Missouri Fiddlin’ Field Research and Digital Archive
about Old-Time Fiddle Music
in Missouri Ozarks

In the late 1970s and early 1980s I became fascinated with old-time fiddle music from Missouri. My passion became a field work research project rooted in my love of this music. This music fascinated me as a musician and as a filmmaker. 

Missouri Fiddlin’ Field Research and Digital Archive
about Old-Time Fiddle Music
in SW Missouri Ozarks

In the late 1970s and early 1980s I became fascinated with old-time fiddle music from Missouri. My passion became a field work research project rooted in my love of this music. This music fascinated me as a musician and as a filmmaker. 

Our Journey

In 1980, RL "Bob" Morgan (RIP) and I loaded up my 1970 VW camper and headed to Missouri.  At that time I was an undergraduate student in the UCLA film school.  I received a small grant from UCLA to record old time fiddle music in the backwoods of Missouri.

Our first target was St. Louis, Missouri, to attend the Frontier Folklife music festival at the giant Arch down by the Mississippi River, where many old time musicians were going to meet and play that year.  In that event we met many fiddlers, guitarists, banjoists, harmonica players and others. The musicians featured on this website were at the event in St. Louis.

Our Journey

In 1980, RL "Bob" Morgan (RIP) and I loaded up my 1970 VW camper and headed to Missouri.  At that time I was an undergraduate student in the UCLA film school.  I received a small grant from UCLA to record old time fiddle music in the backwoods of Missouri.

Our first target was St. Louis, Missouri, to attend the Frontier Folklife music festival at the giant Arch down by the Mississippi River, where many old time musicians were going to meet and play that year.  In that event we met many fiddlers, guitarists, banjoists, harmonica players and others. The musicians featured on this website were at the event in St. Louis.

Gratitude

I am grateful for the direct and in-kind funding for the Missouri Fiddlin' project provided by National Endowment for the Humanities, Missouri Arts Council, Andrew Norman Charitable Trust, UCLA, Missouri State University Library Special Collections, Al Larvick Community Fund, American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, and others.

Gratitude

I am grateful for the direct and in-kind funding for the Missouri Fiddlin' project provided by National Endowment for the Humanities, Missouri Arts Council, Andrew Norman Charitable Trust, UCLA, Missouri State University Library Special Collections, Al Larvick Community Fund, American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, and others.

Special Thanks

Special thanks for supporting this digital project goes to RL Bob Morgan Eve Perara, Bruce Knudsen, John Stodder, John Boehm, Richard Hawkins, Jorge Preloran, D. K. Wilgus, John Taylor, Richard MacCracken. Nelson Hermilla, Jon Bailey, Anne Marie Baker, Shannon Mawhiney, Thomas Peters, Gordon McCann, Diana Robertson, Mark Galbraith, Mike Bajc @ Digital Media Arts, Grace McKay, Drew Beisswenger, Michael Rosen-Prinz, Kathryn Gose, Dima El Atab, Michelle Stefano, Warren Balfour, and many others.

Special Thanks

Special thanks for supporting this digital project goes to RL Bob Morgan Eve Perara, Bruce Knudsen, John Stodder, John Boehm, Richard Hawkins, Jorge Preloran, D. K. Wilgus, John Taylor, Richard MacCracken. Nelson Hermilla, Jon Bailey, Anne Marie Baker, Shannon Mawhiney, Thomas Peters, Gordon McCann, Diana Robertson, Mark Galbraith, Mike Bajc @ Digital Media Arts, Grace McKay, Drew Beisswenger, Michael Rosen-Prinz, Kathryn Gose, Dima El Atab, Michelle Stefano, Warren Balfour, and many others.

DIGITAL MULTIMEDIA and AUDIO PROJECTS

Missouri Fiddlin' A Digital Multimedia Archive

Missouri Fiddlin'
A Digital Multimedia Archive

RL Bob Morgan and I produced the audio recordings and analog photographs in the Missouri Fiddlin' Digital Multimedia Archive during our trip to Missouri in 1980. I produced the videos and 16mm film in 1981-84. In 2022 I began the process of digitizing the collection of work and website building.

Please leave a comment about the Archive in the section below.

Missouri Fiddlin' "Granny, Will Your Dog Bite?"
Old time fiddle music in Missouri 2022

"Granny, Will Your Dog Bite" is a short video about old time fiddle music in SW Missouri in 2022.  Funded by a Library of Congress Henry Reed Fund grant, a matching grant from Missouri State University Ozarks Studies Institute, and in kind support from iefilm.com

The video documentary includes performances and conversations with key person in the history and culture of Missouri fiddle music including Prof Howard Marshall, Prof Tom Peters, Gordon McCann, and many others.

Missouri Fiddlin'
Film and Video Projects

ECHOES OF THE OZARKS 1988/2022

Play Video

This is a 2K restoration of a 30-minute documentary about daily life, old time music and dance, and social change for a community in the southern Missouri Ozarks. The project was funded by National Endowment for the Humanities, Missouri Arts Council, and Arkansas Arts Council. Anthony Collins was writer, producer, and editor of the project. The film was produced in 1986 with restoration in 2022..

EMANUEL WOOD’s WORLD: A View from Ozark, Missouri

Play Video

The 30-minute video is a discussion with Emanuel Wood talking about life as he plays the fiddle and the banjo while sitting outside in his cabbage patch.

CYRIL STINNETT: Left-handed fiddle champion from NW Missouri

Play Video

This 61-minute video is a one-on-one conversation with Cyril and his fiddle in his farmhouse in the prairielands of NW Missouri.

EMANUEL WOOD and FAMILY: Green Valley Waltz

Play Video

This short video is a performance of Green Valley Waltz.

EMANUEL WOOD and FAMILY: Music-making at home

Play Video

This 30-minute video shows the Emanuel Wood family practicing music-making at home.

EMANUEL WOOD and FAMILY: Streak o’Fat and a Streak o’Lean

Play Video

This short video is a performance of Streak o'Fat and a Streak 0'Lean

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