Shows
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHugh"Say Old Man, Can You Play the Fiddle?" a short story by Joe McHughThis is our 90th episode! and we thought we would try something different. Every five years or so over the course of nearly forty years I have written an original short story inspired by the supernatural mythology and folklore of the violin. I am happy to now announce that we have produced a unique audio collection of ten of these stories that we titled The Phantom Fiddler and Other Notable Tales. Each tales features a different reader(s) and musician(s).
And here's the best part: the only way to access and enjoy this collection of stories...
2025-08-2940 min
Famous Interviews with Joe DiminoPresident, Chief Growth Officer & App Developer of Dataing: AI Matchmaker Eric MchughWelcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series! In this episode, we reconnect with entrepreneur, app developer, and Chief Growth Officer Eric McHugh. At just 30 years old, Eric returns to discuss his latest venture — Dataing: AI Matchmaker, a revolutionary new dating app that blends intuitive design with artificial intelligence to reshape the online dating experience.We dive into his philosophies on simplicity, innovation, and mental clarity, explore the world of dating apps, and unpack what makes Dataing stand out in a saturated market.📱 Download the app: Dataing: AI Matchmaker on the App Store...
2025-06-1115 min
The Thursday Interview on The Hard ShoulderThe Thursday Interview: Joe McHughMany ministers are settling into their new roles this week, but you might remember in 2014 one new appointment raised a few eyebrows when Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh was made Minister for State for Gaeltacht Affairs with only limited Irish.This sparked a language journey for the former Minister, who has chronicled it in his new book ‘Beidh Tú Alright’. Joe joins Kieran for this week’s Thursday Interview!
2025-02-0616 min
Long Live Alternative PartiesInterview with the Michigan Libertarian Party's Attorney General Candidate Joe McHughI had the honor of interviewing the Michigan Libertarian Party's Attorney General Candidate Joe McHugh. To support Joe's campaign, kindly visit https://libertystrikesback.com.
2022-10-1430 min
The Book Reporters with Joe & Lauren40 - "The Perfect Family" by Robyn Harding/"Chloe Cates is Missing" by Mandy McHughJoe is solo this week as he opens with news regarding the immediate future of the podcast before diving into his thoughts on two recent, great reads, "The Perfect Family" by Robyn Harding and "Chloe Cates is Missing" by Mandy McHugh.
Next episode: "The Perfect Marriage" by Jeneva Rose
2022-08-0126 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughBashar Matti - Iraqi-American ViolinistBashar Matti was born in Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War and endured the troubled times of the Kuwait-Iraq War and subsequent United States invasion of his country. Through it all he clung to his love of the violin and music and was eventually able to come to the United States where he studied violin with Kathryn Lucktenberg at the University of Oregon.
2022-03-0742 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughAmanda Forsyth - CellistAmanda Forsyth is a cellist who was born in South Africa and grew up in Canada. Her father was a composer who inspired her to become a musician. She is married to the violinist Pinchas Zukerman and I interviewed her after a concert she performed with her husband and the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra.
2022-02-2754 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughDaniel Rouslin and the Mystery of the Hidden ViolinDaniel Rouslin taught violin and music theater at Willamette University for many years. He was teaching there in 1988 when an early 18th century Italian violin was discovered hidden under the floor boards of Waller Hall, the oldest building on the campus of the oldest institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River. How did violin get there? Who made the violin? What should the school do with such a unique and valuable violin?
Dan tells the story of the remarkable discovery and also shares his own story as a musician and music educator.
2022-02-2039 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughRhiannon Giddens - Fiddler, Banjoist, and SingerGrammy and MacArthur award winner Rhiannon Giddens grew up in North Carolina near the city of Greensboro, which is where I interviewed her in 2015 while she was performing at the National Folk Festival. A founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, she was trained as an opera singer before her passion for the banjo, fiddle, and folk songs took hold. She has done much to educate the public, as well as fellow musicians, about the contribution African-American musicians have made to the traditional folk music of United States.
2022-02-131h 00
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughJohn Sherba - Violinist with the Kronos Quartet - Part 2This is part two of my conversation with violinist John Sherba who is a member of the Kronos Quartet. In this podcast he talks about some of the quartet's innovative musical projects as well as talking about his own violins.
2022-02-0654 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughJohn Sherba - Violinist with the Kronos Quartet - Part 1John Sherba is a violinist and member of the legendary Kronos Quartet. I interviewed John several months after the Covid 19 pandemic changed everyone's life. Here he talks about his family and his own musical journey.
2022-02-0652 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughTony Ellis - Musician, Composer, and Trader of Musical InstrumentsTony Ellis' first professional job as a musician was playing banjo for Bill Monroe, considered by many as the father of bluegrass music. Along with being a gifted banjo player and fiddler, Tony also composes some of the sweetest tunes this side of paradise. And if you need your fiddle adjusted or maybe you're in the market for a new instrument, stop by Tony's shop in Circleville, Ohio.
