Hi Anybody,
Does anybody have information about the Phantom Fiddler. Who is he, Where is he from and why he does what he does. I am fascinated by the man. I watched how he plays and the timing of his bowing seems perfectly in time (with himself) and nearly always the same. I have no objection to him sitting sessions as he doesn't interfere with the music (unlike some so-called real players). Does he have autism or something?
Any info would be gratefully appreciated.
Yes, it's Air Fiddling. It's quite hard to do what he does. He doesnt make any audible noise. He bows like he is bowing a slow waltz to everything. He must keep the hairs about 1mm above the strings to not not make noise.he must put some grease on the hairs also. I hope somebody convinces him to bring out an album. "the sound of silence" perhaps or just "Air Fiddle the music of Bob". I think it's a little more than a foible but I think he's fantastic. I think he was in Milltown this year also.
Imagine a gig. You could have him playing fiddle and that woman who used to dance with the crucifixes on O'Connell street dancing to his music - a sell-out. I don't mean to be unkind - in fact these people make life interesting.
anyway I look forward to any further installments in this strange story.
(P.S. I hope this discussion does not offend anybody, if it does I apologise)
I reminds me of a gypsy story.......... if someone insisted on having a wedding with alot more fiddlers than are available..... the musicians just add a few 'fakers' who are willing to bow along with everyone else but not make a sound.
Yes, well, as you can see from the ABC, it is a very adaptable tune, and it also can be played in any number of keys, with any number of variations on the theme.
I've come accross him a number of times - his bow does make a noise, but very little. Ach, what the hell, he's quite harmless & seems to enjoy doing what he does. Apparently, though, I'm told he's supposed to be a very good harmonica player - which is the strangest thing I find about it..
I spent six years miming in a youth orchestra and got it down to a fine art! I'm sure the conductor knew what I was doing, but he never said anything. Perhaps we should have a miming competition. Now, would that count as a performance?
Yep - best to remain charitable, especially if he does no harm - who knows? -- he may tune in to this site --- or he may even be a major contributor with a razor sharp wit who will reduce us all to gibbering wrecks with one paragraph if he is tormented. Harmonica player? Steve?
I'm curious zen, that you thought this man might be autistic. If he is enjoying the session and not interfering, then good on him. My 7 year old son is severely autistic and can't stand music. If he's in the room while I'm playing my box, he'll try to pull it off me to stop. Of course that might just be good taste.
Dear mellow_bellows. To my knowledge many autistic individuals are highly skilled in usual ways included music (savant syndrome i think). I apologies if you have concluded that in some way i thought he should not play sessions. I specifically stated "I have no objection to him sitting sessions as he doesn't interfere with the music (unlike some so-called real players). " I am sorry to hear your son has this condition and i wish you both well and strength.
Its cool zen. At one session I used to go to, there was a lady that had a lovely old red Paolo Soprani Box that she would play away on ,but the bellows would never move. She let me try it once and it was very loud and out of tune. She was probably the best person to have it, it would be a real session killer in the wrong hands.
mellow_bellows - You have a 7 year old Autistic son? I have one too, Ethan is his name.
The affliction is so varied. He has the opposite issue of your son. He loves music and craves it, though there is only so much of his Da's fiddling he can stand. He will happily You Tube music all day long, however.
I don't take it personally. I'm just happy I'm subliminally planting tunes in his head for later use.
6 of us had a really interesting discussion at Feakle regarding the Phantom Fiddler. Could he be taking the p*** and justs wants to get a seat? When he's playing there is an A drone which if you sit next to him is really distracting. His fiddle is in tune! Some of us say they have had conversations with him but some that he does not go into any in depth conversation. He is taking up a seat that a noise making player could have, but as pointed out in some cases that's preferable, in particular a couple of bodhran players that were in Feakle. Is he delusional and thinks he is joining in or is he deliberately using this to sit with musicians?
Now there is a discussion. Delusional Bodhran players or delusional fiddle players in sessions. I would vote delusional fiddle players every time.
