Crooked Fork by Colin Hyden

This album is a collection of some of my favorite tunes sourced from Knott County, Kentucky, fiddler Hiram Stamper (1893-1992). I consider Stamper’s playing to be some of the most compelling traditional fiddle music ever recorded due to its introspective and free-form nature with many variations to the timing and structure on each pass through a tune. He had a wide variety of musical influences within his community, one of which was Shadrack “Fiddler Shade” Slone, a Civil War veteran who was born in 1828. Through Fiddler Shade, Stamper learned and recounted American musical traditions that pre-date the Civil War. These factors make interpreting his music in the 21st century an extremely challenging task, one full of elements open for interpretation. A musician almost has to unlearn modern philosophies, specifically about timing and intonation, but also bowing to an extent, to render these pieces in a “natural” manner. Through my experiences playing his tunes, I have found that I need to put the idea of right and wrong aside and allow myself to get lost in the tune. It’s a rewarding experience to attempt to create something different around a basic melody every day, but a challenge to record them in a way that fully represents what they can be. I hope this endeavor brings you some enjoyment!