This interview was recorded in 2018 at the Fraley Family Music Festival that is held each year at Carter Caves State Park in the hill country of eastern Kentucky.
2022-01-311h 03
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughMarco Imer Piccinotti - Italian Violin Maker - Part 2This is part two of my conversation with violin maker Marco Imer Piccinotti who lives in the town of San Polo d'Enza in Northern Italy.
2022-01-2340 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughMarco Imer Piccinotti - Italian Violin Maker - Part 1Marco Imer Piccinotti is a highly-regarded violin maker living in the town of San Polo d'Enza in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. Paula and I visited Marco at his home where I recorded this interview.
2022-01-2348 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughChristian Howes - Jazz Violin and the Hero’s Journey - Part 2This is part two of my fascinating interview with violinist and music educator Christian Howes.
2022-01-1845 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughChristian Howes - Jazz Violin and the Hero’s Journey - Part 1Christian Howes is a gifted violinist who grew up in Ohio playing classical music, soloing with the Columbus Symphony at the age of sixteen. But then his life was turned upside down when he was sentenced to served four years in prison. I traveled to Asheville, North Carolina, in 2016 to ask Christ to share his remarkable story with us. This is part one of that conversation.
2022-01-181h 04
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughClay Buckner - Fiddler With the Red Clay RamblersClay Buckner is an old-time and Celtic fiddler living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For many years, Clay has been the fiddler for one of my favorite string bands, the Red Clay Ramblers. I recorded this interview at his home after which we spent a pleasant evening playing tunes together.
2021-05-0149 min
The Rock N' Roll & Coffee ShowEpisode 48: Jonathan McHugh (Music Supervisor, Producer, Director)This week I got to site down with Music Supervisor, producer and director Jonathan McHugh. Jonathan has a great documentary called Long Live Rock...Celebrate The Chaos premiering March 11th. The film takes a deep dive into the culture of hard rock music. With intimate interviews, the leading titans of rock discuss the genre and the special relationship they have with their audience. Featuring members of Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slipknot, Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Rage Against the Machine, Greta Van Fleet, Halestorm, and many, many more. We also talk about how Jonathan got his s...
2021-03-0542 min
Liberty Strikes BackHow to End the Fed and Go Green InsteadA plan to restore liberty in America by replacing the Federal Reserve Bank with a credit union that is clean, green, citizen-owned and fully transparent so that we may get off of oil, out of oil wars, invest in renewables and organics, and split the profits with the people instead of the banks.
2021-03-012h 22
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughMichael Certalic - A Custom-made Violin for a Montana ViolinistMichael Certalic is a violinist who lives in Bozeman, Montana, where he heads up the strings program at a local high school. In this podcast, he tells the story of a violin he asked a luthier to make that would contain elements of Montana, a state he dearly loves and that serves as the source of his inspiration as a musician and teacher.
2020-07-2853 minLiberty Strikes BackUnconstitutional State Dept NDAThe State Dept / CIA requires that all Americans “enthusiastically support” American policy. When the law runs counter to the Constitution, this results in the hijacking of America.
2020-07-0122 minLiberty Strikes BackReligion, Subjectivity and LibertyA gentleman who claimed to be The Spirit also claimed that good people must deceive others to determine their goodness. This subjectivity is the basis of societal decline and the fall of liberty. To restore liberty in America, we must commit to honest, true words and actions, and demand the same of our government.
2020-06-1332 minLiberty Strikes BackVoid for Vagueness AmendmentWhat liberty, a 1926 ruling called Void for Vagueness, and being lost in the mountains of Tennessee have in common.
2020-06-0814 minLiberty Strikes BackMy Path to PoliticsDetroit’s crack epidemic and my path through finance, the Marine Corps, and the maze of US Government entrapment—this is my background and reason for being—an America for all Americans.
2020-06-0356 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughJames Kelly - Irish FiddlerI interviewed James Kelly at the National Folklore Festival in 2015 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Mr. Kelly was born and grew up in Ireland and is now living in the United States. His father was the renowned fiddle and concertina player John Kelly. James talks about growing up in a musical family and how traditional Irish music moved from Ireland to America and back again to Ireland thanks to a series of recordings made in the early years of the twentieth century.
2020-06-021h 07Liberty Strikes BackGeorge Floyd’s Murder, Protests, Trump’s “Domination,” and a Credit Union of the United StatesAmerica has erupted following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmad Arbery. Instead of heeding the calls for justice, Pres. Trump has stoked violence. Our monetary system is the root cause of our injustice and the solution to liberty and justice for all in America.
2020-06-0217 min2020-06-0200 min
The Destination Angler PodcastFly Fishing Northern Colorado and the Cache la Poudre with Joe McHughOur guest this week is expert fly-fishing guide, artist and musician, Joe McHugh of Ft Collins, CO, who shares why Northern Colorado and the Cache la Poudre should be on every fly fisher's bucket list. Joe walks us through the seasons on the Poudre and his top fly picks, including some killer soft hackle fly patterns and techniques. As a bonus, we discuss fly fishing books of old and Joe's thoughts on painting, fly-fishing, faith, and life. Contact Joe McHugh: to arrange a trip call St. Peter's Fly Shop in Ft Collins (970) 498-8968 or visit their website: https...
