High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! American fiddle playing began with the early settlers who found that the small viol family instruments were portable and rugged. According to Ron Yule, "John Utie, a 1620 immigrant, settled in the North and is credited as being the first known fiddler on American soil". Early influences were Irish fiddle styles as well as Scottish and the more refined traditions of classical violin playing. Popular tunes included Soldier`s Joy, for which Robert Burns had written lyrics, and other such tunes as Flowers of Edinburgh and Tamlin which were claimed by both Scottish and Irish lineages. Soon these tunes were Americanized and local variations developed in Northern and Southern colonies. In contemporary American fiddle styles, the New England states are heavily influenced by all Celtic styles including Cape Breton fiddle playing whereas Southern or Dixie fiddle styles have tended to develop their own traditions which emphasize double stops and in some instances incorporation of dance calls or simple lyrics.