James Morrison (fiddler) facts for kids

James Morrison (born May 3, 1893 – died 1947) was a very famous Irish fiddler. People often called him "The Professor" because he was so skilled. He played music in the special "South Sligo" style, which comes from County Sligo in Ireland.

Early Life and Musical Start

James Morrison was born on May 3, 1893, in a small place called Drumfin, near Riverstown, County Sligo. He grew up in an area full of traditional Irish culture and music. When he was 17, he was hired by the Gaelic League. This group worked to keep Irish culture alive. James taught the "Connacht" style of step dancing at their school in County Mayo.

Moving to America

In 1915, when James was 21, he moved to America. He made his new home in New York City. Just three years later, in 1918, he won a big fiddle competition. This was at the New York Feis, which is a festival for Irish music and dance.

Becoming a Music Teacher

James Morrison became friends with other top Irish musicians. These included Michael Coleman and Paddy Killoran. They were also from County Sligo. In the 1930s and 1940s, James was one of the best Irish music teachers in New York. He taught hundreds of young Irish-American students. They learned to play traditional music from him.

Morrison's Many Talents

James was not only a master of the fiddle. He could also play the flute, the tenor banjo, and the button accordion. He even wrote a book to teach others how to play the accordion!

Morrison's Unique Music Style

The "Sligo style" of fiddle music that James Morrison played was very special. It was known for being fast and having many extra musical touches, called "ornaments." His bowing style was very smooth and flowing.

How Morrison Influenced Music

Recordings of James Morrison's music were sent to Ireland. They had a huge impact on musicians there. His style became so popular that it changed how many people played. Local ways of playing music often changed to sound more like Morrison's and Michael Coleman's.

Popular Tunes and Legacy

James Morrison's music often featured "reels" more than other types of tunes like "jigs" or "hornpipes." Musicians would often play his tunes in the same order as they appeared on his records. For example, the tune "Bonny Kate" was almost always followed by "Jenny's Chickens."

Famous musicians like Jean Carignan from Canada were greatly inspired by Morrison. Another well-known fiddler, Frankie Gavin, said that James Morrison's way of playing the fiddle "can't be beaten." He felt that "nobody can play like that today." This shows how much James Morrison is still respected in the world of Irish traditional music.