The violin - is it just a fiddle?

[wolf63]

Is there a difference between a Fiddle and a Violin?

I would have said that the guy from the Dubliners was playing a fiddle and Andre Rieu a Violin - is that just a preconceived idea?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vf7ZXZ_e6w&feature=feedrec_grec_index

[boxtops]

I've always thought that it was a cultural thing - that it's the same instrument, but a violin is the name for it in classical music, and a fiddle for - for instance - Irish jigs.

[Mamyalynne]

Here is your guy Susan and he is quite tasty too!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlmUCZKjkuY

[boxtops]

Thanks mamya - I wasn't too far out then - as Frank Carson might have said "It's the way I play 'em!"

[saxy_jag]

It's the same instrument, but generally the fiddle is held differently. A fiddler holds the instrument at the shoulder or chest, with the fiddle neck held lower than you see Andre playing above..

[wolf63]

Thanks for the input (and the young chap on the video). I can't say that I fully understand the technicalities of how each instrument is played but I at least know that it is actually the same instrument played in different was.

I must admit to enjoying Andre Rieu - but mostly in the non-classical music.

[Brenden]

I believe Andre plays a Stradivarius.

[wolf63]

Brenden - I think that I read that somewhere, no matter the heritage of a musical instrument I would be incapable of making any noise that could be considered to be even a small bit musical.

Andre seems to take orchestra music to the masses - I even saw a clip of him playing violin with a 3 year old violinist.