2020-05-0749 min
The Scraic PodcastScraic Podcast #2 - Joe McHugh, Roaccutane, Karma (Alex Keating)In this podcast I speak to Alex Keating about Joe McHugh and the leaving cert, our experiences with Roaccutane and our opinions on Karma.
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2020-05-0640 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughThe Violin-Building for Musician Aid ProjectThe interviews I conducted with musicians, luthiers, museum curators, tone wood experts and others for the Rosin the Bow project took place before the Covid 19 pandemic upended all our lives. The impact of the pandemic upon the livelihood of working musicians has been devastating and know one knows when conditions with improve for them. Well, I recently heard of innovative project in Vermont that involves the making of a handmade violin and a bow, the streaming in real time on the Internet the making of the violin, and the raffling of violin and bow to raise money for a...
2020-04-261h 01
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughPenny Brill - The Healing Power of MusicPenny Brill is an accomplished violist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. She has also led an effort to bring the healing power of music to hospitals and other medical organizations in the greater Pittsburgh area. I interviewed Ms. Brill at her home in the fall of 2015. In these troubling times of the corona virus outbreak, Ms. Brill offers valuable insights into ways we can be healthy in our bodies and in our communities.
2020-04-231h 08
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughHans Johannsson - Icelandic Violin MakerHans Johannsson is a violin maker from Iceland. David Fulton is a noted collector of old Italian violins, violas, and cellos. I met and interviewed Hans when he came to David's house in Bellevue, Washington, to examine his collection of rare instruments. It was conversation that covered many subjects related to violin making and the role the arts play in the world today.
2020-04-0556 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughBruce Molsky - Old-Time Fiddler and SingerAnyone familiar with what is called "old-time" music knows the name Bruce Molsky. As a fiddler, singer, and guitar and banjo player, he has helped keep traditional American folk music alive and well for the better part of fifty years. I interviewed Bruce at the Oly Old-Time Music Festival in Olympia, Washington, in 2016.
2020-03-291h 05
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughLyris Hung - Acoustic/Electric Violinist and Marketer of Violin StringsLyris is the former head of marketing for orchestral strings for the D'Addario Musical Strings Company. She is also an accomplished violinist who plays with the popular musical group Indigo Girls. She also has her own rock band named Hung. I interviewed Lyris in 2016 at the Wintergrass Music Festival in Bellevue, Washington.
2020-03-2249 min
Lions of LibertyFF 220 - LP Presidential Candidates on Justice Reform - Brian Ellison, Adam Kokesh and Joe McHughOn today’s episode of Felony Friday you’ll be hearing from three Presidential Candidates who are running for the Libertarian Party’s Nomination. John is joined by Adam Kokesh, Brian Ellison and Joe McHugh. These interviews were recorded in-person at the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Convention in Philadelphia two weeks ago. This is Part 2 of the interviews from the convention. Listen to Part 1 here. Adam Kokesh Brian Ellison Joe McHugh
2020-03-201h 10
Lions of Liberty NetworkFF 220 - LP Presidential Candidates on Justice Reform - Brian Ellison, Adam Kokesh and Joe McHughOn today’s episode of Felony Friday you’ll be hearing from three Presidential Candidates who are running for the Libertarian Party’s Nomination. John is joined by Adam Kokesh, Brian Ellison and Joe McHugh. These interviews were recorded in-person at the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Convention in Philadelphia two weeks ago. This is Part 2 of the interviews from the convention. Listen to Part 1 here. Adam Kokesh Brian Ellison Joe McHugh
2020-03-2000 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughWinifred Horan - Fiddler and Composer with the Irish Band Solas - Part 2This is the second part of my conversation with Winifred Horan, fiddler with the Irish musical group Solas, during which she talks about her Jonathan Cooper violin and her decision to return to traditional Irish music after many years of training as a classical violinist.
2020-03-1546 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughWinifred Horan - Fiddler and Composer with the Irish Band Solas - Part 1I interviewed Winifred Horan when she came to perform with the Irish musical group Solas at the Wintergrass Music Festival in Bellevue, Washington, in 2016. This is part one of that conversation in which she talks about her Irish-born parents, her involvement with traditional Irish dancing, and her extensive classical violin training in New York City and Boston.
2020-03-1552 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughGregg Alf - American Violin Maker in Venice, Italy - Part 2In part two of my conversation with Gregg Alf, we talk about the day to day life of the violin maker, including the harvesting of tone wood, and what it takes to sell violins in today's world. We also discuss the differences between handmade violins and factory-made violins and Gregg finishes with an unusual story about an antique table and the making of a violin.
