Anita Mae Draper
  • Home
  • Books
    • Secret Admirer
    • American Heiress Brides
    • Austen in Austin
    • Here We Come A-Wassailing
    • Riding on a Christmas Wish
  • Blogs
    • Writing/Author Blog
    • Author Memories
    • Inkwell Inspirations
    • Heroes, Heroines, & History
    • Draper's Acres
    • Photo Blog
  • Research
    • The Oregon Trail Ruts
  • Fun
    • Text-Free Photos
    • Recipe Blog
    • Jigsaw Puzzles >
      • Christmas
      • Fauna
      • Flora
      • Travel Destinations
    • Free Reads >
      • The Shepherd
    • Poetry >
      • You Were By My Side
  • About Me
    • Long Bio
    • Media Kit
  • Contact

C.J. Chase: Pap's Fiddle

8/14/2011

 

This week we welcome C.J. Chase to Author Memories.

Picture
After leaving the corporate world to stay home with her children, C.J. Chase quickly learned she did not possess the housekeeping gene. She decided writing might provide an excuse for letting the dust bunnies accumulate under the furniture. Her procrastination, er, hard work paid off in 2010 when she won the Golden Heart for Best Inspirational Manuscript and sold the novel to Love Inspired Historicals.

C.J. lives in the swamps of Southeastern Virginia with her handsome husband, active sons, one kinetic sheltie, and an ever-increasing number of chickens. When she is not writing, you will find her gardening, watching old movies, playing classical piano (badly) or teaching a special needs Sunday School class.

Pap's Fiddle
by C.J. Chase

My maternal great-grandfather was an illiterate, hardscrabble farmer in Appalachia. By all reports, his father was an alcoholic, but Dennis Reese determined he wanted a different life for himself. He worked hard and didn’t drink, he married a Christian woman who named her children after famous American heroes, and he taught himself to play the fiddle.

Fiddling was common in late nineteenth century Appalachia. My grandpap Oliver Perry Reese—named for the famous naval hero—also learned to play, and he bought his own fiddle once he left home. Back then, you could order a violin and bow set from the Sears and Roebucks catalogue for as little as $2. Contrary to what many believe, most of those violins are not valuable today. They were cheaply made instruments for a time when poor people had few entertainment options other than folk music and square dancing on a Saturday night. Pap’s fiddle never had a case or even so much as a chin rest.

With the advent of phonographs and radios, and with automobiles making transportation cheap and easy, the need for local folk bands diminished. My mother played clarinet in her high school band as buses allowed consolidation from one-room schools into large high schools, but neither my mother nor any of her nine other siblings learned to fiddle.

And thus, over the years, Pap’s fiddle saw less and less use. I took violin lessons for a short time. Then my father died, and faced with a decision between violin and piano, I chose the more practical piano. After all, I had many options for playing piano at church, but our rural school district didn’t have an orchestra.
Picture
Pap died in 1989, in the same hollow where he was born. My cousin still lives in the old farmhouse, still farms the same land. With ten children and dozens of grandchildren, no one inherited more than a piece or two of the materially small estate Pap left behind. I already had his fiddle by that point—he’d given it to me back when I was learning to play—and it remains the only memento I have of him other than pictures. It hangs on a wall in my house, the way it did on Pap’s farm. But for one day in 1999, this story might have ended with that bit of sentimental Americana decorating my dining room.

Picture
Even as a toddler, our oldest son had shown a proclivity for music. Days before his fourth birthday, we decided to drive to a Scottish and Irish music festival near Philadelphia. We shared the day with my husband’s cousin who lived several hours on the other side of Philly, listening to bagpipes, tin whistles, bodhrans and fiddles.

Calvin fell in love that weekend. For six months afterward, he insisted he wanted to learn the fiddle. Finally deciding he might be serious, we found a Suzuki violin teacher. Now 16, he plays both classical violin and fiddle. He has his own fiddle, one of much better quality than Pap could ever have afforded himself. Prosperity allows for that.

