No fiddlin’ around

Fiddles and Marvin Gough have gone down life’s road together.

The 84-year-old Newton resident picked one up when he was a mere lad growing up in the Pittsburg area.

He had five lessons on the instrument, but after his dad was laid off the lessons stopped — but not Gough’s love and affection for the four-stringed instrument.

He kept on playing, teaching himself the intricacies of fiddling and after a hard day of working in a feed store, often played at barn dances — picking up extra cash and a meal or two along the way.

“That old fiddle got me a lot of meals,” Gough said. “Someone said she had never seen anyone get so much food out of the use of one fiddle!”

Gough had a fiddle with him when he was stationed in Guam in World War II with the Army Air Force. Even if a fiddle was “extra stuff” and the damp, warm conditions were not ideal for its care, he brought one along to bring cheer to himself and his fellow service personnel.

Fiddles stayed with Gough as he worked in the agriculture field as a professional conservationist and then during the 15 years he and his wife, Doris, spent driving their recreational vehicle throughout the country.

Fiddles are an integral part of Gough’s life. In fact, he has a collection of about 15 of them. Oh, he’s had more, and estimates that he’s had 50 or so fiddles over the years. Some he’s given away, including five to his grandchildren, and five more to school orchestra students in Clay Center.

A fiddle or a violin?

One of the most common questions Gough is asked is what the difference is between a fiddle and a violin. “It’s been said that a violin is carried in a case and fiddle is carried in a pillowcase,” he said with a laugh.

There are a variety of other jokes on the subject, including: “No one cried when they spill beer on a fiddle,” and “when you’re buying, it’s a fiddle and when you’re selling, it’s a violin.”

Seriously, there isn’t much difference, as they basically are the same instrument; however, fiddlers usually prefer a flatter curve on the top of the bridge.

There’s a reason for that, as it reduces the angle of right-arm motion for the rapid string crossing required by some songs. A more rounded curve, preferred by classical musicians, slows notes to be articulated with better clarity.

Also, as might be expected, fiddlers such as Gough are usually informally trained or self-taught and violinists tend to be formally trained.

Also, violinists tend to perform in groups, whereas fiddlers often play solo and for dances rather than sheer listening pleasure.

Family fun

In any case, Gough likes to offer up both dancing and listening fun, and it’s hard not to be happy when listening to him play. Doris gets into the act, too, and tickles the ivories of a portable keyboard.

“I come from a family where we were dancing all the time,” Marvin said, “and she came from a family where they didn’t.”

Now Doris is a big music lover. In fact, the couple has passed their love of tunes to their five sons, and the whole family strikes up chords when they get together.The boys — who learned music with the help of their parents — play drums, tenor guitar, bass and mandolin and sing, too.

The Goughs, who will mark their 60th wedding anniversary this June, have a large photo in their home of the whole clan — ready to share their love of music with the world. That sharing includes local nursing homes and the Goughs, who are involved in the Kansas Old Time Fiddlers, Pickers and Singers organization, make it a habit to play and bring cheer to resident and staff in those centers.

Fiddles can range in value from less than $100 to $4,000 or so. The oldest one in Gough’s collection dates from the early 18th century, and he estimates it was made sometime from 1735 to 1750. Gough also has made a number of fiddles and can hear the subtle difference within each creation.

“Each one has a different voice,” he said. “Just like you and me. We all have our own voice.”

In addition to making fiddles, for more than 30 years Gough has repaired fiddles, working on a word-of-mouth basis. While Gough likes the fiddles, what he really loves is to play them and see the smiles they bring to people.

His talent has brought him the honor of being inducted into the Mid America Old Time Fiddlers Hall of Fame in 1988.

A lifetime of playing and collecting fiddles has brought much richness to his life, Gough said.

That richness is not in monetary terms, but in soul satisfaction. That’s what counts, he adds.

“This is not a business for me, it’s a fun thing,” he said as he picked up a fiddle and starting strumming away. The melody from the lively tune drifted up from the wooden instrument and seem to light up the Goughs’ living room.

Doris Gough smiled widely as the song progressed and her fingers danced about her keyboard.

“This is happy music,” Marvin said.