American Library Association -"This informative and highly readable book
is an excellent sourcebook for all would-be fiddle players and
a source of further information and reference for players who
wish to increase their knowledge and repertoire."
Tennessee Folklore Society -"This attractive and useful
book is long overdue...While there is a wealth for fiddlers of
all levels, this book should be a godsend for the beginner who
usually can be seen rushing around in all directions desperately
seeking sources of information ranging from tips to beginners
to sources for records and instruction books."
Bluegrass Unlimited - "Thomson is at his best when
he's sharing information about the "nuts and bolts"
of fiddling: how to buy a fiddle and get your money's worth; how
to learn fiddling by ear and from printed music; how to make the
most of practice time; how to find other musicians to play with."
American Musical Instrument Society - "The Fiddler's
Almanac is a compendium of everything you ever wanted to know,
but were afraid to ask about fiddling."
Sweet Potato - "The Fiddler's Almanac is just loaded
with an incredible potpourri of stuff surrounding the instrument.There
are playing tips for the novice, suggestions on buying an instrument,
and dozens of anecdotes about fiddles and their players. But most
of all it's a sourcebook with over 800 listings of organizations,
recordings and source materials nicely categorized within a sea
of wonderful illustrations....This book is a necessity for the
fiddle aficionado."
Frets - "Its the kind of book loaded with so many
tasty, obscure facts that even a casual skim will always turn
up something to hold your interest."
Kschier Brothers - " It's terrific. Very entertaining,
informative and even inspiring. You've done an excellent job from
cover to cover."
The Hornpipe - " Where else are you going to find
10 Swedish fiddle tunes, an article on Nicole Paganini and the
general rules of the National Old time Fiddler's Contest in Weiser,
Idaho, all between the same two book covers? Nowhere. Those little
gems are the sorts of information that make this a fascinating
compilation of fiddle lore.... If you're not a fiddler, this book
probably will make you want to become one."
Rambles, Cultural Arts Magazine - " Parts of The Fiddler's
Almanac are fun just to sit back and read. Thomson has a pleasant,
conversational style of imparting facts, often quoting famous
and obscure fiddlers in the field to make points and add color.
Other sections are intended more for reference only; they don't
make good browsing, but they're handy to have when you need the
facts.
If you're a fiddler or just a fan who wants to know more than
the basic "draw the bow across the strings to make sound,"
this is an excellent resource to keep on your shelf."
This book was written by Ryan J. Thomson,
138 pages, 8.5" by 11", This collectors edition is hard
bound with a red colored premium library grade cover and a gold
stamped spine. Also included is the CD Saturday
Night Fiddler, a collection of solo fiddle tunes by Ryan Thomson.
The Book: has many illustrations, and includes sections
on: the history and lore of fiddling, a guide to buying a fiddle
and bow, learning to fiddle by ear or with music, sources and
references, fiddle contest information, dance fiddling, descriptions
of 160 other books on fiddling, 200 fiddle records reviewed, table
of contents, glossary, index, Library of Congress #84-73053, ISBN
0-931877-00-8, 1985,
The CD "Saturday Night
Fiddler" includes the fiddle tunes: Bay of Fundy, Dixon
County Blues, Ducks on the Pond, Eskimo Waltz, Fisher's Hornpipe,
Flax in Bloom, Jack Danielson's Reel, Harvest Home Hornpipe, Molly
Put the Kettle On, Off She Goes, Ryan's Rag, Smash the Windows,
Sole's Reel, Snowflake Reel , Staten Island Hornpipe, and Stuart
Longbow.