Skip to main content
Home
Bowing Down Home
Fiddle Music of PEI

Main navigation

  • Search
  • Collection
    • People
    • Tunes
    • Styles
    • Traditions
    • Events
    • Explore the Full Collection
  • About this Site
  • Contribute
  • Related Sites
  • Contact

Breadcrumb

  1. Home

Search Content

Displaying 241 - 360 of 388

Results per page

  • 15
  • 60
  • 120

Pagination

  • First page
  • Previous page
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Current page 3
  • Page 4
  • Next page
  • Last page
Displaying 241 - 360 of 388
oral history transcript

Transcript of House parties in Bangor

Type: Text
Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdougallherb06-oh-houseparties_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    HM – Herb MacDougall

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    HM: We would have what we'd call house parties


    KP: At your house?


    HM: At our house, yes. So my mother would probably prepare for a day or

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Fiddling passed down in families

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macleandanny-oh-goodfiddler_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    DM – Danny MacLean

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP: what do you think makes a good fiddler? If you hear a fellow play, what about his music would stand out for you?


    DM: What do you think makes him a good fiddler?

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Acadian syncopation explained

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: arsenaultlouise06-oh-acadiansyncopation_M.mp3


    Speakers


    LA: Louise Arsenault

    KP: Ken Perlman


    LA: When you do the shuffle it's like two up bows in a row.


    KP: Can you take your fiddle and illustrate that


    LA: I sure can,

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Family helps him get underway

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: gaudetdavid06-oh-gettingstarted_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    DG – David Gaudet

    RG – Robert Gallant

    KP- Curator Ken Perlman


    KP: How did you yourself learn to play?


    DG: I learned pretty well on my own.


    RG: His brother kicked

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of New generation of fiddlers

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: arsenaultrobert06-oh-futureofmusic.mp3


    Speakers:
    RA-Robert Arsenault


    RA:Tthis whole idea of where is it [Island fiddling] going and how far has it come. When you take it out of the kitchen and put it on the stage then you're getting into a whole new set of things. So one of the

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Hard vibrato explained

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdonaldpaul-oh-hardvibrato_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    PM – Paul MacDonald

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    PM: But the most common one used is vibrato in Scottish music. That's the most common.


    KP: Explain...


    PM: That's just the classical

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Teaching fiddlers' grandkids

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: swensonamy06-oh-fiddlersgrandkids_M.mp3


    Speaker: Amy Swenson


    AS: I would say at least half of the students I teach have fiddlers in their family background, somewhere. And it's often their grandparents or great grandparents. And the fiddling skipped their parents' generation. But the

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Musical evenings at home

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:


    File: arsenaultlouise-oh-musichome_M.wav


    Speakers:

    LA-Louise Arsenault

    KP-Curator Ken Perlman


    LA: We never had a television for a while there, so there wasn't very much to do, I guess. So in the evenings we would, we only had the lamp, we never had the

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Founding of Fiddlers' Society

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: cheveriecharles-oh-foundingfiddlerssociety_contests_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    CC – Fr. Charles Cheverie


    In 1975, Faber MacDonald, the priest for our diocese, along with Joe Chaisson –And Joe and Fr. Faber wrote to all the fiddlers they knew at that time on the Island to gather at St.

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of All work stopped when fiddler arrived

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: quinnmerlin-oh-stoppingwork_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    MQ – Merlin Quinn


    MQ: Somebody might come in with a fiddle if they ever did. My father loved the fiddle. So if anybody ever came in that could play fiddle, it just stopped everything right off. That was the end of the work, we all went

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Conflict Over Room on Dance Floor

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: westprincefiddlers-oh-olddays_fights_M.mp3


    Seated L-R:

    JA: Jack Arbing

    GO: George O'Connor

    ER: Elmer Robinson

    DR: Dorothy Dalton Rogers]

    KP: Curator Ken Perlman



    Speakers:


    JA Used to be great fights at the dances.

