Intergenerational fiddlers preserve tradition
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Crystal Brooks of Southwick does a tuning prior to a recent rehearsal. Emma Sawyer, 3, looks on. Reminder Publications submitted photo
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By Lori O'Brien
Correspondent
WESTFIELD Walking down Church Street on a recent Tuesday evening, "happy music" could be heard permeating the cool, crisp winter air.
The occasion was the weekly rehearsal of the talented Pioneer Valley Fiddlers, an intergenerational group with members ranging in age from five to 75.
"If you don't feel like jumping out of your chair to start dancing, we are not doing our job," said Christine Keenan of Blandford, who spoke with Reminder Publications. "Someone who heard us described our playing as happy music."
The Pioneer Valley Fiddlers is a fiddler's club dedicated to the preservation and performance of traditional fiddle music. Keenan founded the club in 1992.
"We perform mainly in the northeast fiddle style including Irish, Scottish, Canadian and traditional music," said Keenan, adding "we also do an occasional southern, Cajun or Texas-style piece."
All ability levels are represented from beginner to advanced player, and on the evening of Jan. 16 besides fiddlers, there were musicians who played keyboard, mandolin, washboard and spoons.
"Most of our music is associated with early dance music, such as jigs, reels, two-steps, polkas and waltzes," said Keenan.
Fiddle club members meet once a week from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and Keenan runs a tight ship. The early part of the evening focuses on new members and beginner members so familiar tunes are played at a slow pace.
"As the evening progresses we start to work on new tunes along with a program of tunes that will be used in our concerts," added Keenan.
Anyone can join the fiddle club and Keenan encourages interested individuals to attend a rehearsal to see for themselves the camaderie that was apparent on Jan. 16.
Current fiddle club members include Harold Fountain of Agawam, Ray, Joseph and Samantha Dziok and Al Lemieux, all of Chicopee; Butch Cone and Grace Ferrante, both of Haydenville; Lisa Connell of Holyoke; and Kevin and Isidora Germain of Easthampton; Crystal Brooks of Southwick; Jim MacKay, Matt Labombard, and Sarah Hubbard, all of Westfield; Jared Hague of Russell; Cindy and Natalie Paterson, Colleen Doot, Heather, Morgan, Alison and Felicity Andrus, all of Otis; and Leland Martin and Keenan, both of Blandford.
Keenan started the group 15 years ago because she enjoyed playing traditional fiddle music and wanted to play with others.
"I have organized a fiddler's contest at the Blandford Fair for many years and made an announcement at that event and put out a sign up sheet, which I still do every year, and the group was born," she said. "There are several members who have been with the group for more than 10 years."
Early fiddle music was a rhythm setter for dances, according to Keenan. Simple tunes with strong rhythms were played by a fiddler so many people could dance. In this country during colonial times, a traveling fiddler would go from village to village to play for dances.
"He would learn new tunes from local musicians and pass these tunes on to the next village," said Keenan, adding "nothing was written down in those days. Consequently, today many versions of the same tune can be found in various music books."
The types of tunes the Pioneer Valley Fiddlers play are mostly dance related which is why audiences feel like clapping their hands, tapping their feet, and getting up to dance.
"Today this kind of music can still be heard at contra dances," added Keenan.
The Pioneer Valley Fiddlers have several concerts scheduled in the coming months which include the Hometown Heroes Recognition Night in East Longmeadow on Feb. 8; the St. Stanislaus Auction in Chicopee on March 3, and in Chester, Maplefest on March 17 and Chester on Track on May 19.
"Our performance size varies depending on the type of setting," said Keenan. "We have played with as few as four players for smaller settings, such as cocktail parties or small open houses and we have played with 25 players for large stage performances like country fairs and church picnics."
It's a family affair as the Dzioks from Chicopee are all enthusiastic members of the fiddle club with the exception of Kathy Dziok who prefers to provide her support in the back of the rehearsal hall while she knits. In particular, Joseph Dziok, 14, a student at Cathedral High School, Springfield, plays the piano and accordion and said he enjoys having the opportunity to meet a lot of "cool people" through this venue. As one observes on the sidelines, it is hard to miss his fingers gliding over the keyboard so effortlessly. He adds that someday his ambition is to get into the recording side of the music scene.
Also during a break, Isidora Germain, 10, of Easthampton, shared her enthusiasm of the group.
"I enjoy being with other people and making new friends," she said, adding that she has played the violin since she was five and envisions a future full of music.
Her advice to others learning the violin?
"Don't give up," she said with a wide smile.
Keenan has found over the years that individuals join for different reasons and for Grace Ferrante of Haydenville, she learned to play the fiddle about six years ago as an outlet from her full-time job as a nurse.
"I wanted to learn something new and found the fiddle had the widest range of emotion," said Ferrante, adding "it's fun, sad, and very sweet."
Ferrante added that after attending one rehearsal, she loved it immediately.
"It's fun for me and it's fun to see the kids progress and develop into wonderful musicians," she added. "It's been a wonderful addition to my life."
Whatever the reason area residents who are musically inclined are welcome to consider joining the fiddle club, according to Keenan. For more information, contact Keenan at (413) 848-2177.
Since the rehearsals are an indication of the caliber of their talent, don't miss this group of musicians when they play at a venue later this year in your community.
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