The Broad(er) Reach of Upper East Tennessee Fiddling

Abstract

This session will present new research on the reach of upper East Tennessee fiddling throughout southwest Virginia, and particularly in Western North Carolina. We will show new connections between East Tennessee fiddlers JD Harris, Osey Helton, and others, and well-known fiddlers thought to represent the western North Carolina fiddling style. We will also present two previously unknown 78rpm recordings by JD Harris that help broaden our understanding of his particular approach to the instrument