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Two Fiddle Hell recordings are listed first below, of the New 52 Common Tunes and the Original 52 Common Tunes. Each of these 2-CD sets includes 52 different tunes from the Fiddle Hell Common Tune List, played both up-to-tempo and slowly. There are reels, jigs, waltzes, hornpipes and airs from Southern, Northern, Irish, Scottish, Canadian, and other traditional fiddle styles.
The slow versions don't just help with the notes, but also illuminate subtle aspects of fiddling in the different styles that are difficult to hear at full speed - bow rocking, string touches, mid-bow pulses, double stops, ornaments, and subtleties of timing.
These recordings will help you prepare for Fiddle Hell, or learn some tunes even if you can't make it this year. Order a copy for yourself and for a friend or family member, and you can learn the same tunes to play next time you're together.If you prefer not to use PayPal,
Books and CDs cheerfully autographed on request. These prices only cover domestic (US) shipping; if you need international shipping please
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If you'd like a copy of the 2019 Fiddle Hell Program Book, postpaid in the US for $8, click below to add it to your cart. It's got 80 pages of session descriptions, transcriptions, useful advice, and more. If you prefer the 2018 or 2017 program book instead, say so in your PayPal comments.
2-CD Set: [NEW] 52 Traditional Tunes from Fiddle Hell: Played Fast and Slow, VOLUME 2
Reiner Family Band
This 2-CD set has all of the New 52 tunes on it (plus 2 bonus tracks), as recorded in both fast and slow versions by the Reiner Family Band and friends. The tunes are described here. It’s just $15 for the 2-CD set, including shipping within the continental US. There are reels, jigs, waltzes, hornpipes and airs from Southern, Northern, Irish, Scottish, Canadian, and other traditional fiddle styles.
Please don’t make copies of these new CDs; instead order them for each person who will listen and learn. Your support will help us to sustain Fiddle Hell. Digital downloads will be available through CDBaby by September, and on iTunes soon after.
This will help you prepare for Fiddle Hell, or learn the tunes even if you can't make it this year. Order a copy for yourself and for a friend or family member, and you can learn the same tunes to play next time you're together.
2-CD Set: [Original] 52 Traditional Tunes from Fiddle Hell: Played Fast and Slow, Volume 1
Reiner Family Band
A tune for every week of the year! Each tune from the Original Fiddle Hell Common Tune List is played both up-to-tempo and slowly. Includes reels, jigs, waltzes, hornpipes and airs from Southern, Northern, Irish, Scottish, Canadian, and other traditional fiddle styles.
This will help you prepare for Fiddle Hell, or learn the tunes even if you can't make it this year. Order a copy for yourself and for a friend or family member, and you can learn the same tunes to play next time you're together.
What fiddlers have said about Volume 1:
Jean: “Just wanted to tell you the CD is great! Even knowing a lot of the tunes, I love hearing a variation and the backup as well! Fabulous job putting it together. In fact, I'm going to be ordering a few more from you to give as gifts to friends.”
Mat: “The playing is good, precise and done with a light touch... good teachin' material. The tempos of the band tracks are the kind you'd hear at a festival or dance; no pussyfooting… I'm happy. This is some decent tutelage and motivation to learn a tune a week. To the woodshed...”
Tom: “Even if it takes the rest of my life to learn all these tunes each Fiddle Hell will be better because of it... This is a great resource and well worth the price!”
Laquetta: “It is easy to hear the melody in both slow and fast versions… For the first time ever, I’m actually learning by ear and not frantically searching the Internet for a version of the sheet music that more or less matches the version of the tune I’m trying to learn… I really liked your slow versions. In the few days I’ve had the CDs, I’ve probably learned more about good playing techniques than I have in the year I’ve been learning… I can hear when you hammer on, pick up a string an octave below for resonance, or do slides or grace notes and the all the various things that add texture but can’t be heard at “full” slow speed. I can hear some of how the bow is used to create the effects. This is all stuff I’ve read about, but never really experienced. It’s been a real eye-opener.”
George: “If you're looking for a nice mix of must-know tunes this is a great set of CD's. They are played at a modest tempo, very clear and well recorded and a VERY slow tempo as well. Each tune is played a couple times through and usually more ornamented each time around. All are accompanied by Dave’s family band. Most prominent being the piano, which is excellent. These CD's are as much a joy just to entertain as they are to learn from.”
Willy: “Great arrangements with very clear fiddling. And although I'll probably never get to Fiddle Hell, this will be a good resource for me to expand my repertoire.”
Here's an online review of the CDs.
Digital MP3 downloads are available at Amazon for $17.98.
CD: Reiner Family Band Live!
$2.00 postage and handling
Recorded live at Codman Farms, Lincoln, MA, this CD sounds just like us! Bluegrass, oldtime, Irish, swing, and more. Guaranteed to get your toes tapping!