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Step-dancers shake the house

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: doironpeter-oh-stepdancing_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    PD – Peter Doiron

    KP – Ken Perlman


    PD Our house if you can imagine it, is a very small hut, or bungalow I suppose you'd call it, -- a very small place but it would literally be filled with people from the village or

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Older relatives speak Gaelic

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macinnislargus-oh-gaelic_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    LM – Largus MacInnis

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    LM I remember my two grandmothers; they spoke Gaelic a lot.


    KP Yes.


    LM There was an old lady; used to live in Munns Road. She'd walk

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Neighbors see fiddlers as lazy

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: hallidayjimmy-oh-lazyfiddlers_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    JH: Jimmy Halliday

    EM: Eddie Martin

    KP: Curator Ken Perlman


    JH At that time a lot of them weren't much good for anything else for some reason or another. They were handy to have around for a house

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of House parties in the Evangeline

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: johnstoneroy06-oh-fiddlingin70s_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    RJ – Roy Johnstone

    KP: Curator Ken Perlman


    RJ: I moved here in '78, yeah.


    KP: What was the state of Island fiddling [then]?


    RJ: Coming from Winnipeg where there wasn't

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Hearing Messer on radio

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: wightelliott-oh-donmesser_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    EW – Elliott Wight

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman



    EW That's right. At that time we had no electricity in our house and we used to have a battery radio. And we could only turn it on to hear the news and to hear Don

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Origins of Barachois

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:


    File: bergeronhelene06-oh-barachoisappeal_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    HB – Helene Bergeron

    PA – Peter Arsenault

    KP – curator Ken Perlman


    KP: Was there anything in particular about PEI music that you felt the audiences [for Barachois] reacted to?

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Hugh Gotell gets started

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: gotellhugh-oh-gettingstarted_quitting_M.mp3


    Speaker:


    HG – Hugh Gotell

    KP: Curator Ken Perlman


    HG: Well my dad played, the violin. He played at, we used to have concerts, once a year there, St. Patrick's concerts: 17th of March. And they had a little

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Sheehan prefers the pump organ

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: sheehancharlie-oh-parties_organs_M.mp3


    Speaker:


    CS – Charlie Sheehan


    KP: What were the house parties like?

    CS: Oh, they were good. Just a bunch would gather, a bunch of boys and girls and get into a house and dance to about twelve or one o'clock at night

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Future of Island fiddling

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: chaissonjj06-oh-fiddlingsurvival_M.mp3


    Speakers

    JC – JJ Chaisson

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    JC: There's an awful lot of people playing fiddle now, than there was five or ten years ago, 15 years ago. There's an awful lot of young people that have shown interest, fiddle

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of House parties decline in southeast Queens

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: hallidayjimmy-oh-endofera_M.mp3


    Speakers

    JH – Jimmy Halliday

    EM – Eddie Martin

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP When did the house parties start to go down?


    JH When they started to put carpet on, I guess Eddie was it? No, People are pretty

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Great Uncle Charlie?

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: gauthierjohn06-oh-greatunclecharlie_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    JG – John Gauthier



    JG: I was playing to the wedding, this was about 1946 or 47, of a cousin of mine in Rustico. I took a break, and went inside - They had built a stage out in the farm yard. I went in

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Hector MacDonald's fiddling

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdonaldallan06-oh-hectorsfiddling.mp3


    Speakers:


    AM – Allan MacDonald


    AM: He [Hector MacDonald] had a nice rhythm, everybody loved his fiddling.


    KP: What did they like about his fiddling?


    AM: Well, beautiful dance fiddling,

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Prince County Pioneers play dance halls

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: gauthierjohn06-oh-danceband_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    JG – John Gauthier

    ID – Ivan Day

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP: When did you start playing for dances as a fiddler?


    JG: That was probably during the war, when I was working for the phone

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Discussion of Regional Styles

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: arsenaulteddy-oh-styles_M.wav

     

    Speaker:

    EA β€” Eddy Arsenault

     

    It don't make any difference where you go, you can go up west, you go to Tignish, you can go to Souris, you can go Summerside, everybody got a different style to play. You notice that? Now in New Brunswick they got a

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Old-time weddings near Milltown Cross

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: oconnorattwood-oh-weddings_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    AO – Attwood O'Connor

    SB – Stanley Bruce

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP Can you describe how weddings went in this area?