This bodhran thing really annoys me though. There are some amazing bodhraners out there but they have been given bad press due to a number of gobsh......s thinking that a session is a traditional irish method of getting ready for battle or something. It should be compulsary to buy a license to play a bodhran in public.
However, back to the phantom: He does appear to be quite lucid. But spending hours sitting there pretending he can play and instead just sawing away, jeez ...... that takes - well - a lot of persistence, balls and a certain mentality don't you think. Maybe he's an old timey player and something traumatic happened during his A tunes? who knows .. I wish him well.
BTW does anybody know the name of that dutch (i think) group that were(?was) playing in Peppars over the feakle festival. I thought they were fantastic. The double bass works so well with trad tunes. So energetic.
i know the phantom fiddler he is my step dad.
HE currently just got married to my mother. he currently working on vancouver island. and i have learned that he has been playing for over 50 years, and he has an symphany called strathcona symphany orchestra. i was currious about him becuase i heardfrom other people back in nova scotia about him being the phantom fiddler, so i googled it and i found this page. so just to confirm, he plays for people that love music, if any one has some other questions ill be happy to answer them
Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Hi Anybody,
Does anybody have information about the Phantom Fiddler. Who is he, Where is he from and why he does what he does. I am fascinated by the man. I watched how he plays and the timing of his bowing seems perfectly in time (with himself) and nearly always the same. I have no objection to him sitting sessions as he doesn't interfere with the music (unlike some so-called real players). Does he have autism or something?
Any info would be gratefully appreciated.
# Posted on August 12th 2007 by ZenRB
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Have you being eating some unusual mushrooms lately?
# Posted on August 12th 2007 by Red Robin
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Is this anything like playing "air guitar"?
# Posted on August 12th 2007 by morning star
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Yes, it's Air Fiddling. It's quite hard to do what he does. He doesnt make any audible noise. He bows like he is bowing a slow waltz to everything. He must keep the hairs about 1mm above the strings to not not make noise.he must put some grease on the hairs also. I hope somebody convinces him to bring out an album. "the sound of silence" perhaps or just "Air Fiddle the music of Bob". I think it's a little more than a foible but I think he's fantastic. I think he was in Milltown this year also.
Imagine a gig. You could have him playing fiddle and that woman who used to dance with the crucifixes on O'Connell street dancing to his music - a sell-out. I don't mean to be unkind - in fact these people make life interesting.
anyway I look forward to any further installments in this strange story.
(P.S. I hope this discussion does not offend anybody, if it does I apologise)
# Posted on August 12th 2007 by ZenRB
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
I reminds me of a gypsy story.......... if someone insisted on having a wedding with alot more fiddlers than are available..... the musicians just add a few 'fakers' who are willing to bow along with everyone else but not make a sound.
# Posted on August 12th 2007 by morning star
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Don't know Bob, but I know a Bouzouki player who has been attending sessions for years and does the same thing. Painful.
# Posted on August 12th 2007 by Backer
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
I have played uin a pipe band with a ring in - he is a lovely bloke but just likes to be in the middle of the band with his silent pipes
# Posted on August 12th 2007 by black
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Has he got this tune?
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2399
# Posted on August 12th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Is it really a waltz, Danny? All these years I've been playing it as a hornpipe.
# Posted on August 13th 2007 by Bob himself
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Yes, well, as you can see from the ABC, it is a very adaptable tune, and it also can be played in any number of keys, with any number of variations on the theme.
# Posted on August 13th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
I've come accross him a number of times - his bow does make a noise, but very little. Ach, what the hell, he's quite harmless & seems to enjoy doing what he does. Apparently, though, I'm told he's supposed to be a very good harmonica player - which is the strangest thing I find about it..
# Posted on August 13th 2007 by Ron P
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
I spent six years miming in a youth orchestra and got it down to a fine art! I'm sure the conductor knew what I was doing, but he never said anything. Perhaps we should have a miming competition. Now, would that count as a performance?
