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 FIDDLEHAUS-
Schwartz’ Backyard (Site)
Knowing nothing about the fiddle, I honestly can not comment on the
technical mumbo jumbo concerning the music played, but I can comment on
how I feel while listening to this CD. Written and composed by Canadian
brother/sister duo Shawn and Virginia Schwartz, the music is a vehicle
that influences an imaginary journey that only the listener can envision
to the sound. With fiddles in hand, Shawn and Virginia mix it up with a
plethora of other musicians combining musical styles- Folk, Celtic,
Bluegrass- that will please the young and old; a fact I witnessed first
hand from my five year old daughter to my elderly next door neighbours.
From the festive “Schwartz’ Backyard” and “Payday Jiggers” to
the slower “36 Years” and “Waltzing Around the Woodstove,”
you’ll find yourself moving to and enjoying the varied pace of the
music. If you break out the air fiddle, “Gin & Milk” will have you
sweating, while “His Last Words/Hangman’s Reel ”will slowly, and
eerily, walk you into some mighty quick fiddling. Although I love the
entire CD, “Heidi’s Growl” is the piece that turned me on to this CD
and has forever changed how I enjoy the fiddle and the music it can
produce. “ Fiddlehaus, the live session,” is the perfect close with
its family and friend filled pub atmosphere dancing and clapping (and most
likely alcohol drinking) to the toe tapping ( I can’t dance) and pint
raisable (new word) sounds that resonates throughout the CD. Schwartz’
Backyard is a true ear opening CD that may open musical doors for its new
listeners. Hey, I made it through the entire review without writing about
my adult version of a schoolboy crush on Virginia… oh, fiddlesticks!-
Denis Sheehan
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