Fiddle de dee

Charles Vincent’s Fiddle de dee is a delightful SATB part-song for mixed choir, set in English. It opens with a lively, descriptive musical setting that captures the character of a street musician’s tune. The text paints a picture of a captivating fiddler whose sweet music draws the narrator to a standstill. The piece playfully describes the simple joy of listening, but also the practical reality of the hat coming ‘round. The composer uses the voices to depict the charm of the melody and the narrator’s delight, before a more prosaic conclusion acknowledging the need to pay the performer. It’s a charming, lighthearted piece perfect for a lighter moment in a concert programme.