2020-03-0855 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughGregg Alf - American Violin Maker in Venice, Italy - Part 1In 2015, Paula and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary by visiting the city of Venice. While there, we had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Gregg Alf, one of the most highly respected violin makers in the world today. Steeped in the history of the violin and possessing remarkable violin making skills, Gregg also brings to his work a spiritual sensibility befitting these mysterious and enchanting instruments.
2020-03-0853 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughJoshua Bell - ViolinistJoshua Bell is one of the most respected solo violinists in the world today. He also serves as the music director of the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields. I interviewed Mr. Bell backstage after he performed a special Mother's Day concert with the Oregon Symphony Orchestra in 2018.
2020-03-0149 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughTom Barr - Violin Maker, Music Store Owner, and Labor Union OrganizerTom Barr was one of the first people I interviewed for the Rosin the Bow project. He grew up in Grayson County in the mountains of southwestern Virginia where he now makes violins and banjos and runs a music store in the town of Galax with his son Stevie. Tom learned the art of violin making from Albert Hash who taught many violin makers in that part of the Appalachian Mountains. Tom has also worked as a labor union organizer fighting to improve the lives of working people.
2020-02-231h 02
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughStuart Canin- Violinist - Part 2In part 2 of my interview with Mr. Canin, he talks about his career in music including auditioning for the San Francisco Symphony and playing for motion pictures in Hollywood.
2020-02-1641 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughStuart Canin - Violinist - Part 1Stuart Canin is one of the most respected violinists in the world today. I interviewed the 91 year old Mr. Canin at his home in Berkeley, California. Having served as concert master for the San Francisco Symphony, the Los Angeles Opera, and numerous film score composers such as John Williams and Randy Newman, Mr. Canin, with a $2 violin, also played his part in world history at the conclusion of World War II.
2020-02-1647 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughChris Haddox Tells the Story of a Blind Violin Maker in West VirginiaChris Haddox is a fiddler, luthier, and professor of environmental studies and West Virginia University. He is also the owner of a violin made in the mountains of West Virginia the early part of the 20th century by a blind violin maker named Tommy Doolittle. Here Chris tells the story about the fiddle and his own experiences being an old-time fiddler.
2020-02-0959 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughThe Vettori Family - Three Generations of Italian Violin MakersIn the spring of 2015, Paula and I visited Florence, Italy, to interview a family of violin makers. Paolo Vettori is the patriarch of the family who learned to make violins from his father Dario Vettori. Three of his grown children now also make violins with him in his shop. In this podcast I feature my conversation with Paolo and his son Dario II and daughter Sophia. Spending the day with this lovely lovely family in the beautiful city of Florence was an experience my wife Paula and I will never forget and it is with great pleasure I present...
2020-02-021h 06
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughDmitry Sitkovetsky - violinist-conductor-philosopherIn 2016 I visited Greensboro, North Carolina, to interview Russian-born violinist and conductor Dmitry Sitkovetsky and attend a special concert featuring Mr. Sitkovetsky and violinist Pinchas Zukerman and his wife, cellist Amanda Forsyth. He talked about his famous musical parents, his musical training in the former Soviet Union, his Stradivari violin, and what it takes to find beauty and meaning in life.
2020-01-261h 03
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughFan Tao - Violin Strings Expert - Part 2In part 2 of my interview with Fan Tao, head of research and development for the D'Addario Musical String Company, Fan talks about how his family came to the United States from Taiwan. He also talks about the history of the D'Addario family who came to the United States from Italy at the turn of the 20th century. The interview ends with Fan giving me a tour of the D'Addario factory in Long Island, NY.
2020-01-1940 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughNoel Burke - Irish Violin Bow MakerNoel Burke is one of the world's leading violin bow makers. He is also the younger brother of noted traditional Irish fiddle player Kevin Burke. I visited Noel at his home in County Carlow in Ireland to find out what it takes to become a bow maker and the vital role the bow plays in the making of music.
2020-01-191h 05
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughFan Tao - Violin Strings Expert - Part 1Fan Tao is head of research and development for the D'Addario Musical Strings Company based in Farmingdale, New York. He is also past president of the Violin Society of America. I interviewed Fan at the D'Addario factory in June, 2015, to learn as much as I could about the history and technology of strings for the violin family of instruments. Here is part one of that interview.
2019-08-0459 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughJoseph Kromholz - Violinist and TeacherJoseph Kromholz is a violinist and professor of violin and viola at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. I interviewed Mr. Kromholz in the fall of 2015 and we discussed many aspects of playing and teaching the violin, along with the strong connection that exists between the violin and Jewish culture.
2019-07-2859 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughClay Jenkinson - Thomas Jefferson and the ViolinClay Jenkinson is an acclaimed humanities scholar with a deep knowledge about the life and work of Thomas Jefferson, a paragon of the enlightenment whose many interests and passions included playing the violin. Along with offering a unique perspective on this fascinating part of Jefferson's life, Clay weighs in the cultural and political changes taking place in modern society.
