Emily Schaad, 2008 Clifftop Fiddle Finals

[dervishmusic]

This is so much nonsense. Tunings, states, styles, lonesome sounds....? You know what's lonesome, someone who can't just listen to music for what it is, not what it "isn't". "Danita Hartz would rip her apart".  I bet, if Danita is a great musician she would probably just enjoy Emily's take on this. Great musicians, who really know what playing music is about, admire the differences between artist and know, instinctively, that art is not a competition.

[jumahl47]

In response to capitolsmforever, I thought music is supposed to be for the enjoyment of both player and listener. I just don't get this competitive attitude - ripping someone in two - Just say you prefer Texas fiddling, no need to denigrate anyone. How could you "enjoy this performance" if all you thought about was how much "better" someone else is? I like a wide variety of fiddle styles and I'm a huge fan of Emily's fiddling for her power and precision that makes tunes jump alive .

[borealify]

I took a class from her this summer and she's such a good teacher. Taught us some vital tips on how to learn tunes by ear. She's a good performer, a good teacher, and as I understand, a good bailer :) Emily is the best.

[banjogirl2000]

love ya emily!

[snadlerake]

I'll take Emily's fiddling to Texas style any day! True music from the heart. Anyone who really knows this music knows that cross tuned fiddling cannot be replicated effectively on the standard tuned fiddle.

[capitalismforever]

I love this style for "listening" purposes but the technical ability of this style can't hold a candle to the straight eight bowing pattern that a texas style breakdown fiddler can do. In addition, a texas style fiddler doesn't "need" to cross tune their instrument to produce that "lonesome" sound. Notwithstanding, I still enjoyed this performance even though Danita Hartz, for example, would rip her in two.

[YewPineyMountain]

@capitalismforever To each his own, I guess, but I beg to differ. Seems to me music is for listening to. If it sounds good, it doesn't matter whether it's technically more difficult or not. Also, it's a misunderstanding to think that cross tuning is a short cut or a cheat; it's essentially to achieving a particular sound with a particular tune. I love Emily's playing, particularly on "Cousin Sally Brown".

[nicodagger]

@capitalismforever what is 'straight-8" bowing, and what is cross-tuning? thanks.

[3lackdog]

@nicodagger Cross tuning is retuning the fiddle to say AEAE (instead of GDAE) for key of A fiddle tunes, or GDAD for a key of G tune. BUT she is not cross tuned here, she just knows how to utilize her pinky (in the first tune, in A) and the ringing open notes in the second tune (key of G). In other words, she's good. Apparently good enough to fool capitalismforever.

[3lackdog]

@nicodagger Straight 8 is a smooth pattern used by players in what I call Texas-rule contests. May refer to just bowing everything, but I think it's more like, "dee-diggy dee-diggy dee-diggy" shuffles with the bow (Nashville shuffle) or other regular patterns. What Emily does is more complex than that, but similar. She is good at mixing up the patterns. Also, this is a solo style and Texas style relies heavily on back up musicians, particularly guitar.

[whistlinrufusband]

@capitalismforever your comment holds no merit!!! This was a Clifftop competition, which at last check, was not in Texas!

[whistlinrufusband]

@capitalismforever STUPID!!!!

[isaaaroo]

@capitalismforever Old-time fiddling is not about technical ability. Texas-style fiddling places a much higher emphasis on technique and flashy showmanship, whereas the focus in old-time fiddling is on the rhythmic bowing patterns and drones. A lot of old-time players probably could play over-the-top Texas-style stuff, but maybe they just choose not to. Watch the incredible things that someone like Bruce Molsky or Brittany Haas can do with a bow. It's a technique of its own.

[nicodagger]

Beautiful!!!!!!!! If she didn't win, then the Devil Himself did, because no human could play any better! Good luck Emily!