    AO It was all square dancing. After they'd get married they'd be comin home, and they'd

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Demo: fiddlers' warm-up; common double stops

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: toolestephen-oh-takingsound_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    ST – Stephen Toole

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    ST And another thing about a fiddler is – I've heard my father sayin, I've heard a lot of people sayin that they can always tell a person that would never be a fiddler by the sound

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Step dancing in the old days

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: hubleylibby-oh-stepdancingolddays_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    LH – Libby Hubley


    LH: I think when the men danced, it was only those who had that love and great feel for the music, the music just moved them to do those different little patterns with their feet. And the patterns

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of How events were organized

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: quinnmerlin06-oh-schoolcommittees_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    MQ – Merlin Quinn

    CW – Carl Webster

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP: Who exactly – Every community had its school dances and some had church benefits. Who actually organized those?


    CW: For the

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Biased judging at contests

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: hornbyjim-oh-contests_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    JH – Jim Hornby


    JH I can see that it's a fairly arbitrary result. Also, it's a small community and anybody's going to be a judge, they're not going to bring someone from Halifax to judge them. They're going to get some farmer

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Raffertys come to PEI

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: raffertyervin06-oh-familyorigins_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    ER – Ervan Rafferty

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    ER: James, James Rafferty.


    KP: Do you know what part of Ireland he came from?


    ER: The area he was born in was County Down.

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Learning tunes from tadio

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: cheveriecharles-oh-radio.mp3


    Speakers:


    CC – Fr. Charlie Cheverie


    CC: Way back on PEI when radio came about, in the late 20s and early 30s, then you'd be speaking of hearing tunes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, and Antigonish. And the fiddlers in those days were were

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of House parties around Rafferty Road

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: raffertyervin06-oh-houseparties_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    ER – Ervan Rafferty


    ER: Oh yeah, the house parties. Quite often you'd have the house parties too, especially in the wintertime, break up the winter. Christmas time was a great getting' together. People would go to

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Square dancing dropped in Tignish

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: pitredennis06-oh-changes_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    DP – Dennis Pitre

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    DP: There's no change much since 15 years ago. Everything is the same. We play in the Hall Saturday Night, for the Saturday Night Dance. And we play pretty well once a week for the senior

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of MacDonalds come to PEI

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdonaldfrancis-oh-ancestry_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    FM – Francis MacDonald

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    FM Yeah, we try to maintain a family tree back five generations, anyway.

    KP How far back have you – Oh, you have traced it back five generations?

    FM Yes, as

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of House parties around Corraville

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: sigsworthcosmas-oh-houseparties_dances_M.mp3


    Speakers

    CS – Cosmas Sigsworth

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP: Could you give us an idea of what a typical house party would be like from start to finish?

    CS: Well, not any different that any other I suppose. People were

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of System of double stops explained

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: mcdonaldleonard-oh-chordsonfiddle_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    LM – Leonard McDonald

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    LM Well like I mean every area had its own – I have my own distinct style of playing. I learned to play the fiddle pretty much by myself, and I'll tell you I play a lot of

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of What folks wore at house parties

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: hughesemmett06-oh-housepartydress_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    EH – Emmett Hughes

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    EH: Back then nobody would dance with their overalls on. It was kind of a B The whole damn trouble was, back when I was a young man was B [to] get money enough to

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Learning tunes and life-lessons from old-timers

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: woodrichard06-oh-olderfiddlerspart2_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    RW – Richard Wood


    RW: When I was 11 – 9 I should say, a lot of my best friends were 60 really, and 55. Every second night I'd be goin' to a place where there would be a benefit or a ceilidh and meetin' up with these older

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Beairsto, the fiddling barber

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: dayivan06-oh-jimmybearisto_M.mp3


    Speaker:

    ID – Ivan Day

    JG – John Gauthier

    KP – Speaker Ken Perlman


    ID: I was in the insurance business at the last of it, and I used to get around, and I'd drop into Jimmy's for a few minutes.


    KP: Into his shop

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Plays at first dance

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdougalljim06-oh-playsfirstdance_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    JM – Jim MacDougall

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    JM: I was 16 years old when I played for my first dance in Grand River Hall.


