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One question that is not directly related with technique: when an english speaking says "fiddle" instead of "violin" is there any nuance in the sentence? Does he mean something different when using either of them? Or the two words are totally  interchangeable? Just to know...

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A few thoughts on this to get started.

I tend to think there is a difference, albeit subtle.

Fiddle is a more informal term, usually used in the context of folk music. The term Violin would always be used in classical music.

My understanding is that orchestral players seek after a narrower range of tones than what would be acceptable in folk/country music.

I may be getting it wrong however, I feel that if a specific instrument is referred to as a Fiddle, that might convey a sentiment that it is not up the the exacting standard required of a classical instrument.  

 

Posted

It's the style of music you play. Some styles call the instrument a violin, e.g. classical, Jazz, Indian, Persian, etc. Some styles call the instrument a fiddle, e.g. bluegrass, Irish, nordic, etc. You'd never talk about Irish violining nor would you talk about Bach's Concerto for two fiddles.

Quick one liner:

"What's the difference between a fiddle and a violin?"

"A fiddle is fun to listen to." :ph34r:

Posted

Back in the 1990s my father bought a really beautiful 1886 Szepessey Bela.  We took the “fiddle” up  to Brasstown, North Carolina to visit a talented German Luthier who was a good friend of my Dad.  As the violin maker was admiring and examining the instrument, I leaned in and said “Nice Fiddle, eh?”  He reacted almost immediately to my question & kind of jumped back surprised and said in no uncertain terms “This is not a fiddle! This is a violin! “ LOL

Posted

For the hoity toity, "violin" is the proper word.  "Fiddle" can be informal for violin (if you dare), or it can refer to what is used to play fiddle music.  Kindof like the difference between "Fragrance" and "Odor".

Posted
12 hours ago, wooden said:

One question that is not directly related with technique: when an english speaking says "fiddle" instead of "violin" is there any nuance in the sentence? Does he mean something different when using either of them? Or the two words are totally  interchangeable? Just to know...

It depends where the English speaking person lives. America and England are two countries separated by a common language...George Bernard Shaw

Posted

A violin is just a diminuitive viola thus less important.  In the mists of time  viola probably derived from vihuela. 

I cannot remember the mediaeval Latin origin of the word 'fiddle'. Maybe something like fiddicula?

Posted

 

2 hours ago, LCF said:

A violin is just a diminuitive viola thus less important.  In the mists of time  viola probably derived from vihuela. 

I cannot remember the mediaeval Latin origin of the word 'fiddle'. Maybe something like fiddicula?

I think it was fidiculous. Sort of like this conversation.

Posted

Seems this question has been answered quite well.

Hmmm, the difference between a fiddle and violin. Lets see , a fiddle one carries in a sack and a violin is carried in a case. A violin has strings, a fiddle has”strangs”. A violin is a fiddle with college education. A fiddle once only cost $50 while a violin would cost thousands. Violin is an Italian word while fiddle is of English decent.

I have heard the best violinists refer to their instrument as a fiddle. Some say its the type of music one plays on it, a poorly playing violinist may be referred to as a fiddler. I consider myself half fiddler and half violinist, master of none. I am comfortable playing last chair in the second violin section or sitting on  bale of hay next to a guitar player.

My present favorite (fiddle) instrument is a $285 ebay special with a built in pickup system made by the Martin guitar company. I do have s “violin bridge” mounted on it. The arch has an 1.8 mm differential between the strings. Some fiddlers like it a bit lower at about 1.5mm or less (as measured utilizing the Tom Croen Digital Crossing Angle Gauge). I utilize a Dominant set of strings along with the Kaplan whistle free E string. 40 years ago when I considered myself a proper fiddler, I played on Super Sensitive  stainless steel strings. 

I have a few proper violins in my collection although I mostly play my Martin fiddle, fits me like an old pair of shoes. Do not mind getting a little mud on it occasionally.

I am in the final throws of completing the restoration of a 1790s Hopf instrument.  Setting it up in the Baroque manor, thinking it will make the ideal “Fiddle”

Posted
8 hours ago, nathan slobodkin said:

 

I think it was fidiculous. Sort of like this conversation.

Or like an incantation from Harry Potter!

 

PS, both English words descend from the same Latin word 'vitulari' which means to have fun, via different intermediate languages. According to Oxford Etymology.

It's a Norman vs Saxon thing. 

 

Posted

My First Fiddle

As a child, a piano or violin was something my sisters would play

Then something magical happened.

I was exposed to the Buckeroos , their rockabilly style and fiddle player blew me away.

I observed a live show in 1966 or so in Japan. As my father was in the military.

So, the fiddle sounded like such an awesome instrument to play.

Dad thought it a terrible idea, his love of country music changed his mind. He claimed to be in attendance when Hank Williams failed to show up in Canton Ohio for a concert. I was bombarded with high fidelity county twang and rhythm along with bass, petal steel guitar, fiddle etc.….from his latest high power stereo console.

  At seven I was given a Japanese 3/4 violin/fiddle. Started taking lessons.

Returned to the United States to resume grammar school.

The other children began to ridicule each other about their selection of instruments. Various slurs were exchanged between the piano and violin players.

My way out of the conundrum; ( jocks were not musicians)  proclaimed that I was a Fiddler player and not a piano or violin player. Don't recall much of a response.

I play a little piano, mostly a middle size L model. One thing I do not play are wind instruments. Although I do sing and can perform a somewhat unusual wind instrument sound.

I was sad the day my first violin departed. It was just gone, not where I left it, under the bed. Not being necessary because of a full-size upgrade.

I always tell folks to make sure and please let junior keep his first fiddle.

Posted

Certainly in my areas of life (Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia) no one would refer to the person playing a violin in an old time or bluegrass band as a violinist. They are fiddlers who play fiddles. 

Posted

Violin: formal/official name of the instrument. Generally used by classical music players and by the public at large.

Fiddle: informal name. Used both as a nickname for a violin (by anyone) and by players of fiddle (as a genre) music.

The setup of a violin used for classical music versus "fiddle" music may be different due to the desired playability of the different genres.

Posted

I like to refer to the music instead of the instrument. I think of the formality in western classical music and the informal tradition of fiddle music. Both played differently to different audiences. Classical is meant to be listened to while fiddle music is mainly intended to be danced to. Both have their own stories and history.

Posted

English is a schizo hybrid language. The difference between fiddle and violin is similar to the difference between will and testament or cow and beef, sheep and mutton or pig and pork. And so on. 

 

Viola, vitula, fiđela, fidla, vihuela, ...

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