos, spoons, washtub, piano, button-boxes,
harmonicas, accordions, bone-sticks, jaw’s harp and percussion instruments
with wood block.
Our performances of one to three hours long include “group playing” as well as “solos”.
Recordings of “Group
Playing” are available on LP’s, Tape Cassettes & CD’s.