    KP: How did it happen that they asked you to play?


    JM: That

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of They roust Beck out of bed

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: o'connorjimmy-oh-davebeck_M.mp3

    Speakers:

    JO – Jimmy O'Connor

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    JO Dave Beck, he was about the best when I was younger: around our place, anyway.

    KP Did you try to play like him?

    JO Yeah, in a way. He was good.

    KP Did you ever

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Perils of over exposure

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdonaldward06-oh-youngergeneration_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    WM – Ward MacDonald


    WM: I definitely see people giving too much recognition to some of the younger kids. It's not that the fans of the music mean to do it. But I know they are trying to encourage the kid; they want to see the

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Sneaking the fiddle

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdougalljim06-oh-gettingstarted_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    JM – Jim MacDougall

    KP – Curator Ken Pelman


    KP: Now how did you get started playing?


    JM: Well again, that's another story (laughs). My father was very strict with the B He had a violin and it wasn't a

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Step dancers give proper tempo & rhythm

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: pitredennis06-oh-stepdancing_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    DP – Dennis Pitre

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP: You were saying that the tempos, the speed that the people wanted the music for step dancing was a little bit slower then?

    DP: Not too fast, they'd always tell you

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Why more women are playing

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: cheveriecharles06-oh-womansrole-M.mp3


    Speakers:

    CC – Fr. Charlie Cheverie

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman

    KP: Why do suppose there are more girls than boys excelling at the fiddle, or getting serious about the fiddle.


    CC: I don't know what the demographics of

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of The old Wedding Reel

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: chaissonyoungpeter-oh-weddingreeldemo_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    PC – "Young Peter" Chaisson

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    PC: That's the first tune that used to be played at a wedding, fifty, sixty years ago around here. And they always hired the fiddler before they got the date of the

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Chaisson brothers are mentors

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdonaldpaul-oh-gettingstarted_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    PM – Paul MacDonald

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    PM I played classical music for probably three years I guess it was, I quit when I was 12. I told my parents, "OK, no more classical violin. But I think I want to play fiddle

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Fiddling brings father and son closer

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: doucettevictor06-oh-fathersrole_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    VD – Victor Doucette


    Victor: I was in Ontario for a few years and then started to play it [the fiddle] up there again and started to fool around with it. But then when I got home and got married in the late 70s, then

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Joe Arsenault fiddling family

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: arsenaultrobert-oh-joebibiennefamily_M.mp3


    Speakers

    RA: Robert Arsenault

    KP: Curator Ken Perlman


    RA I never saw my grandfather play too much. But he's sort of still like known like his name was Joe Bibienne -- his name was Joe Bibienne -- because there was a whole bunch

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of The Cape Breton influence

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: cheverieomar06-oh-capebretonradio_fitzgerald_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    OC – Omar Cheverie

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    OC: I can remember the first radio that we had in our neighborhood. Our next door neighbor had a radio.


    KP: Was that one of those big battery radios

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Joke about priests and fiddlers

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: cheveriecharles-oh-tunetitles.mp3


    Speakers:

    CC - Fr. Charles Cheverie


    CC: Well a lot of the times if you go to the eastern part of the island here and ask the fiddler for the name of a tune, forget it! (laughs).. But yet, they'll have a sequence of tunes. Give one tune, and

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Step-dancing at house parties

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: maccannellneil-oh-stepdancing_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    NM – Neil MacCannell

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    NM They'd be requested to step dance; usually there was two or three step dancers among the group.


    KP I was told they each had their favorite tunes, is that

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Fiddling in the family

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: robinsonelmer92-oh-musicalbackground_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    ER –Elmer Robinson

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP: Did you grow up in Woodstock?

    ER: No, about 15 miles down the road here: Mount. Pleasant. Been up here fabout 20 years.


    KP: Do you come from

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Playing at a wedding

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: cranerobert06-oh-homemadebeer_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    RC – Robert Crane


    RC: A cousin of ours was home from the States, a whole bunch at the house, and a couple of jugs, and one feller had an old car he put it in the woods at home, [inaudible]. And he said, "Are you goin' to the dance in

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Cuts explained

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdonaldpaul-oh-cutting_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    PM – Paul MacDonald

    KP – Ken Perlman


    KP Now what did they show you about cutting?