1. Over the Waterfall / Soldier's Joy
2. Road to Lisdoonvarna / Irish Washerwoman / Swallowtail Jig / Ten Penny Bit
3. Way Downtown
4. Star of the County Down / Jennie's Chickens / The Gravel Walk
5. Jambalaya / Prairie Grass Two Step
6. Boatsman / June Apple / Old Joe Clark
7. The Holy Land / Call to Dance
8. Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue
9. Ebba Polka / Redwing
10. Turkey in the Straw / Golden Slippers
11. Gone, Gone, Gone
12. Cherokee Shuffle / Big Sandy River / Devil's Dream
13. I'm an Old Cowhand
14. Red-Haired Boy / Julia Delaney's / Tam Lin / Music for a Found Harmonium
15. Footprints in the Snow
16. Ouzel Falls / Wizard's Walk
17. Slider's Reel / Ragtime Annie / Whiskey Before Breakfast
Book/Online Audio: Old-Time Fiddling Across America, by David Reiner & Peter Anick
$3.50 postage and handling
"A unique collection of 66 fiddle tunes illustrating the major regional styles found across America and Canada. This book contains rare vintage photographs, player's biographical profiles, historical and performance notes, bowing indications, and information on cross-tunings and the American institution of fiddle contests. The authors have collaborated brilliantly on this labor of love to produce a definitive volume of tunes transcribed from recordings by many of the best fiddlers in North America. Exemplary tunes are included from the Northeast, Southeast and Western regions, plus various widespread ethnic styles including Cajun, Irish, Scandinavian, Klezmer, and Eastern European styles. 184 pages. Includes online audio with all 66 tunes." -- From Mel Bay website
Book/Online Audio: Anthology of Fiddle Styles, by Dave Reiner
$3 postage and handling
A critically acclaimed book covering oldtime, bluegrass, Irish, blues, Scandinavian, Cajun, Texas, swing and jazz, and twin fiddling styles. This book also covers bowing patterns, careful explanations of chords and chord progressions, kickoffs and endings for fiddle tunes, and improvisation. Contains 10 of the tunes on the Fiddle Hell common tune list, and 6 tunes writen out for twin fiddle! The online audio files feature Dave Reiner's performance of all the tunes in the book.
CD: On a Meadowlark Night, by Eric Eid-Reiner
$2 postage and handling
This CD of dance music from New England, Ireland, Scotland, Québec, and Cape Breton features Eric on piano along with Andy Reiner (fiddle, mandolin), Dave Reiner (fiddle), Ken Kolodner (hammered dulcimer), Kimberly Fraser (fiddle, feet), Anna Grosslein (flute), Billy Novick (clarinet), and Will Lydgate (bass).
Review from Celtic Beat (October 2010): Incredible versatility might be the word for lack of another for the pianist ofMatching Orange-the new “kids on the block” in Contra Dance. This CD is massive and if you like a wide combination of musical style combined with superb craftsmanship on the keys this is one you should have.
Created with fellow artists, such as family members Andy and Dave Reiner, dulcimerist Ken Kolodner, fiddler Kimberly Fraser, flautist Anna Grosslein,and featuring modern pieces by Dave Richardson, Keith Murphy and Jeremiah McLaneas well as time honored traditional pieces the springboard for this album were the sessions at the Meadowlark Music Camp.
For sheer poetry, sad and powerful is “Neil Gow’s Lamentation On The Death Of His Second Wife” (11) Right here is proof that for artistry you don’t need a symphony orchestra. I have heard weaker renditions of this, and equal, but never stronger.
There is a wonderful playing of Dave Richardson’s “Calliope House” combined with “Andy DeJarlis” (6) This illustrates a rule for this album: that the tunes here are rightly combined together, and still manage to be ear catching and exciting. Everything in balance.
Throughout, from “Reel de Montreal”/”La Bastringue”/”Old French” to “Roof For The Rain” this is perhaps one of the best CDs by an acoustic local artist that I’ve heard in a long time. AK
CD: Grand Tour: Traditional Music on Piano, by Eric Eid-Reiner
$2 postage and handling
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Eric plays a variety of great tunes and medleys on piano, in styles ranging from Cape Breton, Irish, Norwegian and oldtime to ragtime, jazz, Jewish and modern folk. Dave and Andy join in on fiddle, including several twin fiddle tunes. Don't miss Eric's original composition, The Fiddle Bottle Waltz.
Book: The Fiddle Barn Tune Collection, Vol. 1, by Andy Reiner
This has been published digitally, along with many other great tunes from Andy here.
The Fiddle Barn Tune Collection - Volume One: 54 Original Tunes By Andy Reiner. As Andy writes in the introduction: "The nature of traditional fiddle music is malleable. Newly composed tunes mingle with old tunes in jams, parties, concerts, and in today's age, recordings. Through the ears and hands of many fiddle players, a new tune may become part of the tradition. Tunes that were new 200 years ago are deemed traditional now." Don't miss Cape Breton Jellyfish, Blue Sky Basin, Loonacy, Transylvanian Waltz, Brian the Seagull, The Kelp Dance, Lemon of Reality, and 47 more great new tunes!
Book/Online MP3s: Anthology of Jazz Violin Styles, by Dave Reiner & Glenn Asch
$3 postage and handling
Just re-published in 2019, with free mp3’s online, this classic book covers many styles and well-known players, with tunes, exercises, history, and photos. Tunes in the styles of Darol Anger, Svend Asmussen, Vassar Clements, Stéphane Grappelli, Mark O'Connor, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stuff Smith, Eddie South, Benny Thomasson, and Joe Venuti. The melodies are not direct transcriptions of the artists' playing, but rather original tunes and improvisations such as Lunar Dog, Timescape, and Mango Swing that Dave and Glenn (and other jazz violinists) have written in their styles. Many hours of careful listening have gone into identifying the characteristic approach, favorite licks and techniques, and overall interpretive framework of each violinist. Includes sections on scales, chords, progressions such as ii-V-I and ii-bII7-I, altered notes, turnarounds, improvising, bow techniques, and rhythm patterns.