A friend of mine recently purchased a violin from someone in rural Mississippi. It's obvious from the photo that "3rd position" was never used on the violin; and someone commented on the difference between a "fiddler" and a "violinist." The implication being, "serious" musicians are violinist, anyone else merely a "fiddler."
But isn't pejorative distinction a recent one? I recall reading that during Handel's commission for the "Royal Fireworks Music," King George expressly did NOT want "fiddles." I'm curious, was there an equivalent term for "fiddler" in German or French or Italian, that was used during the baroque? My other question involves pizzicato during the baroque: if an entire movement featured pizzicato, would violin players hold their instruments like a lute/guitar? I saw a photograph of Concentus Musicus Wien playing a movement precisely in this manner and wondered if it has any basis on what really happened. Thanks very much. Kim -- Kim Patrick Clow "There's really only two types of music: good and bad." ~ Rossini _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list Finale@shsu.edu http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