    PM Okay. The first thing - This is a funny story; I don't know if I should say this on tape. I went to Cape Breton when I was

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Effects of TV and pop culture

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: bernardalvin-oh-decline.mp3

     

    Speakers:

    ES β€” Edwin Simmons

    AB β€” Alvin Bernard

    KP β€” Curator Ken Perlman

     

    KP: Why did it start goin down? What would happen if a young fellow ... Let's say it was the 1950s, what would happen if a young fellow wanted to take up

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of How Albert got started

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File Name: albertjoe06-oh-gettingstarted_stepdancing_M.mp3

     

    Speakers:
    JA: Joe Albert

    IA: Ivan Albert

    KP: Ken Perlman

     

    KP: Joe, how old were you when you started to play the fiddle?


     

    JA: How

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Pressures on young fiddlers to quit

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: dauschmidtkathryn-oh-peerpressure_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    KD – Kathryn Dau Schmidt

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KD - My one problem is about Grade 6 with the boys and Grade 8 wityh the girls you lose them -- often yuou lose them unless they're really secure.


    KP

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Violence at house parties & weddings

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: oconnorattwood-oh-violence_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    AO – Attwood O'Connor

    SB – Stanley Bruce

    KP – Ken Perlman


    KP: I've heard of lots of fighting at some of these parties. Noone ever says what anyone was fighting about.

    AO: Actually, I don't think that a lot of them

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Defusing peer pressure

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: dauschmidtkathryn06-oh-peerpressureupdate_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    KD – Kathryn Dau Schmidt


    KD: I get the feeling there's not as much peer pressure because there's been enough young people playing that it's not looked at quite as weird as it was, in most places.

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Figures out how to play

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: doucettejoe-oh-bowing,findingnotes.mp3


    Speakers:

    JD – Joe Doucette

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP: When you were six years old and just taking up the fiddle, did your father show you anything on the fiddle?

    JD: NO, anymore than he told me that to start [with]

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Dances around Green Road

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: toolestephen-oh-dancesolddays_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    ST – Stephen Toole


    ST: There was a lot of dances, see. The way the dances are today, they're all Saturday night dances, or maybe Thursday night, or maybe Friday night. They have their special night at some halls. Well, years ago

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Inspiration to Take Up Fiddle

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:


    File: arsenaultpeter06-oh-gettingstarted_M.mp3


    Speakers-

    PA: Peter Arsenault

    KP: Curator Ken Perlman


    KP: Tell me how you came to take up the instrument.


    PA: One night we were on a thing called Sea Sail, we were in in New York City. Well Dad [Eddy

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of School picnics in southwestern Queens County

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: toolestephen-oh-lawnparties_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    ST – Stephen Toole

    KP – Curator Ken perlman


    ST: And then there was another type of thing on the island here, was Lawn Parties in the summertime. Now, my father and my brother done a lot of playing at lawn parties. There'd be a

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of The Fiddler's Role

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: bernardalvin-oh-everycommunity.mp3


    Speakears:


    AB - Alvin Bernard

    ES – Edwin Simmons

    KP – curator Ken Perlman



    ES: Well, every community seemed to have one or two people - if something went on in the community, they were the ones who were

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of "We done it because we loved it"

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: chaissonkevin06-oh-valedictory_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    KC – Kevin Chaisson

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP: There are certain people like an Earl Scruggs or a Pete Seeger, somebody who starts something and you see what happened and hundreds or thousands of people get involved in

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Fiddling style developed to make people dance

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: bergeronhelene-oh-kitchenparties.mp3


    Speakers:


    HB – Helene Arsenault Bergeron


    HB: Yes, I'm very partial to my father's fiddling. It's the reason that I started dancing in the first place. Because it's the most danceable fiddling that I know of. The kitchen parties

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Smith sneaks the fiddle

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: smithreuben-oh-gettingstarted_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    RS – Reuben Smith