As a member of a ceili band of young fiddlers, Calvin has performed before thousands in local arenas, churches and concert halls, with groups as disparate as the massed pipe bands at the Virginia Tattoo and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

I like to think Pap would be proud to see the legacy continue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Book Trailer for C.J.'s debut novel: Redeeming the Rogue

Redeeming the Rogue,  Love Inspired Historicals

Picture

Read an excerpt here.

Available August 2011

Barnes and Noble

Christian Book Distributors

Amazon

You can visit C.J.'s cyber-home (where the floors are always clean) at http://www.cjchasebooks.com  


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remember to leave a valid email address 
 if you want to be entered in the Welcome Prize Giveaway.
Susanne Dietze
8/14/2011 08:18:04 am

Congratulations on the new website, Anita Mae! I love it.

I also think Author Memories is a wonderful idea. I enjoyed getting to know you better, CJ!

I'm reading CJ's book right now...it's fabulous.

Thanks, ladies!

Debra E. Marvin
8/14/2011 07:45:16 pm

this is a beautiful story to share CJ. Wonderful and I'm so happy Anita is hosting this series of Author Memories.

I also have an ancient fiddle but it's hiding away in a case under a bed. :as Reese is the anglicized form of the Welsh name Rhys I think we share the same roots. What a wonderful history behind Calvin's musical talents. I love those festivals. Thanks for sharing.

Jo
8/15/2011 05:26:24 am

This sounds like a great story and one that I would love to read.

Blessings,
Jo

DeAnna Julie Dodson link
8/15/2011 05:57:03 am

What a sweet story. And how wonderful that Calvin is following his musical heart.

I totally admire anyone who can play a stringed instrument. I can do woodwinds (at least I used to) and keyboard (a little), but strings amaze me.

C.J. Chase link
8/15/2011 06:18:53 am

Susanne, glad you're enjoying the book.

Deb, in my family, Reese is an anglicized version of Reise (or something like that) which was a German name. We claim our descent from a Hessian who came to America to fight for the British, got captured at Trenton, and decided he had absolutely no reason to go back to being a German peasant -- so he switched sides and finished the war fighting on the American side. My mother's family is a mix of German and Scots-Irish, pretty common to Appalachia.

Jo, thanks for stopping by!

DeAnna, I did violin for a little bit. You have to have a fantastic ear. On piano, a note is either right or wrong, but on a stringed instrument, if you don't get your finger in exactly the right spot, the note will be slightly off. I don't know that I'd have ever had the ear to be very good because I don't know if I could ever have developed to ability to distinguish to that degree.

Everyone, I'm in the car today, coming back from visiting relatives. I'll be dropping by, but we're making an 8-hour trip and our laptop battery has about a 3-hour life, so I'll only be checking in occasionally.

Anita Mae
8/17/2011 04:20:11 pm

Thank you, ladies. I appreciate you saying you like my new site. I have to admit I'm glad I waited for one I really liked instead of settling just to get one up and running, you know?

I agree with Jo. This kind of legacy would really enhance a story.

I took guitar class for a year in school but quit when I realized I was a walker and didn't have the connection between my brain and fingers to enable me to snap to the chords. By the time my fingers had walked to each string in the chord, everyone else was on the next one already.

Love the post, CJ.


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Recent Posts

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Genealogy Posts Index

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    February 2019
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    November 2015
    April 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011

