“Chautauqua of American Fiddle Tunes,” a lively start to the season Brad Pinkerton and Pete Martin perform at Aberdeen library at 2 p.m., Saturday, November 16

Warm up for the holidays with a lively hoedown. Musicians Brad Pinkerton of Westport and Pete Martin of Seattle perform old-time fiddle music in the traditional style on fiddle, mandolin and guitar at a free presentation, “Chautauqua of American Fiddle Tunes,” at the Aberdeen Timberland Library on Saturday, November 16 from 2 to 3 p.m.

The performers will also pass along the history of this living American folk art as they demonstrate hoedowns, waltzes, reels, hornpipes, and other styles. The audience will learn how American heirloom music evolved as it traveled across the ocean into the Southern Appalachian Mountains. They’ll also discover the difference between old-time fiddle and bluegrass as they hear music by artists such as The Carter Family and Bill Monroe. Songs on the playlist include “Billy in the Lowground,” “Dreadful Wind and Rain” (a song from the 1600s), “Angeline the Baker,” and “Mole in the Ground.”

Many songs have kept their integrity for hundreds of years. Some have evolved. One example of a song that has changed over time is “Sally Anne.” The musicians will perform three different versions during the performance.

American-style folk fiddling can be traced to John Utie, a professional fiddler from England who sailed up the James River in 1620 and settled in Virginia. When families from England, Scotland and Ireland sailed to America, they were lonely for their families and homes. The women sang ballads and passed them to their daughters. The men played instruments, mostly fiddles since they were easily transported, and played these tunes with other men at dances and get-togethers.

Bradley Pinkerton is a multi-instrumentalist and music historian who has played with many of the best acoustic musicians in the Northwest. He placed in the top ten in the Texas State Fiddlers Contest in the accompanist division and is a Monroe-style bluegrass mandolin player.

Pete Martin of the Pete Martin Trio has been called a “national class mandolin and fiddle player” by the Portland Oregonian and “an impressive multi instrumentalist” by SPBGMA Bluegrass Music News. Playing fiddle, mandolin, guitar and tenor guitar he has performed and recorded with many Northwest artists. He is a former National Adult Fiddle Champion and placed in the top 5 at the National Mandolin Contest. He writes a regular instructional column for Mandolin Magazine and has authored twelve instructional books on mandolin and fiddle playing.

The Aberdeen Timberland Library is located at 121 E Market Street. For more information, please contact the library at (360) 533-2360 or visit www.TRL.org.

Timberland Regional Library provides for the information, reading and lifelong learning needs of the Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston county public at 27 community public libraries and 6 library service partner locations. The library system is funded mainly by local property taxes. Anyone needing special accommodations to participate in a library’s program may contact the library one week in advance.