    RS: My father used to take the fiddle out in the evening after supper and there usually wasn't too much back then to do, only the music and that. And he'd play and I used to watch him, and I decided that I wanted

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of His father knew every tune

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macintyrestewart-oh-radio_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    LM – Stewart MacIntyre

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    LM: Learned the tunes – My father knew every tune, Scotch or Irish tune, that ever existed, because he used to listen to this Stephen Campbell, and he played them out of a book, you

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Valedictory

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: cheverieomar06-oh-valedictory_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    OC – Omar Cheverie

    RC – Randy Cheverie

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    OC: And the most enjoyment I got out of playin' the fiddle was for some of my dear friends that liked the way I played and appreciated that, and I could

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Forerunners

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: mcpheehugh06-oh-forerunners_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    HM – Hughie McPhee

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP: Were people talking about forerunners in your time?


    HM: Oh yeah there were lots of forerunners.


    KP: Can you tell me about what forerunners

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Mouth music around St. Edwards

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: wedgeclifford-oh-jigging_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    CW – Clifford Wedge

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    CW: When we were younger, we used to do a lot of jigging; just as kids, fooling around. not at the dances.

    KP: When? Was it a game?

    CW: Maybe going along the road (

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of He'll always love fiddling

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdougalljim06-oh-lovesfiddlemusic_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    JM – Jim MacDougall

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    JM But I always loved it: fiddle music. If you don't like it you'll never be able to play it.


    KP: What do you like about fiddle music?


  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Fiddling as gift from God

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdonaldfaber-oh-thegift_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    FM – Rev Faber MacDonald


    FM: I used to talk about the social nature of the gift. See, the gifts, God's gifts, are given to us not for ourselves. No! They're entrusted to us for everybody. And the human person, when he engages himself

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Descripition of Wedding Reel dance

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macpheegeorge-oh-weddings_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    GM – George MacPhee

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    GM They had a certain tune they used to play for the old wedding dance. They used to tune the fiddle up in high bass, and Dad used to play it all the time. But it's kind of a tricky

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of MacCormack gets started

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: maccormackfrancis06-oh-gettingstarted_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    FC - Francis MacCormack


    FM: I was the youngest of eleven, there was eight boys and three girls, and we all played the fiddle. And if I hadn't learned to play the fiddle my father would have shot me (laughs). When I was too

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Paul Jones dance game and tune

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: smithtony06-oh-pauljones_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    TS – Tony Smith

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP: So the played that for the Paul Jones dances?


    TS: Yeah


    Mrs. Smith: You're swinging, eh.


    TS: And you change your partner, and

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Decline of square dancing

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    banksreg06-oh-changesqdances_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    RB – Reg Banks

    KP – Ken Perlman


    RB: Oh there's a lot of changes in the dances. I can hardly explain the dances today. They get up on the floor today, and they're dancin' around and they'd just be scufflin' around. Now, years ago

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of How he got started

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdonaldallan06-oh-gettingstarted_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    AM – Allan MacDonald


    KP You said you started at 15? How did you get started on the fiddle?


    AM Oh I don't know. I was playing guitar and playing guitar, and just one day I said, "I think I could play the

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Fiddling as gift

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: cousinsjohn-oh-thegift_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    JC – John Cousins


    JC: To become a fiddler, to become a good fiddler the term everyone used ad nauseum was "It was a gift." It was a gift; you were given this gift. And people said it sincerely. Only a few people were given this gift, but

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Wedding showers at home

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdougalljim06-oh-weddings_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    JM – Jim MacDougall


    JM: There was always what they'd called a wedding shower. I can remember my oldest sister when she got married, we had borrowed this dancing booth they had for the parish for their picnics and we had it set up in our

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Fiddlers' gatherings, frolics, Lent customs

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:


    File: albertjoe06-oh-musichome_lent_frolics_M.wav

    Speakers

    KP: curator Ken Perlman

    JA: Joe Albert

    IA: Ivan Albert


    IA: Me and Joe's brothers but we got 12 brothers between us, between the two of us 10 others and we got 12 sisters. And we got 18 livin', and pretty much all

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Jimmy Beairsto the fiddling barber

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: bernardalvin-oh-jimmybearisto.mp3


    Speakers:


    AB – Alvin Bernard

    ES – Edwin Simmons

    KP – curator Ken Perlman


    AB:He used to cut hair there in Kensington and he played the fiddle. And every time you'd go in there, ther'd be a fiddler in there playin eh;

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Encounter with Don Messer

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macinnisbillysenior06-oh-donmesser_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    BM – Billy MacInnis, Sr

    KP – Curator Ken PerlmanDid you ever meet Don Messer?