    Categories

    All
    19th Century
    19th Century
    20th Century
    20th Century
    21st Century
    Abingdon Press
    Adams
    Africa
    Africans
    Agriculture
    Alberta
    Albert Rogers
    Alcohol
    Alice
    Ancestry.ca/com
    Ancestry.ca/com
    Anniversary
    Antique
    Antique Photograph
    Antique Photographs
    Arnold
    Auction Sale
    Aunt
    Aurora
    Australia
    Banff
    Barbour Books
    Barker
    Barn
    Barnhart
    Baseball
    Beechnuts
    Belhaven
    Belhaven School
    Belle Plaine
    Bellhaven Choir
    Bennett
    Bertha Hamilton
    Bethany House
    Bible
    Birkenhead
    Birthday
    Birth Records
    Blessing
    Blizzard
    Book
    Books
    Box Social
    Brandon
    Brighton Beach
    Brooch
    Brooks
    Brother
    Bruels/breuls
    Buggy
    Burks Falls
    Canada
    Canadian War Museum
    Car/streetcar
    C Deverell
    Cecil Prosser
    Censored
    Census Records
    Census Records
    Certificate
    Chapman
    Charisma House
    Charivari
    Chatham
    Childhood
    Children
    Christie Nelson
    Christmas
    Church
    Circus
    Civil War
    Cliche Or Phrase
    CNR
    Cole
    Connecticut
    Consumption
    Coronation
    Courtship
    Cousin
    Coventry
    Cowieson
    Cozy Mystery
    CPR
    Crafts
    Croquet
    Crossway Books
    Croutch/Crouch
    Crowder
    Cyclone/tornado
    Dafoe
    Daily Routine
    Dales
    David Draper
    Davidson
    Davidsons3828f1982c
    Depression
    Destruction
    Deverell
    Deverell In Toronto
    Diphtheria
    Discala
    Disease
    Ditty Box
    Document
    Dora
    Draper
    Dry Dock
    Easter
    Eatonaposs30973d10cc
    Eatonscf75de7cf3
    Edith Draper
    Edithedyth Draper7f425b64a8
    Education
    Ella
    Elva & Wm Mitchell
    Emanuel Nelson
    Emmanuel Nelson
    England
    Entrance Exam
    Ernie Glover
    Ernie Winter
    Ethel Marie
    Ethel Maud
    Ethel Nelson
    Europe
    Eva Amelia Perrault
    Even Before Publishing
    Excursion
    Exhibition
    Fabric
    Fair
    Fanny Joes Niece
    Farm
    Farm Equipment
    Farm Equipment
    Fashion
    Father
    Fauna
    Fern
    Ferry
    Finland
    Fire
    Fire Insurance
    Flag
    Flewell
    Florida
    Food
    Foresters
    Fort Battleford
    Fountain Pen
    Fox Island
    France
    Fred Coventry
    Fred Coventry
    Fruit Cake
    Fundraiser
    Genealogy
    Generations
    Geoff Bowerman
    George Caleb Nelson
    George Metcalf
    George Milburn Draper
    Geraldton
    Ghosts
    Glover
    Google Earth
    Grainery
    Grand Coulee
    Grand Coulee
    Grandparents
    Graveyard
    Great Grandparents
    Great Great Grandparents
    Great Lakes
    Great Lakes Romances
    Great Parents
    Greenwood
    Guns
    Hail Insurance
    Halifax
    Hamilton
    Harlequin
    Harvest
    Hearst
    Henry Nelson
    Herbert
    Hired Girl
    Hired Man
    Historical
    Historicals
    History
    HMCS Niobe
    HMS Achilles
    HMS Bacchante
    HMS Pembroke
    Holiday
    Holland Landing
    Hollywood
    Holt
    Homestead
    Horses
    Hot Springs
    House
    Housework
    Hunting
    Huntley
    Huntsville
    Hustle
    Hymn
    Ice Harvest
    Ida Amelia Glover
    India
    Indian Head
    Industry
    Ink & Inkwell
    Insurance
    Iowa Relatives
    Ireland
    Irwin Or Erwin Perrault
    Jacksons Point
    James A
    James H Nelson
    JD (James David)
    Jennie Draper
    Joe Perrault
    Kavanagh
    Kellington
    Kelowna
    Kentucky
    Keswick
    Kidnapping
    Kids
    King
    King George V
    Kings
    Kit
    Lake Superior
