Maine fiddler Hope Hoffman presents lively and inventive performances of original tunes and the traditional Maine music that inspired them.

She debuted her original tunes on fiddle and viola at Johnny D's club in Somerville, MA, and continues to give formal and informal performances from Presque Isle to Manhattan.

With her fiddle, viola, guitar and voice, Hope shares a rhythmic and lyrical repertoire including Irish, Scottish, French Canadian, Welsh and Scandinavian tunes.

Her musical style is noted for its evocative beauty and rough-and-tumble playfulness, with influences including Renaissance and early music and Maine dance fiddlers.

Hope's collection of original fiddle tunes was written while living in Maine surrounded by a community of farmers, artists and other independent-minded people, exploring and appreciating the varied landscape and unique personality of Maine. The stories behind the tunes are generally about farm foods, weather, and the related adventures of neighbors and friends.

Her album "Infinite Winter Squash: New Maine Fiddle Music" was described by longtime Maine fiddler and teacher - Greg Boardman as "Pure New England fiddle music, proud of its rural past, relishing the present ... the feeling of a warm kitchen above a well-stocked root cellar ... The performances are inviting, warm, energized and straight ahead, with a bit of mischief thrown in."

Known for her warm and personable performances, Hope has been a professional musician in Maine for several years, providing imaginative charm and good old-fashioned fun to dozens of downtown festivals, restaurants, weddings, and community gatherings.

She plays for contra dances, as well as solo fiddle for barn dances.

She also leads sessions for children's museums and festivals featuring fiddle music, creative movement and folk dance.

For a résumé of previous music performances, please click here.
(printable photos available at www.hopehoffman.org/publicityphotos)

Hope Hoffman
(207) 332-3459
E-mail
www.hopehoffman.org