The Tennessee Fiddle Orchestra
is essentially a chamber orchestra that performs traditional folk
music.
The TFO will explore the rich traditions of fiddle tunes and
folk songs which embody the experience of the rural Southeastern United
States.
Our fiddle orchestra will rehearse weekly
toward the objective of a concert at the end of the semester. Repertoire
will include classics from the American and Celtic fiddle tune traditions
as well as hymns and seasonal music.
The ensemble will consist of fiddles, violas, cellos, and string
basses. Anyone interested is encouraged to participate The ensemble will
consist of fiddles, violas, cellos, and string basses. Anyone interested
is encouraged to participate advanced. If you have the desire to be a part
of the Tennessee Fiddle Orchestra, there will be a place for you.
Jim Wood, the five-time Tennessee State Fiddle Champion, composer, and
multi-instrumentalist, will provide custom arrangements in order to
optimize everyone's participation. Lisa Quick will conduct rehearsals and the final concert.
The TFO will meet weekly on Monday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
in the Forrester Student Center Cafeteria. Forrester Student Center Cafeteria is located on the Motlow
State Community College campus between Lynchburg, and Tullahoma, Tennessee
on Highway 55. Rehearsals for the 2nd semester will begin on January 28th,
and the concert will be on May 5, 2008.
The Tennessee Fiddle Orchestra is slated to begin rehearsal on January
28th for its second semester, and we would love to see the number of
participants double this time around. The bigger, the better. The first
semester was a tremendous success (capped by a
more-than-standing-room-only concert at Motlow in December). I could not
have imagined that it could have went any better (both in what we
accomplished as a group and in the incredible support of the
community).
If you play fiddle, violin, viola, 'cello, or string bass, please
consider joining us (and if you do not play, please help us to spread the
word). The TFO is truly for musicians of all levels and backgrounds, and
the thing that pleased me most about the first semester was the way in
which experienced players blended together with relative beginners where
everyone seemed challenged at his or her level. I write arrangements to
include every level from pretty advanced to very simple; so, on any given
piece, you will find a part that is both accessible but stimulating. We
will cover this semester a wide range of fun and interesting material,
including Irish, Scottish, old-time, and contest-style fiddle tunes, some
Western Swing, and several folk songs (including a Costa Rican
pasillo).
We have several members who were already proficient on other
instruments who saw the TFO as an opportunity to branch out and learn
something new; so, if you have ever said to yourself that you wanted to
play violin, viola, 'cello, or string bass, now is a great chance to get
going. Playing with an orchestra and hearing all the wonderful sound of
the violin family instruments blending together is one of the great
musical experiences of life; it is truly magical. Also, Inge and I have
never seen anything in all our years of teaching private students that has
been more effective in helping students to improve.