    KP: Did you ever meet Don Messer?


    BM: Yes I met Don Messer when he lived on Belmont St. in Charlottetown. I'd be about 7 or

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Steps for the Quadrille

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macinnislargus-oh-quadrillecalls_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    LM – Largus MacInnis

    KP – Ken Perlman


    LM Quadrilles, you started in by salutin' your partner and then you go eight hands 'round. And then the two head couples would go right and left. And the ladies would change [chain]

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Demonstration: common double-stops

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: hughesemmett-oh-doublestops_M.mp3


    Speakers


    EH – Emmett Hughes

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP I think I heard you use a lot of double strings in your playing, is that true? You try to hit two strings?


    EH Yes, and a lot of times you

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Accompanies dancing with comb & paper

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: corbetttrudy06-oh-dancinginschools_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    TC – Trudy Corbett

    FC – Fulton Corbett (husband of Trudy Corbett)

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman

    MS – Mary Pineau Smith


    FC: But she started in school; I went to school with her. She started at school with a comb

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Unqualified Contest Judges

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: mcpheehugh06-oh-contests_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    HM – Hughie McPhee


    HM: The last one I was at – The three judges talkin', and one says to the other "The first fellow that plays a tune on the flats gets first prize." But nobody played anything on the flats (laughs). I knew this, I played

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Demo: Tunes to accompany a Lancers

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: stewartarchie-oh-playingforset_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    AS – Archie Stewart

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    AS There was a certain beat of music for each section [figure] of that set. Like when you started first, you wanted a fairly slow beat, because it was a slow back and forth.

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Family dynamics

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: chaissontimothy06-oh-familyinfluences_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    TC – Timothy Chaisson

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    TC: I learned a lot from Peter, he actually mentored me quite a bit: using the fourth fingers for example. He doesn't usually play open strings for fiddle I guess; his

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Jones sneaks the fiddle

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: jonesandrew-oh-fatherpermission_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    AJ – Andrew Jones

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    KP Did you learn tunes from your father at all?

    AJ No, I don't think so. I don't think I learned anything from him at all. He wouldn't leave me take the fiddle. I'd sneak

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Acquires his first tunes

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: macdonaldjoe-oh-gettingstarted_learningtunes_M.mp3


    Speakers:

    JM – Joe MacDonald

    KP – Curator Ken Perlman


    JM: Around here, there was good old fiddlers around here. There was Gregory MacEachern, a neighbor of ours. He's dead now long of it. He was a great old fiddler and

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of QCF loses its tradition bearers

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: hornbyjim-oh-fiddlersociety_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    JH – Jim Hornby


    JH Yeah. I was around just when they started. At that time they sort of gathered a lot of people who were players and had been for years, and hadn't in some cases been very active, and sort of got them

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    oral history transcript

    Transcript of Legendary contest playoff

    Type: Text
    Abstract:
  • Abstract:

    File: biggarjackie06-oh-contests_M.mp3


    Speakers:


    JB – Jackie Biggar

    KP – curator Ken perlman


    JB: Cape Breton's got Buddy MacMaster, we had Elmer Robinson. They tell me Elmer Robinson and Bill Harvey - Bill Harvey played the fiddle too up in this area. They went to

  • More
    Collection: Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts
    pencil writing on paper

    Recording & Editing Notes

    Type: Text

    The recordings presented on this site were made by me or under my direction during three periods of time.