2019-07-2159 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughKevin Burke- Irish Fiddler - Part 2In part two of my interview with Irish fiddler Kevin Burke, we explore the relationship between the violin and the electric guitar. He also talks about how he acquired his violin and his bow, the latter a gift from his brother Noel Burke, a renowned violin maker living in Ireland who I later interviewed. He also reflects on the demands made upon the traveling musician, as well as the rewards.
2019-07-1456 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughKevin Burke - Irish Fiddler - Part 1Kevin Burke has been a mainstay of the traditional Irish music scene since the early 1970s. He has performed with groups such as the Bothy Band, Patrick Street, Celtic Music Festival, and Open House. Born and raised in London, Kevin now lives in Portland, Oregon, where I interviewed him in 2017. In part one of this podcast, he talks about his eccentric classical violin teacher and a chance meeting with Arlo Guthrie in the west of Ireland that led to him recording several fiddle tracks on Arlo's album, Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys, in 1972.
2019-07-0751 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughYael Rosenblum - Cremonese Violin MakerIn 2015, Paula and I visited Cremona, Italy, the city where the great masters of violin making, Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri, once lived and worked. Thanks to the establishment of a violin making school in Cremona in the 1930s, a hundred and fifty violin makers now call the city their home. Israeli-born Yael Rosenblum is one of the them. She is also a skilled string player and this, along with being a woman, provides her with unique insights into what it means to be a luthier in the world today.
2019-06-3053 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughPete Sutherland - Old-time Fiddler and SongwriterVermont-born fiddler and songwriter Pete Sutherland has been a mainstay of the old-time music scene for many years. I first met Pete in the early 1980s when we both served on the faculty of the Augusta Heritage Program in Elkins, WV. I later caught up with him at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, WA, where we sat down for a chat about the instrument and music we love.
2019-06-2353 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughEric Funk - A Musician for All Seasons - Part 2In this second part of the conversation I had with Eric Funk, he talks about the inspiration and creative process behind his concerto A Violin Alone in which a solo violinist not only plays the part of the violin but uses his instrument to mimic all the other instruments in the orchestra. And there is more philosophy as well concerning the special role music plays in our lives.
2019-06-1646 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughEric Funk - A Musician for All Seasons - Part 1While attending a wedding in Bozeman, Montana, I had the good fortune to interview Eric Funk, musician, conductor, and celebrated composer. Eric is also a professor of music at Montana State University and hosts an Emmy award-winning music and culture program for Montana Public Television.
2019-06-1657 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughDavid Balakrishnan - Violinist & Composer with Turtle Island QuartetDavid Balakrishnan is a gifted violinist and founding member of the Turtle Island String Quartet. He is also a composer who draws upon a variety of musical traditions to create works that are both fresh and enduring. I recorded this interview at his home in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2015.
2019-06-1148 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughAaron Allen - Impact of Violin Making on the EnvironmentAaron Allen is a professor of musicology and environmental studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In this podcast, he looks at the impact instrument making and cultural assumptions about music impact the natural world, the trees, animals, and minerals that make musical instruments possible.
2019-06-021h 02
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughMichael Gray - Jazz ViolinistMichael Gray is a violinist and composer living in the Pacific Northwest who has performed with the gypsy-jazz inspired combo Pearl Django for many years. I interviewed Michael in 2015 at the Wintergrass Music Festival.
2019-05-2639 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughEugene Friesen - Cellist with Paul Winter ConsortEugene Friesen is a cellist who has performed as a member of the Paul Winter Consort for many years often exploring the musical possibilities of playing inside sacred spaces such as the Grand Canyon and the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine or accompanying animals such as whales and wolves. A four-time Grammy award-winner, he teaches at the Berklee School of Music in Boston where I interviewed him in 2017.
2019-05-1953 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughNatalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy - Canadian Fiddling FamilyHusband and wife duo Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy are award-winning Canadian fiddle players. Natalie grew up on Cape Breton Island and Donnell grew up in Ontario. They have seven children and, when not out on tour, they work on their cattle ranch. I interviewed Natalie and Donnell when they came to perform at the Washington Center for the Arts.
2019-05-1259 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughMichael Cleveland - Champion Bluegrass FiddlerMichael Cleveland was born blind but he fell in love with the violin as a young child when he heard a recording of the fiddle tune Orange Blossom Special. “I want to play that,” he told himself and, with the help of his parents and teachers at a school for the blind, that’s exactly what he did, and a whole bunch of other tunes as well. Named fiddler of the year six times in a row by the International Bluegrass Music Association, Michael performs with his group Flamekeeper. I interviewed Michael while attending the Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival in Mar...
