Cape Breton Fiddling

Cape Breton Fiddling – Almost a Lost Art Cape Breton fiddling began when the Scottish fiddlers were forced out of Scotland and into new worlds. They brought the traditional music of Scotland with them and continued the style into today's world. There have been many noted fiddlers and today's fiddlers are becoming internationally famous. Some of the newer fiddlers are incorporating other styles of music into the fiddling tradition of Cape Breton. The heart of Canadian fiddling began when the Highland Clearances forced Scottish refugees to Canada between 1800 and 1850. Cape Breton Island had around 25,000 Gaelic-speaking refugees. They brought with them the 18th century way of fiddling from Scotland. This is a unique style and a preservation
Fiddlers take turns playing and sets of tunes are improvised. They are often in the same key. When sets are in the key of A, ADAE tuning is often used to allow for a bagpipe-like drone (Jackson School of International Studies). The rhythm is pronounced to connect with the dancing. There are quick snaps of the bow and forceful bowing patterns. The ornamentation is rapid. This difference in rhythm is completely different from the modern Scottish fiddling of today. The Scottish fiddling has become rigid and more for concert halls. The up-driven bow is a term for bowing the fiddle with an upstroke of the bow. It is designated by a V over the music notation. A typical set can consist of an air, march, strathspey, and reels
He takes the fiddling in an updated, mass-appeal manner. He works with David Byrne, the Chieftains, Mary Jane Lamond, and others (Neufeld). His debut was with 1992, Close to the Floor, and was introduced to the Canadian audiences with Hi How Are You Today? (Neufeld). Sleepy Maggie, vocals by Mary Jane Lamond, and the Canadian channel MuchMusic gained coast-to-coast recognition. Since that time he has had many albums out and worked with many other artists. The long history of Cape Breton fiddling was almost forgotten but with the festivals and associations which began saving the fiddling style continues to this day. A long history of tradition has been saved from extinction. The Cape Breton fiddlers go to Scotland to teach the traditional way of fiddling to the fiddlers who are less traditional fiddlers. There have been many notable fiddlers over the years and many new fiddlers who still carry on this unique to the world fiddling