The evening program was entitled, “Old Rules Prevail: Fiddling contests in New Hampshire and New England”. It was given by Adam Boyce of West Windsor, Vt., and sponsored by the NH Humanities Council. The earliest contests recorded were held in 1736, and were usually a one day affair.  As the years went by, a hard and fast rule was that no song written after 1911 was to be played.  It was a rule difficult to enforce.  Mr. Boyce commented that a fiddler was known by bragging how little his fiddle cost, while the violinist took pride in just how expensive his instrument was! Fiddling contests are not as popular as they were at one time, and meanwhile they now also get together for a good old fashion “hoe-down” or jamboree as well.

Fiddling contests included three song styles with varying rhythms. These included the waltz, (in three/four time”), the “jig”, and the reel, (rag or “hoe-down”). Mr.  Boyce entertained by playing all three as well as CD’s from previous contests.  The audience voted as to who they thought was the winner on each CD.

The speaker had great humor as well as talent that made for a most enjoyable evening. By tradition, a New England fiddling group always plays as its last song, “Smile awhile – “till we meet again”. Mr. Boyce did just that to sum up our evening together.