2012.02.13
Podcast with violinist — and fiddler — Mark O’Connor, who performs on Friday at The Lyric, Blacksburg
Mark O'Connor photo by Jim McGuire
Mark O’Connor first made his name in the bluegrass world, as a fiddler who also played like fire on guitar and mandolin. Since then, he has brought forth his classical roots and inclinations, working to establish old American classic songs as the basis for modern American classical music. His O’Connor Method for string instruments continues on Tuesday with the release of the aptly named “American Classics” and an accompanying method book.
Coincidentally, O Connor is doing a residency this week at Virginia Tech, which he’ll conclude on Friday with a performance at The Lyric Theatre. Read the full story and get show details.
Oh, he still plays fiddle, of course, but not guitar or mandolin. A condition that affected his strumming hand does not trouble him when he’s bowing. We discuss that, along with his ideas about classical music in America, on this podcast. Streaming music — “Deep River,” “Old Folks At Home,” “Boil ‘Em Cabbage Down,” “In The Cluster Blues.”
