Elke Baker, Scottish fiddle champion

[SWO28]

I forgot to mention that Elke Baker is a fantastic fiddler, and she would do well in any fiddle competition she would enter. I love the way she brings a smile to my face when watching her, and makes me want to dance. Maggie Adamson (19) won the Genfiddich last year, and my money this year is on Graham MacKenzie (19).

[SWO28]

I must say that the standard of young scottish traditional fiddlers over the past number of years is amazing, with the likes of Maggie Adamson (Shetland), Graham MacKenzie(Inverness), Shona MacFadden(West Kilbride) , and lots more of them now coming through. The Scottish fiddling scene has never looked so healthy in those young fiddlers hand. Well done to you all !!!

[charliemchenry]

Love it. But is it just me or does this lass sound like she's playing a Scots tune with Norwegian stylistic elements? I'm catching a Nordic lilt. 

[fiddlingscool]

Amazing - loads of experts out there... Elkie has a nice tone and plays well but i think it might be a struggle in scotland.. trust me..! Maybe now though as the competition scene is very poor standard... even the championships like the Glenfiddich.. and 2 years ago an American won it (not Elkie btw) Rebecca Lomnicky..but however i could let you in to a secret...I taught her..

[FiddlerSteve]

@Gregfiddles, I believe those tunes can all be found in old Scottish tunebooks. the 3/2 hornpipe may be English but they were in the common repertoire of Scottish fiddlers during the heyday of Scottish fiddling circa 1790. By the detailed liner notes that accompany all her CDs, Elke researches her tunes more than most fiddlers... Although I agree, would love to see a clip of her rendition of Craigellachie Brig

[Poodlepups]

It wasn't a Scottish fiddle championship IN Scotland, although she'd probably hold her own there, it was in the US.

[Jared7873]

@Gregfiddles: She was champion, in the US, in a competition that only had Scottish fiddle music, in another year. Even here she is playing some Scottish tunes, but you're right, she is not from Scotland.

[gregfiddles]

Not sure where the Scottish element is here... And how Can the US have a National 'Scottish fiddle championship'

Go on Elke... 'Marquis of Huntley's Farewell' - or 'Craigellachie Brig' Please...

[Statalyzer]

@gregfiddles The Scottish element is that these are Scottish dance tunes.

[Lisnageeragh]

This lady has a nice tone ...sweet and unforced. Most trad fiddle players I grew up with only used one position ..and possibly only two keys.

[Poodlepups]

Reminder to everyone Elke has a new CD coming out this Christmas with Ken Kolodner, it's going to be awesome! Come to the Helicon Concert and get one!! Or visit Ken's website in a month or so. See sidebar.

[Poodlepups]

@Poodlepups Christmas...okay JUNE 2011! They are putting the pictures together today!

[MrsLetsgocamping]

folk music is true music. it's where all other music genres originated from, therefore it's the mother of all music. sadly it's being listened to and appreciated less and less in the modernizing world today.

[CowboyBebop444]

i saw Elke Baker in Ligonier, Pa. I also bought all her CDs, actually we bought 2 copies of each....1 for me and 1 for my parents. She is awesome.

[crankymcstab]

Another few tunes to put on my 'to learn' pile.

ps.: what's with the chin rest?

[SweetSoundOfGrace]

@crankymcstab

i guess the chin rest got a serious brake itself :)

[missingwink]

i love how so much can be brought out in first position on the violin

[mikesamwild]

Great !!

3/2 hornpipes playe just as they should be for vigorous traditional dancing

Barham Down is in Kent. the tune is in the Playford English tune collection 1670s

[Greywildwolf]

i love fiddles

[marktomarketguy]

Fab Fab and more FAB!!

Thank you!

[sophistre]

She looks so happy when she plays. This music is so happy already, it just makes the whole thing even better.

[gen65743]

i love it! she should come and teach at the Southern Hemisphere International School of Scottish Fiddle in New Zealand. her style is traditional scottish and i love it

[nicodagger]

This is beautiful...I watched a video of a great American fiddler playing "Hop Hi Ladies" in his hotel room, he's from Appalachia, about 85 years old, great fiddler, but he held his fiddle not at his chin but almost at his heart...is that an American thing only

[ButterflyS0ul]

That does seem to be an American adaptation in Appalachia.

[StephaneGrappelli]

this was so beautiful!!!!

[jagarbj]

I'm new to this posting coments thing but I have just a darn good fiddler!

[FiddlerSteve]

Nice one! Elke's one of my favorites; I've been trying to copy her sound for years. She's a wonderful dance fiddler too!

[clickfivexoxo]

you're welcome!

if you don't have a specific place to order one from, try shar music. they are excellent to work with, and reasonably priced! you can also subscribe to their free catalog which has annual clearances and sales. =)

[BubCar2]

Lovely sound. Interesting to note she doesn't use the chin rest, or grip the violin by the neck at all, which means the left hand doesn't go beyond first position, because she's using it to "hold" the fiddle. But this doesn't seem to hinder her technique. I wonder how common this is in traditional fiddle music.

[Poodlepups]

Huh! I never noticed that about the chin rest. You're right.  I don't think I've heard her play the very high notes, so maybe she hasn't needed to go to another position (at this concert anyway)

I myself depend on that chin rest to hold my fiddle in place, but she's right in tune without it!

[morigue]

I've seen several Scottish & Irish fiddlers that tend to place their chin on the tailpiece instead of the chin rest, if they put their chin down at all. I've a few Swedish fiddlers who hold the fiddle to the middle of their chest instead of up under their chin. They're all able to play just fine.

[Poodlepups]

Interesting, thanks! I'll start paying attention to how people hold their fiddles.

[clickfivexoxo]

you can also buy different types of chin rests.... one type, for fiddles, goes right at the bottom of the tailpiece.

[Poodlepups]

That's good to know. I did find out from Ken Kolodner (my fiddle teacher) that my previous chin rest was standard, but way too high. The lower profile new one really made a difference. I'll have to check this out, since it's a relatively inexpensive alteration. Thanks for the info and comment!

[Rettihsllub]

@BubCar2 : It is quite possible to shift while supporting the neck with the hand. Nathan Milstein used no pad (he did use a chin rest as do most players), and could go anywhere he wanted. It is a kind of crawl technique, different from what one does when using a shoulder support. (In case you are wondering, I am a professional violinist.) 

[funnyman498]

@BubCar2 A lot of folk players around the world don't use the chin rest. That was standard in classical music too until about 1800AD, and occasionally you find baroque or renaissance violinists who choose not to use them. It's crazy awesome to watch them shift positions and it's gotta be hard as balls to keep your balance!

[eyknow]

Great feel! You've been favorited, Elke: too good to pass.