HANDED DOWN

Handed Down - book published in 2013

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The aim of the book was to document the fiddle culture in East and Central County Down. Due to the large numbers of fiddlers playing for dancing, and the fact that their repertoire was largely governed by the various dances in vogue, the dances and their evolution became increasingly relevant.

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Most cultures only record the well-known and famous musicians; however the strength of traditional music is in the playing at “grass roots” level, not purely the virtuoso players. For this reason the musicians included are by and large “ordinary” practicing fiddle players. Yes, several were legendary fiddle players of their generation and in their district; for example, John Simpson, Jimmy Edmond, Willie McCloy, and the Savages in East Down; Ned McCarry in the Low Country; Jimmy McClurg, Jimmy Ward, Willie Wallace and James McElroy in Central Down. However none of these are currently well-known outside the County, and in some cases not even within their own locality.

The criteria on which fiddle players were selected is straightforward. Any fiddler that played up to and including the 1950s, the period when the County Down fiddle culture largely died out, is included. It is inevitable that many have been forgotten or have not come to my intention. Fiddle players practicing after this period are only recorded where they play a local repertoire or have played extensively with older County Down musicians. There are many fiddle players in County Down who play to a high standard technically but because they do not play a local repertoire or style were not included.