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Thread: May 24 Canadian fiddle concert

  1. #1
    Registered User Ranald's Avatar
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    Default May 24 Canadian fiddle concert

    Calvin Vollrath, from Alberta, is a highly-regarded, outstanding Canadian fiddler in the cross-Canada old-time style style. He plays traditional music and composes his own tunes. Calvin's concerts are always good -- I've attended many. He's doing an online concert on Sunday, May 24, 2;00-4:00 MDT (4:00-6:00) EDT.

    https://calvinvollrath.com/campaigns/619583
    Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
    "I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
    Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.

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    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: May 24 Canadian fiddle concert

    I saw him a few years ago. What a wonderful performer with a bright twinkle in his eye. Well worth the time.
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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: May 24 Canadian fiddle concert

    He is amazing fiddler. Sorry I missed the concert. There are some youtube videos of him driving fellow musicians mad in a long medley of maybe a dozen tunes by just calling out the key. Really fun and a challenge to his friends. Phenomenal fiddler.
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    Registered User Ranald's Avatar
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    Default Re: May 24 Canadian fiddle concert

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    He is amazing fiddler. Sorry I missed the concert. There are some youtube videos of him driving fellow musicians mad in a long medley of maybe a dozen tunes by just calling out the key. Really fun and a challenge to his friends. Phenomenal fiddler.
    Yes, Calvin's an outstanding fiddler and a heck of a nice guy, without an ounce of pretension to him. I've seen him live many times, often in small settings, including at the now-defunct "By The Canal Fiddle Camp," where he was especially willing to take risks and see if his fellow musicians could keep up, doing exactly what you were saying.

    I believe that the concert's available through his website. There's some fine mandolin picking, on on tune only, about half an hour in, by Ray Legere of New Brunswick, and two mandolins in the background at pianists' homes. It wasn't as much fun as a live show but the online concert is well worth watching.

    Added later: By the way, though Calvin speaks of "writing" tunes, he neither reads nor writes music. He just makes tunes, records them, and has others transcribe them. He's the son of an old-time fiddler, and wanted to play like his dad. At about seven, Calvin took one classical lesson, was disgusted, and quit. He's largely self-taught.
    Last edited by Ranald; May-24-2020 at 7:52pm. Reason: addendum
    Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
    "I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
    Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.

  8. #5

    Default Re: May 24 Canadian fiddle concert

    Did anyone catch the Covid Fiddle Championships last weekend? It was National Fiddle Day, and Calvin’s birthday. He mentored the contest with Patti Kusturok,and served as a judge. It was the brainchild of Alex Kusturok, Patti’s son. It was phenomenal, and nary a hitch or hiccup. Best online event with multiple locations/players I’ve seen. Some tasty playing too.

    Calvin’s written a catalogue of tunes, which got a lot of play during the competition. Boy, he’s just one of those players who can just play you under the table, no matter how good you are, and he runs a fiddle camp every year, which this year will be held online. https://www.campcalvin.ca/
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