Club fiddles with tradition

Group's style strikes up tone from bygone era

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"A fiddle is a violin with attitude."

Nevada Old-Time Fiddler's Association president Paul Aguirre displays the bumper sticker proudly on his automobile.

Four times per month, members of his club get together for informal jazz sessions or more formal concerts in Henderson, southeast Las Vegas and other spots around the valley. The association's goal is to promote and perpetuate the traditions of old-time fiddling and to assemble those who share a common interest in the music.

"We're not a band. We're just a group of people who get together to play music," the 41-year-old Aguirre said.

The club has about 45 paying members. Some club members may not play the fiddle, guitar or other type of instrument, but they show up regularly to listen.

The jam sessions and concerts are voluntary, and anywhere from three or four people to 15 show up to play.

"We always have a good time no matter who shows up," Aguirre said.

Old-time fiddle music preceded contemporary country western and, though similar, bluegrass music, Aguirre said. One of the most well-known tunes is "My Darling Nellie Gray."

"It began in the 1600s and 1700s, when people didn't have the Internet, the radio or the TV to entertain them. Whoever knew how pulled out their fiddle and played," Aguirre said.

For those who are unfamiliar with the style, Aguirre pointed to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by the Charlie Daniels Band as a mainstream example.

Generally, Aguirre said, it's "old timers" who know the most about fiddle music, but the group is looking to pass the tradition on to younger generations. Currently, the youngest member is 12 years old.

Aguirre said in the past, fiddle players received no formal training. They made their own instruments and found someone who knew how to play to teach them the songs and the craft.

Today, though, many people buy their instruments and receive at least some formal training as far as playing. Many of the tunes also are available for download on the Internet.

Aguirre also explained that there is no difference between the fiddle and the violin, except in the style and attitude in which it is played.

"Sometimes, people modify their instruments by sanding the wood down or adding multiple strings," Aguirre said.

Although the group is primarily for fiddlers, some members also play other instruments. Eighty-two-year-old southwest resident Marshall Crowell plays guitar, for example.

Crowell said he was exposed to the music because of his father, who played the five-string banjo.

"Back then, we didn't have a radio," Crowell said.

At 5, Crowell learned to play the harmonica, and at 10, he learned the guitar from his cousin. Crowell and his cousin played together on the street corner to earn extra spending money to go to the Saturday matinee.

Crowell said the old-time music used to be played with big brown jugs the musician would blow into.

"Or they might use bones and rattle them to go clackity-clack-clackity-clack," Crowell said.

Crowell joined a fiddler's association in San Diego before moving to Las Vegas two years ago.

Aguirre's story is similar. He was in a different association in California. Aguirre had learned to play the violin in high school, but hadn't played in 20 years when he started up again.

"I dusted off my violin, pulled it out of the closet and started playing," Aguirre said.

Aguirre moved to Las Vegas two years ago and assumed the presidency of the Nevada Old-Time Fiddler's Association in January. He said there are many associations regionally. June 17 was the Nevada regional conference, and the national conference was held the following week in Idaho.

The Nevada Old-Time Fiddler's Association is 3 years old, founded in part by Mike Farrow, Aguirre said. Farrow did not return calls by press time.

"These are people who really enjoy this music," Aguirre said. "It's not something you're going to find in a casino."

Club members pay $18 per calendar year to join. Members who join in the middle of the year pay a prorated price.

For more information on the Nevada Old-Time Fiddler's Association and an updated calendar of events, e-mail nofawebmail@yahoo.com or visit http://communitylink/reviewjournal.com/lvrj/nvfiddlers.