Fiddle Resources
The performance repertoire is listed below. These tunes aren’t prerequisites for membership, but rather a guide through the huge long list of tunes that you could be learning. The more players that know these, then the easier it will be to put off a performance with the maximum number of fiddlers playing. If you know them already, give them review time to keep them polished, and consider adding drones, harmony or ornaments to make them sound really professional and interesting!​
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Beginner Fiddle
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Mussels in the Corner / Paddy’s Jig
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Auntie Mary / Brother’s Jig
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Polkas: John Ryan’s / Kerry / Bill Sullivan’s
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She Said She Couldn’t Dance / Come Upstairs
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Angeline the Baker
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Coming from the Races / Bridget Maher’s Tune
Intermediate Fiddle
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Mildred Murphy’s / The Girl I Left Behind Me
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Gravel Pond Jig
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Who Stole The Miner’s Hat
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Go To the Cape, Uncle Joe / Four-Poster Bed
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Uncle Manuel Milks The Cow
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Rambling Pitchfork / Black Rogue
Advance Fiddle
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Ivan White’s / Duffenais / Ed Doucette’s
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Jim Rumbolt’s / Boston Laddie / Dr. Kielly-O
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Reel de la Pistroli / Gerald Thomas’ Burnt Potato
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Verkhovyna
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Joe Aucoin’s Scottish Set (March / Strathspey / Reel)
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Velvet In The Wind / Emile’s Dream
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Tuvas Halling
Links of Interest
How much do you know about Rufus Guinchard? Do you know the reason for his strange fiddle position, and why he stopped playing in public? There was a film made about him about twenty years ago, with Rufus telling his own stories and jokes, and teaching the folk-festival crowd of that time (and their little children!) the dances and tunes that he knew, as well as scenes of where he lived. It’s about twenty-five minutes long, and well worth watching. Keep your ears open for tunes you recognize!
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Émile Benoit was a famous fiddler from Black Duck Brook on the west coast of Newfoundland, who gave us hundreds of wonderful tunes that are still played today. He died on September 2, 1992.
On CBC Radio in 2012, on the 20th anniversary of his death, host Chris O’Neill-Yates broadcast interviews with his fellow musicians and many people who remember him fondly. Listen to the interviews (including one with Christina Smith and Matilda Goldie, one of our STEP Fiddlers) and a documentary on Émile, at the CBC’s website:
Speaking of famous fiddlers, Christina was interviewed on video by the newspaper The Independent in the spring of 2011. We all know she’s interesting, but now everyone does! Next time someone asks, “Who teaches you fiddle?” you can point them to this link.
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