2019-05-0558 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughNational Gallery of Art - Tour of Paintings with ViolinsFine violins and cellos are more than musical instruments; they are also visual works of art. They exist in the visual art world in other ways as well. In 2015, I visited the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, where I was given a tour of the collection by Stephen Ackert, former curator of music, and Bruno Nasta, a jazz violinist who organizes the concert series that takes place each year inside the National Gallery. Stephen and Bruno showed me a number of paintings from antiquity to the 1840s in which a violin-style instrument played a significant part. Join...
2019-04-281h 02
Get Up in the CoolEpisode 139: Joe McHugh (Rosin the Bow)Welcome to Get Up in the Cool: Old Time Music with Cameron DeWhitt and Friends! This week’s friend is Joe McHugh, the host of Rosin the Bow, a podcast about the violin family! We recorded this in February at the Oly Old Time Festival in Olympia, Washington.
Tunes in this episode:
Going Down to Georgia O
Fisher’s Hornpipe
Sally in the Green Corn
Pat and Isaac’s Road Trip
Pretty Little Indian
Elzic’s Farewell
Bonus track: Highlander’s Farewell
Rosin the Bow’s website: https://www.rosinthe...
2019-04-241h 10
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughNadine Landry - Bass Player & Vocalist - Foghorn StringboardNadine Landry was born into a musical family in the province of Quebec in Canada. She is a member of the Foghorn Stringband and is married to the band’s fiddler, Stephen “Sammy” Lind. I interviewed Nadine when the band performed at the Oly Old-time Music Festival in Olympia, Washington, in 2015.
2019-04-2139 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughRobert Ray - Violin Bow MakerThe Rosin the Bow project got its start thanks in large part to bow maker and violin dealer and shop owner Robert Ray in Olympia, Washington. Bob’s fascination with the history of the violin and the art of bow making inspired me to go in search of stories about this remarkable family of instruments and the people who love them.
2019-04-1456 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughZoe Conway - Classical & Traditional Irish MusicianZoe Conway is a gifted young musician living in Ireland. Steeped in the traditional fiddle music of her native land, she is also an accomplished classical violinist. I interviewed Zoe while attending the Clifden Arts Festival that is held each September in a lovely seaside town in Connemara in the west of Ireland. Zoe’s performance of a composition by Bill Whelan with the national RTE Orchestra is one I shall not soon forget.
2019-04-0746 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughBruno Crosignani & Giuliano Zugliani - Caretakers of the Val di Fiemme - Part 2This podcast features an interview with Bruno Crosignani, director of the office of the Paneveggio Forest that manages the harvesting of tonewood from the Val di Fiemme high up in the Italian Alps. Bruno explains in detail the process of growing, harvesting, and selecting spruce wood for the making of fine musical instruments. This is followed by a tour of Val di Fiemme led by Giuliano Zugliani, head ranger of the Val di Fiemme.
2019-03-3158 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughPiera Ciresa - Val di Fiemme - Part 1Piera Ciresa is the co-owner of the Ciresa Val di Fiemme, a tonewood company located in the small village of Tesero high up in the Italian Alps. The company provides spruce for violin instruments and piano sound boards that was harvested from the Val di Fiemme, the Valley of the Flame, where the great violin makers of old such as Stradivari, Guarnari, and Amati got their wood. The interview begins in a special park in the town of Cavalese where important political and economic decisions, including the management of the forest, were made by elected representatives of the community...
2019-03-2454 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughMick Moloney & Athena Tergis - Traditional Irish MusiciansThese are two of most highly regarded traditional Irish musicians performing and teaching today. Mick Moloney was born in Ireland and now lives in the United States. Along with being a singer and player of the 4-string banjo and mandolin, he holds a doctorate in folklore from the University of Pennsylvania and regularly takes groups to Ireland to experience first-hand the music and culture of his native land.
Born in New York City and then spending her childhood in San Francisco, Athena Tergis was classically trained on the violin but later fell in love with Irish and S...
2019-03-171h 04
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughSigrun Seifert & Joseph Grubaugh - Husband & Wife Violin Makers - Part 2In this part 2 podcast, husband and wife luthiers Joseph Grubaugh and Sigrun Seifert talk about the importance of varnish in the making of violins and cellos. They also discuss the practice of “antiquing” newly-made instruments, how certain famous violins got their names, and how they came to own a set of chairs used in a Grammy-award-winning recording by the Angeles Quartet.
2019-03-1045 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughSigrun Seifert & Joseph Grubaugh - Husband & Wife Violin Makers - Part 1Joseph Grubaugh and Sigrun Seifert are violin makers living in Petaluma, California. They are also husband and wife and they make almost all of their instruments together. Many gifted musicians play their instruments or have them repair and adjust their instruments. They have also won numerous awards. Is that enough? Well, they also played a central role in recovering a Stradivari violin that went missing decades earlier and was considered stolen.
2019-03-0359 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughAlicia Svigals - Klezmer ViolinistAlicia is a violinist, composer, and founding member of the Grammy- winning Klezmatics. She collaborated on musical projects with violinist Itzhak Perlman, the Kronos Quartet, playwrights Tony Kushner and Eve Ensler, the late poet Allen Ginsburg, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, among others. When it comes to the Jewish tradition of Klezmer music, Alicia is the person to talk to.
