White, Peter, 1947-....

Epithet: of Long Island

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001152.0x000066

Epithet: MD, of Lewes, county Sussex

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001152.0x000065

Epithet: Lieutenant; RN

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001152.0x000064

Epithet: Churchwarden of Bromley

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001152.0x000062

Peter White was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1947. He has been interested in violin music and instrument construction since his youth and continued this passion all his life. In 1976, he received his Ph. D. in American Literature and American Religious History from Pennsylvania State University. During his time in Pennsylvania, he became friends with Samuel Bayard, a Professor at Penn State, then working on a book "Dance to the Fiddle, March to the Fife." Meanwhile, White began to learn to play the fiddle and his interest in folk songs grew. White came to the University of New Mexico in 1976, where he is now a professor of English and American Studies. Upon his arrival in New Mexico, he was still learning the fiddle and began searching for, preserving, and teaching New Mexican fiddle tunes and folk songs. White began recording fiddlers around 1977 for a book that he was researching on old time fiddlers and fiddle music of New Mexico. At that point, his focus was on the musicians themselves and their own stories, rather than the music and the tunes. The scope of his project grew to include a search for both information about the musicians and for an authentic New Mexican style of fiddle playing. During the process, White recorded an amazing array of New Mexican fiddlers performing in their homes; at world class Old Time Fiddlers' Contests in Albuquerque, Williamsburg, and Farmington, New Mexico; and a live radio show of American folk songs at KUNM. Over the next decade his recordings lead to his chapter on New Mexican folk music in the book "The Lore of New Mexico" which he co-authored with Marta Weigle. Through the course of meeting New Mexican fiddlers, White began to learn how to make violins. Sid Fleming (represented in the collection) was the first to teach White how to make violins. He crafted two violins under the guidance of Fleming and then began studying with John Honeycut. He progressed to studying violin making in Poland where he also taught American Literature. In addition to his role in English and American Studies, he has served as UNM Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of the University College. He founded the UNM program called the New Mexico Musical Heritage Project. He voluntarily teaches a course covering the cultural and traditional aspects of violin-making for Native American and Hispanic students, as only a handful of elders remain who are able to pass on the traditions of violin making. His program also provides violins and musical training for the students enrolled at the Public Academy for the Performing Arts in Albuquerque.

From the description of Peter White Collection of New Mexico Fiddle Music [sound recording]. 1977-1980. (University of New Mexico-Main Campus). WorldCat record id: 681762444

Peter White was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1947. He has been interested in violin music and instrument construction since his youth and continued this passion all his life. In 1976, he received his Ph.D. in American Literature and American Religious History from Pennsylvania State University. During his time in Pennsylvania, he became friends with Samuel Bayard, a Professor at Penn State, then working on a book “Dance to the Fiddle, March to the Fife." Meanwhile, White began to learn to play the fiddle and his interest in folk songs grew.

White came to the University of New Mexico in 1976, where he is now a professor of English and American Studies. Upon his arrival in New Mexico, he was still learning the fiddle and began searching for, preserving, and teaching New Mexican fiddle tunes and folk songs. White began recording fiddlers around 1977 for a book that he was researching on old time fiddlers and fiddle music of New Mexico. At that point, his focus was on the musicians themselves and their own stories, rather than the music and the tunes. The scope of his project grew to include a search for both information about the musicians and for an authentic New Mexican style of fiddle playing. During the process, White recorded an amazing array of New Mexican fiddlers performing in their homes; at world class Old Time Fiddlers’ Contests in Albuquerque, Williamsburg, and Farmington, New Mexico; and a live radio show of American folk songs at KUNM. Over the next decade his recordings lead to his chapter on New Mexican folk music in the book “The Lore of New Mexico" which he co-authored with Marta Weigle.

Through the course of meeting New Mexican fiddlers, White began to learn how to make violins. Sid Fleming (represented in the collection) was the first to teach White how to make violins. He crafted two violins under the guidance of Fleming and then began studying with John Honeycut. He progressed to studying violin making in Poland where he also taught American Literature.

In addition to his role in English and American Studies, he has served as UNM Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of the University College. He founded the UNM program called the New Mexico Musical Heritage Project. He voluntarily teaches a course covering the cultural and traditional aspects of violin-making for Native American and Hispanic students, as only a handful of elders remain who are able to pass on the traditions of violin making. His program also provides violins and musical training for the students enrolled at the Public Academy for the Performing Arts in Albuquerque.

From the guide to the Peter White Collection of New Mexico Fiddle Music, 1977-1980, (University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research)