2009 : the year of the fiddle
In 2008 the CFMA highlighted classic folk recordings and 2009 was the year of the fiddle. In partnership with the Grand Masters, fiddling from several parts of the country was part of our Gala on Saturday, November 21st in Ottawa. Performers were April Verch, Bonita Leblanc, Anthony Brascoupe, Denis Lanctot, Terri-Lynn Mahusky. However, Canada has such a long rich history of fiddling that one show could not possibly do it justice, so we decided to provide some follow-up. Dating from the early days of European settlement, next to singing itself, the fiddle has been the most prevalent folk voice of our nation for 300 years. If the beaver is a symbol of our work, then the fiddle is a symbol of our play. From the Grand Banks to Vancouver Island, from Nunavut to deepest, darkest, southern Ontario, in fur trade posts, logging camps, community halls and kitchens throughout the land, the fiddle has learned to speak in all the languages of our country. Coming first from the “celtic” nations of Scotland, the Shetland and Orkney Islands and later, Ireland, it won over our first inhabitants–First Nations and Inuit, then French-Canadian and Métis, fusing with their older musics to create new, indigenous Canadian styles. The music also found secluded pockets in Newfoundland, Cape Breton, James Bay and many other places where it could survive and develop independently from its original homes. And, as new musics from all over the world have found and continue to find their place here, the fiddle finds its place in them, crossing cultural boundaries as it always has, creating new expressions to reflect new communities. Anne Lederman
For an in-depth write-up on the history and styles of Canadian Fiddling, see the 2010 update on “Fiddling” from the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada, written by Anne Lederman and Christina Smith, downloadable at: http://www.annelederman.com/EMC%20article.pdf
Who’s your favourite Canadian fiddler?
As part of the “Focus on the Fiddle” theme at the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards, we’d like to know. Tell us who you like to listen to, where he/she is from, what makes this person noteworthy. Fiddlers can be from our folk history or currently playing. We’ll post as many of your responses on our website as we can so we can all learn more about the rich tradition of Canadian fiddle music, past and present. Please use the form below to send us your submissions, then visit the growing Fiddlers page to learn more about who has inspired and entertained folks over the years.