For more information and to check her calendar visit Alicia's website.
2019-02-2446 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughScott Marckx - Port Townsend Violin MakerScott Marckx is a violin maker and old-time fiddler living in Port Townsend, Washington. He is a also a builder of wooden boats and a philosopher. It is always a pleasure to spend time in his company.
2019-02-1757 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughJeff Harshbarger - Multi-genre Bassist - Part 1Jeff Harshbarger is a bassist, composer, and band leader living in Lawrence, Kansas. In 2011, he was voted Best Bassist by Pitch Magazine. I first heard Jeff perform as a member of a quartet blending classical Indian violin music with western classical and jazz violin. Jeff brought to our conversation about the bass a deep understanding of not just music, but what it means to be fully human.
2019-02-1036 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughJeff Harshbarger - Multi-genre Bassist - Part 2In part two of this podcast, bassist Jeff Harshbarger talks about his different approaches to using a bow with a bass. He also talks about a remarkable teacher he visits each year in France and the role physical spaces play in how music sounds.
2019-02-1045 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughCarl Jones - Songwriter and Fellow "Tune Tramp"I have know very few songwriters whose songs move me as much as those composed by Carl Jones. A multi-instrumentalist as well, and that includes the fiddle, Carl has performed with some of the top folk musicians alive today, including his wife Erynn Marshall and fiddler James Bryan. I know you’ll enjoy his wit and insights into what makes life interesting and worth the effort.
2019-02-0333 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughErynn Marshall - Old-Time "Tune Tramp" FiddlerErynn Marshall grew up in British Columbia but her love of traditional fiddle music eventually took her to the mountains of southwestern Virginia where she lives today with her husband Carl Jones, an accomplished musician and songwriter. Along with keeping the fiddle traditional alive by playing the old tunes, she also composes wonderful fiddle tunes. Here she talks about her life as a traveling musician and her love for the violin she owns, even celebrating its birthday each year.
2019-02-0346 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughMusic for Food - Helping Those In Need Through Classical MusicInspired by Carol Rodland’s Rochester-based “If Music be the Food…” food drive concerts, violist Kim Kashkashian launched a concert series titled Music for Food in 2010 to help relieve food insecurity in the Greater Boston area. Working with a group of Boston-based musicians and guest artists, Music for Food has created over 500,000 meals through donations made at concerts for nearly 100 hunger-relief organizations. More than 160 international artists have performed at concerts worldwide that were organized by Music for Food. Here Kim Kashkashian and other members of the organization share the reasons they are committed to this worthy project.
2019-01-311h 08
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughRoland Feller - The Making of a LuthierRoland Feller grew up in Switzerland and attended the violin-making school in Mittenwald, Germany, before coming to the United States to work with Simone Fernando Sacconi in New York. He later opened his own shop in San Francisco where he is a much sought after restorer as well as maker. Here Roland tells of the challenges he endured in those early years of his violin-making education.
2019-01-2458 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughAlasdair Fraser - Scottish Fiddler - Part 2In this part of my conversation with Alasdair Fraser, he tells a remarkable story about how a young girl with a rare and potentially fatal disease was helped by listening to Scottish fiddle music. He also tells the story of how an unscrupulous producer stole his music composition to use in a major Hollywood film.
2019-01-181h 09
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughAlasdair Fraser - Scottish Fiddler - Part 1In my twenties, I spent a year living in Scotland doing my best to learn the fiddle music of the Highlands. Later I moved to Nevada City, California, where I had the good fortune to meet and become friends with Alasdair, regarded by many as one of the most accomplished Scottish fiddlers living in the world today. In part one of our conversation, Alasdair talks about how the violin helped him overcome a debilitating shyness when he was a child and how later he dedicated his life to bringing back a musical tradition that was often disregarded.
2019-01-1742 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughLaurie Lewis - The Maple's LamentLaurie Lewis is a Grammy award-winning bluegrass fiddler and songwriter. For several years she owned a violin shop in Berkeley, California. Here Laurie tells how she wrote two songs about the violin: The Maple's Lament and The Bear Song. Her interview is followed by a folktale and music from Mongolia about the origins of the Mongolian horse-head fiddle.
2019-01-1741 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughBruce Harvie - Orcas Island Tonewoods - Part 2In part two of my conversation with tone wood expert Bruce Harvie, we discuss the selection and use of Pernambuco for making bows and the growing problem of tone wood tree poaching
2019-01-1733 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughThe Canote Brothers - Old-time Musical TwinsGreg and Jere Canote are identical twins who play old-time fiddle, guitar, and banjo. Renowned for their musical stylings as well as their zany sense of humor and good-natured stage-presence, the Canote Brothers have toured the world sharing their infectious love of music. In this episode they talk about the challenges of being raised by their deaf mother, the creative beginnings of The Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, and the curious nature of playing music with your identical twin.
