Synopsis
Ken Kolodner’s book presents transcriptions with detailed bowings in tandem with three recorded versions of 35 Appalachian fiddle tunes ranging from some very common and easy tunes but also quite a few less typically played tunes. All transcriptions are based on festival versions of the tunes, meaning the versions are those most commonly encountered at jams and festivals. The book includes a clearly written description of old time style focusing on default bowing systems designed to develop rhythmic bowing. Ideas presented include Nashville shuffle, 3-1 bowing, bow rocking, ghost bows, anticipations, left-hand ornamentation, drones, chording, dissonances, altered tunings, the concept of swing, tips on learning by ear and more. The tunes are played three times each for nearly 150 minutes of recording: (1.) very slowly and simply; (2.) at a modest tempo with double-stops, drones and other ornaments; and (3.) up-to-tempo. While this effort was designed for fiddlers, the recordings should serve as an excellent source for non-fiddlers at all levels who desire to build their repertoire and practice learning tunes by ear. The book and accompanying audio are appropriate for any level of player. The difficulty of the tunes ranges from simple to relatively complex. Similarly, the bowing techniques include the simplest ideas to relatively difficult. The three recorded speeds make the learning and processing of the tunes appropriate for all levels of players wishing to improve their ear training. Includes access to online audio.
About the Author
Based in Baltimore, MD, Ken Kolodner has played old-time fiddle for nearly 30 years. He is also widely regarded as a major influence in the rebirth of the hammered dulcimer in the U.S., hailed as "one of today s most accomplished, musical hammered dulcimer artists..." (Elderly). As a soloist and in ensembles with Helicon (with Chris Norman and Robin Bullock), Greenfire (with Laura Risk), with Elke Baker, Jim Eagan and many others, Ken has performed and taught extensively for over 25 years. Focusing largely on traditional music, he is a regular fixture at many music camps and festivals (e.g. Common Ground, Swannanoa Gathering, Meadowlark, Augusta, Kentucky Music Week, and The John Campbell Folk School). Ken has been featured numerous times on NPR, The Thistle and the Shamrock, All Things Considered, the CBC, the Voice of America and German National Radio. Among his many credits are a featured solo in an Emmy-nominated CBS-TV Christmas special, five instructional CDs on the hammered dulcimer, ten recordings with sales well over 125,000, including an "Indie" winner (Helicon s "AWinter Solstice Celebration", winner of Best Seasonal Recording in 1999), and a #1 World Music title ("Walking Stones") and bestseller for BMG (with over 55,000 copies sold). Ken s playing has been described as "nothing short of astonishing" (The Connection), "outstanding" (The New York Times), "marvelous" (The Washington Post), "virtuosic" (Audio), "stunning in its musicality" (Dulcimer Player News) and "not to be missed" (USA TODAY). Ken has recently added the hammered mbira to his concert performances. Ken has two recordings to be released in 2010: a recording of Old-Time music with his son Brad Kolodner (clawhammer banjo and guitar) and another of Celtic, Quebecois and Old-Time music with fiddler Elke Baker.
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