I am currently a postgraduate student at the Waterford Institute of Technology researching Newfoundland fiddle playing. Last summer I spent three months in Newfoundland observing and investigating its fiddle music. I met numerous local fiddle players and had many interesting discussions about their music, influences and repertory. During my travels I observed the different fiddle styles of the province: many of the St. John's and Avalon Peninsula fiddlers, for instance, have been predominantly influenced by Irish fiddle styles: fiddle players in the Codroy region, and the west coast, are influenced by the Cape Breton style; and those in the Port au Port area have French influences.

I believe that the different migrations and settlements in Newfoundland history have played a huge part in developing the fiddle styles. Migrations occurred primarily from: south-east Ireland; the west of England; the west coast of Scotland; and the Brittany region of France. The English and Irish migrants settled on the east coast of Newfoundland often side by side in the same outports. In the eighteenth century the French settlements were scattered through out the island but today they are mainly to be found on the Port aux Port Peninsula on the west coast. The Scottish, Gaelic speaking settlers also live on the west coast, particularly in the Codroy Valley.

Playing tunes in the kitchen of Phoncie Young, a fiddle player from the West Coast of Newfoundland

Improved communication and technology has also shaped the fiddle styles in more recent times. As in Ireland, television, commercial recordings and improved communication have helped to dilute local styles. Both Irish and Canadian commercial recordings, for instance, have played, and still play, an important role in influencing Newfoundland fiddle players. Fiddle playing in its original context was primarily used to accompany dancers however due to the decline in dancing the role and status of the fiddle player changed. Today fiddle players tend to play at ‘house times’, organized square dances, at folk clubs, or at festivals. St John’s has a session scene similar to any Irish city, town or village where fiddle techniques such as tone, timbre, variation and articulation vary from performer to performer. Fiddle music is in a healthy state in the St John’s area however in the outports this is not the case. Unfortunately fiddle music in some of the outports seems to be in danger of dying out because of emigration, less tuition opportunities and events for fiddlers to engage in. I feel that it is important to record and document the music and lore of the fiddle players left in these areas to preserve, and possibly rekindle, their musical tradition. The fiddle in Newfoundland is not as strong as Ireland but with the current resurgence in interest, a new impetus has been injected into the tradition. The future therefore looks bright for traditional fiddle playing in Newfoundland with a large group of interested practitioners to promote the music and pass it on to another generation. Rufus Guinchard and Emile Benoit still remain the strongholds of Newfoundland fiddle music, with players like Kelly Russell and Christina Smith activity promoting and teaching their styles to the younger musicians.

Since returning to Ireland, I have transcribed and analysed most of the music and interviews I collected and have presented some of my findings at conferences. I would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Irish Government Research and Development Strand 1 Grant Scheme and the Ireland Newfoundland Partnership which is enabling me to carry out the project. Thanks to an Ireland Newfoundland Partnership Scholarship I look forward to returning to Newfoundland this summer to carry out further research. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Memorial University for the use of its facilities, the staff of the University for their kindness and help, and to all the musicians and fiddle players who kindly took the time to talk to me last summer. I look forward to meeting you all again!

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Bridget O'Connell is an accomplished fiddler and postgraduate student at the Waterford Institute of Technology.  Anyone wishing to share further information or contact her about her research may email her here.

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