Chris Allen is one of Ian MacLeod’s talented fiddlers. Chris wrote an explanation the origin of his tune’s title, “Stewie’s Seven Dollar Fiddle” and I thought it might be interesting to include it with the music.
My great grandfather, Stuart McArton, owned a Roth fiddle for years; however, he sold it shortly before I began lessons with Ian MacLeod. When I learned my first tune (I think it was Twinkle, Twinkle), I proudly brought my fiddle to him to play my new tune. After hearing me, he decided he missed his fiddle and decided he would buy another. He found one at a flea market; it was cracked and ratty with old plastic guitar pegs, but it had four strings. When he asked the man what he wanted for it, the man asked him how much change he had; Stuart had $7. He bought it and he was content. That was the only fiddle I ever heard him play. Unfortunately he sold it last year when he moved into a manor in Stirling where at 96, he still resides. We are currently trying to track down the fiddle as a souvenir of our jams.
