A Time to Fiddle

Hannah Farnum began her fiddle adventure at the age of six when her brother’s bass teacher introduced her to Ricky Boen. A former world champion, as well as Texas and Missouri state champion, Ricky is also an excellent teacher. From her early days of playing tunes like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and “Liberty” to the hoe-downs,

A Time to Fiddle

Hannah Farnum began her fiddle adventure at the age of six when her brother’s bass teacher introduced her to Ricky Boen. A former world champion, as well as Texas and Missouri state champion, Ricky is also an excellent teacher. From her early days of playing tunes like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and “Liberty” to the hoe-downs, rags & waltzes you will hear on this album, Ricky has coached her each step of the way.

In late 2004 Hannah began playing a few tunes with the family band and in a short time became a full-time member of the group.

From age 7 to 10 Hannah made an annual appearance at the Snyder Park Fiddle Contest, competing in the Peewee Division. She placed in the top 4 each year and brought home the 1st Place award for two years.

In 2011 she began competing again, this time in the Junior Division. She has placed 4th in the Downtown Branson Contest for two years running and has taken 2nd place honors at Appleton City, and in 2012 at Jana Jae’s American Heritage Music Festival in Grove, Oklahoma. Her most memorable contest thus far has been the Walnut Valley Old-Time Fiddle Contest in Winfield, Kansas in September 2012. There she placed 3rd out of 25 contestants of all ages (with sequestered judges), and was awarded a brand new Gama Elite Birdseye Maple violin made in Romania. You’ll hear this instrument on track 19 “Be Thou My Vision” and 20 “That’s a Plenty”.

Hannah is a very petite young lady and was still playing a three-quarter-size fiddle when she turned 14. At that time she graduated to a full-size instrument and began playing the violin that belonged to her Grandpa Gene, who died when she was just a baby. Her paternal grandmother, Joanie Chwastek, who was one of Hannah’s biggest fans and who has helped fund the cost of her fiddle lessons for 9 years, gave it to her.

Her maternal grandmother, Irma McCaskill, is likewise a huge support to Hannah, often driving many miles to hear her compete, providing her constant encouragement as well as funding for this recording!

Besides the Texas-style fiddling she plays for competition, Hannah also enjoys Irish fiddle music and has twice attended O’Flaherty’s Irish Music Retreat where she participated in classes with Brian Conway and Randall Bays. You’ll hear a sampling of her Irish tunes on the tracks 13 & 16.

Also included on this recording are two tunes (tracks 15 & 18) featuring some twin fiddling with her sister Maggie. Maggie has also been a student of Ricky’s since February 2010 thru about 2015.

Credits: Hannah Farnum – Fiddle Benjamin Farnum – Rhythm Guitar / Daniel Farnum – Bass Fiddle

Additional instrumentation by the Farnum Family includes… Norm Farnum – Banjo on tracks 4, 6, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19 & 20 Tricia Farnum – Penny-whistle on tracks 16 & 19 Benjamin Farnum – Mandolin on tracks 11, 18, 19 & 20 Nathaniel Farnum – Bodhran on tracks 13 & 16 Maggie Farnum – Fiddle on tracks 15 & 18

Recorded & Engineered by Greg Bailey / Stone County Recording Studio Cover photo by Jesci Boatright / JayDee Photography Layout by Betty Kottkamp / MTB Studios

Song List

1. Billy in the Low Ground
2. Roxanne Waltz
3. Cotton Patch Rag
4. Leather Britches
5. Wednesday Night Waltz
6. Clarinet Polka
7. Tug Boat
8. Tammy
9. Black & White Rag
10. Say Old Man, Can You Play the Fiddle?
11. Ashokan Farewell
12. Back Up and Push
13. Reel Set (Honeymoon Reel / Cooley’s Reel)
14. Ookpik Waltz
15. Faded Love
16. Jig Set (My Darling Asleep / Apples in Winter)
17. Stardust Waltz
18. Red Wing
19. Be Thou My Vision
20. That’s a Plenty