    Lanigan Dist Ha
    Laundry
    Lennox
    Lepard
    Leslie Nelson
    Leslie Thomson
    Letter
    Life Insurance
    Lighthouse
    Linstead
    Little Willie
    Liverpool
    Location
    London
    Longlac
    Louie
    Louie Sarah Louisa
    Louie Sarah Louisa39defa3554
    Louisiana
    Love Inspired
    Love Inspired Historical
    Love Inspired Suspense
    Lyceum
    Mabel-winter
    Mahoney
    Mail
    Maine
    Man
    Manfredmanford
    Manitoba
    Mann
    Map
    Margaret Glover
    Marguerite
    Markham
    Marriage Record
    Mary Smith
    Massachusetts
    Matt Or Matte
    Maud Bruels
    Medieval
    Memoirs
    Memorabilia
    Memorial
    Merlin/Murland
    Methodist
    Midge (Mildred)
    Military
    Ministry
    Miss Hunt
    Mitchell
    Money
    Montana
    Moody Publishers
    Moose Jaw
    Morrison
    Mortgage
    Morton
    Morton Park
    Mother
    Mothers Day
    Mount Albert
    Mr Brooks
    Mr Young
    Music
    Muskoka
    Navy
    Nelson
    New Daly House
    New England
    Newlywed
    Newmarket
    New Orleans
    Newspaper
    Niobe
    Noah
    Noah Draper
    Norma Draper
    Norman Draper
    Norman Yorke
    North Bay
    North Dakota
    North York
    Oak Tara Publishers
    Ohio
    Olympic
    Ontario
    Orillia
    Ourroots.ca
    Owen Sound
    Parthena Fisher
    Party
    Patty
    Pembroke
    Pense
    Percy
    Percy Draper
    Percy Draper
    Pets
    Phillips
    Photograph
    Photography
    Pie Social
    Playhouse
    Politics
    Pollack
    Pollock
    Portage Flyer
    Postcard
    Poster
    Post Office
    Poverty
    Prairies
    Prince Albert
    Prohibition
    Prosser
    Queen Mary
    Queensville
    Quincy/quinsy
    Railroad/railway
    Ravenshoe
    RCNVR
    Realms
    Recipes
    Reciprocity
    Regina
    Remembrance Day
    Reuben Perrault
    Rheumatism
    Rigler
    River Mersey
    River Thames
    RNCVR
    Rochester
    Rodeo
    Rose
    Royalty
    Roys
    RPPC
    Ryland
    Sadiesayde Nelson
    Sarah E Greenwood
    Sarah Elizabeth Glover
    Sarah Louisa Louie
    Sarah Louisa (Louie)
    Sarah Louisa (Louie)
    Sarah S Deverell
    Sarah Sophia Deverell
    Saskatchewan
    Scent
    School
    Scotland
    Sedore
    Seeding
    Seneca
    Sentry Duty
    Series
    Sharon
    Sheppard
    Ship
    Shivaree
    Singing
    Sintaluta
    Sister
    Sk
    Sleighs
    Slideshow
    Snow
    Soldier
    Song
    Soules
    Speech
    Sprague
    Stamp
    Stephen Draper
    Stewart Draper
    Stockings
    Stoker
    Store
    Summerside Press
    Suspense
    Sutton
    Sweet
    Taimi Discala
    Tarter
    Teacher
    Terry
    Texas
    Thames River
    The Waltons
    Thomas Nelson
    Thunder Bay
    Tobacco
    Togo
    Tomlinson
    Tornado
    Toronto
    Toys
    Train
    Transportation
    Travel
    Traviss
    Tubercolosis
    Tyndale
    Udora
    Uncle
    Uncle Emanuel
    Uncle Frank
    Uncle John
    Uniform
    Update
    USA
    Vaudeville
    Veda Perrault
    Victoria Maud
    Video
    Vintage
    Viola
    Violet
    Wages
    Wagon
    Wardell
    Washing Machine
    Wass
    Wawa
    Weapons
    Weather
    Wedding
    Well Water
    West
    Western
    Westgarth
    Whitaker House
    Whitefire Publishing
    White Rose Publishing
    Whooping Cough
    Willie Sedore
    Willoughby
    Will Rigler
    Winch
    Winnipeg
    Winter
    Women
    Woodblock Print
    Word
    Work Bee
    World War 1
    World War 2
    WW1
    YMCA/YWCA
    York County
    York/yorke
    York/yorke
    Zenuk


Created on Weebly  - Copyright Anita Mae Draper 2011-2022