Join us from 2PM - 4PM for our Saturday Sessions, featuring a variety of different musical talents each week.
This is a free event; all are welcome.
Paul Kirk, author of Marion Thede and the Fiddlers of Oklahoma: The Fiddle Book, the Musicians and Their Tunes, discusses the life of musicologist Marion Thede, who collected over 125 fiddle tunes in Oklahoma during the 1930s. Through live performance and historical commentary, the program brings Ms. Thede’s story to life, offering audiences an opportunity to hear the tunes while also learning about the fiddlers and the music.
Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Paul Kirk has been playing bowed string instruments since 1980 and has been teaching them privately in classroom settings and workshop formats since 1988. He studied music theory, composition, music education, music history, and musicology at Cleveland State University. While at CSU, Paul played violas da gamba, krummhorns, and recorders in early music ensembles. He was a founding member of Good Company: A Vocal Ensemble and has founded many of his own bands over the years, including A Hundred Thousand Welcomes Celtic Ensemble, Knives and Forks English Country Dance Ensemble, and Down the Road Old-Time String Band. He has composed over 500 folk tunes in a variety of styles.
Paul has closely studied the music of Appalachia, the history of American old-time fiddling, source fiddlers, and the social aspects of the music. Since July 1, 2018, he has been creating and sharing videos each Sunday through his Old-Time Tune of the Week series on YouTube. Paul puts a great focus on fiddle bowing patterns and techniques and has devised practical methods for teaching with excellent results. One of his specialties is teaching old-time fiddle to crossover students, especially those coming from a background in classical violin and other musical traditions.
This is a free event; all are welcome.