Players fiddle with old-timey music

The 30 members of the 6-month-old Bay Area Fiddlers' Association offer toe-tapping performances of music derived from Scotland and Ireland.

By KYLA K. WILSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 8, 2000

LARGO -- Their professions range from a Canadian hockey player to an elementary school teacher. Their ages range from 15 to 95.

But there is something the 30 members of the Bay Area Fiddlers' Association have in common: They love to play and dance to what they call "old-timey country music."

"We like to describe the fiddle as a violin with attitude," said member Al Richardson, 80, of Largo.

The association, sponsored by the city of Largo, was formed in January for fiddlers and players of other stringed instruments. Members meet the second and fourth Friday of each month at the Largo Cultural Center for fiddle lessons and to play. They hope to start meeting every week soon.

"We have a very interesting background," said Richardson, one of the founding members. "There are not many organizations like us."

Richardson plays the fiddle and other instruments, including piano and cello. He has composed more than 100 songs of different types, and one of his favorite types is old-time music, which revolves around the fiddle.

"The music is fun and lively, and very danceable," he said.

Elan Chalford, a 57-year-old Palm Harbor resident who helped to start the group, plays both violin and fiddle music.

"Fiddle music is more enjoyable," said Chalford, who writes and teaches fiddle music. "It is a way to play the violin without wrestling with it."

Old-time music has a quick beat and no lyrics. The music derives from Scotland and Ireland. Riverdance performances often use the music. The dances performed to the music are similar to square dancing.

"It kind of makes you want to tap your toes and get up and dance," said group member Joel Burki, 52, of St. Petersburg. Burki, who helped create the group and has been playing the fiddle for four years, said he likes the music because it is usually played from memory or improvised.

"When you're playing and there's a whole lot of other people involved, it starts to sound real good," he said.

The group performed at the Largo Cultural Center on May 21 and was featured at the opening ceremonies of Largo City Hall on June 3.

"We have had an excellent reaction," Richardson said. "People usually ask, "Why haven't we heard of you before?' "

Chalford said old-time music is growing in popularity because it is an alternative to most music on the radio.

"It's a relief from heavily commercialized, overproduced music," Chalford said. "It's a good clean sound."

To learn more

For information on the Bay Area Fiddlers' Association, call 938-1417 or 321-2379.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.