CYRIL STINNETT: Left handed fiddle champion, Spring 1981

“Legendary Missouri Fiddler” Cyril Stinnett interview and performance. Shot by filmmaker Tony Collins in NW Missouri, 1981. Cyril Winfield Stinnett (1912-1986) lived his whole life in the northwest corner of Missouri in a small house on the prairie lands near the Nebraska and Iowa state lines. He was recorded playing over 300 tunes and legend has it he knew as many again. He picked them up at dances and contests, off records and radio, and from friends. He played an ordinarily strung fiddle left-handed ('over the bar'). He was an impressive contest fiddler with a string of prizes but never went professional and was always willing to share tunes, fiddling tricks and advice with whomever asked. Cyril's 'edge' came from total dedication to the instrument. "Play as much as you can" he said "you can't get too much practice". Tunes in order: 00:20- Salty River Reel 1:10- St. Anne’s Reel 2:40- conversation with Cyril about his life as a fiddle champion 5:00- Devil’s dream SOME EXPOSURE PROBLEMS in and out 6:30- Comin down from Denver 7:42- Conversation with Cyril about his life as a left handed fiddler 9:33- Big John McNeill (reel) 11:30- Conversation about learning new tunes 12:11- Brendan’s Reel 13:40- Conversation about different fiddle styles 15:00- Great Big Taters and Sandy Land 16:30- Conversation about his daily life and practicing the fiddle, younger generation, learning from radio, contests, mortality, fiddle contests and performance 24:00- Marmaduke’s Hornpipe 25:50- Conversation about fiddle styles, waltzes 27:00- Old Dubuque 28:30- Conversation about guitar backup, performing, nervousness, bowings 31:00- Inaudible title 32:30- Durang’s Hornpipe 34:00- Arkansas Traveler 35:33- Conversation about trophies, B roll 39:00- Granny Will Your Dog Bite, conversation about tune, Bob Walter (fiddle teacher), bluegrass, his house 44:0- Pacific Slope (CU fingering) 46:35- Dance Around Molly (CU fingering) 48:10- Sally Johnson 51:00- Bill Cheatam 53:45- Katy Hill 55:50- Conversation about Cyril’ parents and family, mortality 59:40- Whisky Before Breakfast