The term fiddle can be used to describe any stringed instrument that incorporates the use of a bow. For example, a viola is called a chicken fiddle, and a cello is called a turkey fiddle. The most fiddle well known fiddle of all, the violin, is merely called a fiddle.
Fiddlers are common around the world, most notably in the genres of bluegrass and traditional folk music all around the world.
In Scotland, the fiddle one is one of the country’s three national musical instruments, along with the bagpipes and the clarsach. As with most folk and traditional styles of fiddle-based music, fiddle music speaks from and to the everyday people of the country.
The fiddle is common in Klezmer music, which is traditionally used in Jewish weddings. Leon Schwartz is considered the first generation of fiddlers and was taught to play the fiddle by Gypsies in Poland during his youth, before moving to the United States.
With its foundation planted in Celtic music, American bluegrass music is also rich in fine fiddle players including Chubby Wise, Vassar Clements and the more contemporary artist Alison Krauss.
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