Dec 4, 2024–When we put a violin in our granddaughter’s hands last year, I would have been happy to listen to her saw away at endless Suzuki songs. But unexpectedly, and due to encouragement from her instructor, Theresa Britt, she has developed an affinity for fiddle tunes, from Old Joe Clark to Bubbles in My Beer.
From long practice at being a dad and a teacher, I am careful not to show too much enthusiasm for her new passion, as I don’t want her to think I am living vicariously through her. Yet I discreetly learn the chords to her songs and make sure her tuner has fresh batteries. It doesn’t even bother me that she has already played more gigs in Luckenbach at age 9 than I ever did before age30. But that is part of the beauty of growing up in Texas, where fiddling is in the water and Bob Wills is still The King.
That brings me to Dan Margolies, who wants you to know that Texas is home to many kinds of fiddling, which will all be on display at the Festival of Texas Fiddling, December 6-8, at Twin Sisters Dance Hall in Blanco County.
“What we do is showcase all of the diversity of Texas fiddling,” Margolies said. “There are many different cultural musical traditions played across the state that have either stayed independent or kind of fused together in new ways. This Festival highlights all the music and dancing across these different traditions. That is the difference in our festival and many others. We are the only one that features all of them.”
He pointed out the different types of regional and and ethnic traditions, like Texas Polish fiddling, which came out of the Texas Polonia part of the state. The Texas Czech fiddle tradition, rare now, was once so important that it migrated over to brass, horns and accordion. Son Huasteco is one of eight Mexican song styles originating in a region of Mexico called La Huasteca. There is also Creole music and a variety of Tejano styles played on fiddle. Western Swing itself was influenced partly by mariachi fiddling in addition to the fusion of jazz and swing with country to create a whole new form.
While the 10-year-old event itself is not is a fiddling contest, organizers have added a third day for the Old Time Fiddlers Contest. I’ve never understood the compulsion to make music a competition, from local fiddle contests to the endless series of “talent” shows on television. But they matter to some folks, and “are awesome and fun,” according to Margolies.
“Competitions are an important tradition in Texas, but many other noncommercial styles are overlooked,” Margolies said. “We are interested in the historical significance, so all of those styles will be represented in the fiddlers attending.”
To that end, the Festival of Texas Fiddling includes the generous sharing of different musical traditions. Tents will be set up on the grounds where fiddlers will give workshops and teach their styles to anyone interested. Three dozen featured fiddlers and bands are scheduled over the weekend. Players of all levels are also invited to come and jam under the trees with anyone willing to tune up.
“We are all about not just presenting it, but also to support traditional fiddle music and get people to play it, so that the tradition survives,” Margolies said. “Part of our goal is to support what we call a sustainable cultural tradition. It starts there.”
This all takes place at the historical Twin Sisters Dance Hall, just south of Blanco. It was one of the first Texas dance halls I visited upon arriving in Texas 45 years ago and is one of the dwindling number still maintained and functioning.
Margolies invites anyone with an interest in Texas history to come out. There will be camping, food trucks, and “everything runs on time.”
“If you love music and love dancing, this is the place that has the very best of both. You will be able to hear a full array of styles played on the fiddle historically in Texas, across an incredible set of traditions. No where else you can get that experience. It’s just a beautiful place to be.”
My grand is eager to attend, not just to hear Western Swing, but to listen to and learn about the other styles. I’ll tag along, carrying her fiddle case, pretending it’s an imposition.
But it won’t be.
Details: The 10th Annual Festival of Texas Fiddling will be held on Friday and Saturday, December 6-7, 2024, at Twin Sisters Dance Hall, located 6 miles south of Blanco, TX. Tickets, schedule, and information at: www.texasfiddle.org