# Posted on August 13th 2007 by bowburner
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Yep - best to remain charitable, especially if he does no harm - who knows? -- he may tune in to this site --- or he may even be a major contributor with a razor sharp wit who will reduce us all to gibbering wrecks with one paragraph if he is tormented. Harmonica player? Steve?
# Posted on August 13th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
I'm curious zen, that you thought this man might be autistic. If he is enjoying the session and not interfering, then good on him. My 7 year old son is severely autistic and can't stand music. If he's in the room while I'm playing my box, he'll try to pull it off me to stop. Of course that might just be good taste.
Rob
# Posted on August 14th 2007 by mellow_bellows
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Dear mellow_bellows. To my knowledge many autistic individuals are highly skilled in usual ways included music (savant syndrome i think). I apologies if you have concluded that in some way i thought he should not play sessions. I specifically stated "I have no objection to him sitting sessions as he doesn't interfere with the music (unlike some so-called real players). " I am sorry to hear your son has this condition and i wish you both well and strength.
# Posted on August 14th 2007 by ZenRB
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Its cool zen. At one session I used to go to, there was a lady that had a lovely old red Paolo Soprani Box that she would play away on ,but the bellows would never move. She let me try it once and it was very loud and out of tune. She was probably the best person to have it, it would be a real session killer in the wrong hands.
# Posted on August 14th 2007 by mellow_bellows
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
mellow_bellows - You have a 7 year old Autistic son? I have one too, Ethan is his name.
The affliction is so varied. He has the opposite issue of your son. He loves music and craves it, though there is only so much of his Da's fiddling he can stand. He will happily You Tube music all day long, however.
I don't take it personally. I'm just happy I'm subliminally planting tunes in his head for later use.
# Posted on August 14th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
6 of us had a really interesting discussion at Feakle regarding the Phantom Fiddler. Could he be taking the p*** and justs wants to get a seat? When he's playing there is an A drone which if you sit next to him is really distracting. His fiddle is in tune! Some of us say they have had conversations with him but some that he does not go into any in depth conversation. He is taking up a seat that a noise making player could have, but as pointed out in some cases that's preferable, in particular a couple of bodhran players that were in Feakle. Is he delusional and thinks he is joining in or is he deliberately using this to sit with musicians?
# Posted on August 18th 2007 by Frezz
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Now there is a discussion. Delusional Bodhran players or delusional fiddle players in sessions. I would vote delusional fiddle players every time.
This bodhran thing really annoys me though. There are some amazing bodhraners out there but they have been given bad press due to a number of gobsh......s thinking that a session is a traditional irish method of getting ready for battle or something. It should be compulsary to buy a license to play a bodhran in public.
However, back to the phantom: He does appear to be quite lucid. But spending hours sitting there pretending he can play and instead just sawing away, jeez ...... that takes - well - a lot of persistence, balls and a certain mentality don't you think. Maybe he's an old timey player and something traumatic happened during his A tunes? who knows .. I wish him well.
BTW does anybody know the name of that dutch (i think) group that were(?was) playing in Peppars over the feakle festival. I thought they were fantastic. The double bass works so well with trad tunes. So energetic.
# Posted on August 19th 2007 by ZenRB
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
i know the phantom fiddler he is my step dad.
HE currently just got married to my mother. he currently working on vancouver island. and i have learned that he has been playing for over 50 years, and he has an symphany called strathcona symphany orchestra. i was currious about him becuase i heardfrom other people back in nova scotia about him being the phantom fiddler, so i googled it and i found this page. so just to confirm, he plays for people that love music, if any one has some other questions ill be happy to answer them
# Posted on September 8th 2007 by icelandic_guy
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
Hi Icelandic_guy,
So it's an international phenomenon. How fabulous. Previously discussed phantom lives in the west of Ireland.
# Posted on September 11th 2007 by ZenRB
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
I think he's related to Phantom Button, who posts on this site all the time, but -- and here's the freaky thing -- he never really says anything.
# Posted on September 11th 2007 by cuchulain54
Re: Who is The Phantom Fiddler
wow this is amazing,he first name is blaine. could these be the same person????????????????
# Posted on September 13th 2007 by icelandic_guy