2019-01-1759 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughBruce Harvie - Orcas Island Tonewoods - Part 1Bruce Harvie is a tonewood dealer who lives in the San Juan Islands of Puget Sound. Here he shares his passion and vast knowledge of tonewood for violins and other musical instruments.
2019-01-1748 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughDavid Fulton - Stories from the CollectionThis is the second part of my interview with violin collector David Fulton. Here David shares an entertaining mix of stories related to some of the most treasured violins and cellos in his collection.
2019-01-1751 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughDavid Fulton - The Making of a CollectorDavid Fulton is one of the most important violin collectors in the world today. Here David shares his life story and the passion that drove him to seek out and preserve instruments made by such masters as Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu.
2019-01-1750 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughDarol Anger - Violinist and TeacherFew violinists in modern times have made as much of a mark on the music world as Darol Anger. A founding member of the Turtle Island Quartet, he now teaches at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. I caught up with Darol at the Wintergrass Bluegrass Festival in Bellevue, Washington, and here he talks about the physical challenges of playing the violin and some of the exceptional violins he has had the opportunity to tuck up under his chin.
2019-01-1748 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughWilliam Monical - History of the ViolinWilliam Monical is a highly regarded restorer of bowed stringed instruments. He also possesses a wealth of knowledge concerning the evolution of the modern violin. Here he recounts that history with the flair and wit of a gifted storyteller.
2019-01-1750 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughMark O'Connor - Contest Fiddler - Part 2With three Grammys, seven CMA awards, and numerous national fiddle, guitar, and mandolin champion titles to his name, Mark pays tribute to his mother and her dedication to his musical gifts and his well-being as a person. He also speaks passionately about his method for teaching young people the violin.
2019-01-1735 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughMark O'Connor - Contest Fiddler - Part 1While performing at the Wintergrass Music Festival in Bellevue, Washington, Mark O’Connor takes time to revisit the memories of his childhood growing up in Seattle and those who taught him the language of music, such as the legendary Texas-style fiddler, Benny Thomasson.
2019-01-1753 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughPaolo Bodini - Creating a Museum for the ViolinDr. Paolo Bodini is a physician. politician, and president of the Museo del Violino in Cremona, Italy, a city that is famous for having been the home of master violin makers Andrea Amati, Antonio Stradivari, and Guiseppe Guaneri. We visited Cremona in 2015 and sat down with Paolo to learn what inspired him to lead an effort to create a museum for the violin in Cremona and what we can learn about history, technology, and the love of these remarkable instruments and the people who make them.
2019-01-1753 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughRachel Barton Pine - World Renowned Violinist - Part 2Ms. Pine begins this part of the interview with the story of an unusual experience she had once while playing a very special violin. She also discusses her desire to bring the work of composers of African heritage into the mainstream of classical music.
2019-01-1733 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughRachel Barton Pine - World Renowned Violinist - Part 1Internationally acclaimed concert violinist, recording artist, educator, and philanthropist, The New York Times describes Rachel Barton Pine as “Striking and charismatic…she demonstrated a bravura technique and soulful musicianship.” Here she tells the story of her early life and love of the violin.
2019-01-1751 min
Rosin the Bow with Joe McHughRosin the Bow Podcast SamplerJoe McHugh is a storyteller, fiddler, and award-winning public radio journalist who travels the world exploring the many roles the violin family of instruments play in society today. He has interviewed gifted musicians who play a variety of styles—classical, folk, jazz, and rock—as well as master luthiers, dealers, collectors, tone wood producers, insurance agents, museum curators, rosin makers, string designers—even FBI agents who have helped recover stolen violins. The Rosin the Bow archive of recorded interviews will become a permanent part of the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of violin-related materials.
Episode 01 Rosin the Bow Sampler f...
2019-01-1748 min
Catholic BaltimoreJune 18, 2017 | Joe McHugh on the Gospel of LukeSpiritual Director, Retreat Leader, and Teacher, Joe McHugh joins us to discuss the Gospel of Luke in Ordinary Time following Easter as well as his book, "Startled by God: Wisdom from Unexpected Places"
Originally aired February 7, 2016.
2017-06-1927 min
Creative Strings with Violinist Christian HowesJoe Mchugh: Borderlands of Storytelling, Philosophy, and Fiddle - Creative Strings Podcast Ep. 11At the intersection of story telling, philosophy, education, and old time fiddle music lives Joe McHugh, a musician who travels with his wife Paula in their group, The Time Travelers. From moving to West Virginia at the age of twenty to buy a farm, to living and learning traditional fiddle music in Scotland, Joe has used his experiences to carve out a career which encompasses: serving as the founding director of the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia, hosting a series on folkways of Appalachia for West Virginia Public Television, and performing with folk legends Pete Seeger and U. Utah...
2015-10-031h 07