    pencil writing on paper

    Learning Tunes

    Type: Text

    Most Island fiddlers already had a substantial stock of tunes committed to memory before they even took up the instru

    pencil writing on paper

    The House Party

    Type: Text

    On the appointed evening of a typical Island house dance, relations, neighbors, and friends would converge at the hos

    pencil writing on paper

    Annotated List of Fiddlers by Style

    Type: Text

    Key

    pencil writing on paper

    South Kings

    Type: Text
    At one time nearly every cluster of districts on PEI was the seat of its own distinct sub-style. The South Kings sound seems to be one such stylistic pocket that survived into the modern era. South Kings fiddlers play a shuffling, lilting style that seems reminiscent of 1920s-era recordings of fiddlers from the American South. Relative to their Northeast Kings counterparts, their tempos are faster, they have a more rolling style of bow​ing, and they use less ornamentation, cuts, and snaps.
    pencil writing on paper

    Fiddle Music's Written Tradition

    Type: Text

    Since the mid-18th century, an extensive written tradition for fiddle tunes has co-existed with the aural one.

    pencil writing on paper

    Don Messer

    Type: Text

    Don Messer dominated fiddle-music broadcasting on PEI from 1939 to 1958, when he moved to Halifax to establish the te

    pencil writing on paper

    Town Days

    Type: Text

    As Prince Edward Island modernized, Town Days took on many of the functions in community life that were once the real

    pencil writing on paper

    Singing Fiddle Tunes

    Type: Text

    When no fiddler was available, many Islanders were able to amuse themselves by singing fiddle-tunes, an activity know

    pencil writing on paper

    Tune Genres

    Type: Text

    [Still to Come : Graphic Illustrations showing Notation for Each Genre]

    pencil writing on paper

    Benefits & Ceilidhs

    Type: Text

    As frolics, church or school picnics, and other local benefit dances disappe

    pencil writing on paper

    Media

    Type: Text

    Local Fiddle Broadcasting

    P.E.I.

    pencil writing on paper

    Repertoire

    Type: Text

    The Island fiddle repertoire is made up of tunes from a variety of national and regional traditions.

    pencil writing on paper

    Accompaniment

    Type: Text

    Feet And Other Rhythm instruments

    Instrumental accompaniment for fiddle music was fair

    pencil writing on paper

    The Great Contest of 1926

    Type: Text

    As recently as the 1990s, Islanders were still talking about the Great Contest of 1926.

    pencil writing on paper

    Style

    Type: Text

    Island fiddlers are as a rule very much aware of the issue of playing style, and most can clearly describe their own

    pencil writing on paper

    Background

    Type: Text

    Population and Immigration

    Prince Edward Island is populated for the most part by the descendants of three

    pencil writing on paper

    Special Note to Islanders

    Type: Text

    A Special Note to Prince Edward Islanders

    pencil writing on paper

    Messer or Maritime

    Type: Text

    One important style frequently encountered on PEI is based on the up-tempo, ensemble oriented, "no-frills" playi

    pencil writing on paper

    Western Queens

    Type: Text
    Map of prince edward island with the western Queens region
    pencil writing on paper

    Introduction

    Type: Text

    Prince Edward Island has been home to a strong fiddling tradition for over two hundred years.

    pencil writing on paper

    Eastern Queens

    Type: Text
    Map of prince edward island with the eastern Queens region
    pencil writing on paper

    Late Revival

    Type: Text

    By 2006, it was clear that by and large the Fiddling Revival had been an overwhe

    pencil writing on paper

    Contests

    Type: Text

    From the mid 1920s through the mid-1970s, fiddling contests on the district, town, and provincial levels were commonp

    pencil writing on paper

    Early Revival

    Type: Text

    Islanders often cite the founding of the Prince Edward Island Fiddlers' Society

    Pagination

    • First page
    • Previous page
    • Page 1
    • Page 2
    • Current page 3
    • Page 4
    • Next page
    • Last page

    Search

    Type

    • (-) Text (388)

    Collection

    • Bowing Down Home Oral History Transcripts (330)

    All Contributors

    Date Recorded

    Genre

    • interview (330)
    • essay (57)

    Subject (name)

    Subject - Time Period

    Subject - Place

    Musician

    Interviewee

    Interviewer

    Recordist

    upei logo
    Island archives logo