Old Grumbler - Montreal-style

Just for fun, I thought I would share my version of an old tune I learned from Erskine, and which was featured in an early post here.

There is no official name for this tune however, it seems to belong to a family of "Grumbler" tunes ("Grondeuse" in French) where the fiddle has its bass string tuned up to an A.

Here is my take on the tune:


Hope you enjoy.  I'll try to re-record this tune once I get the foot-work sorted out...sometime in the next decade.

Some News - Gaspe Fiddle Goes to Newfoundland

Readers,

I'm pleased to let you know that starting in September, I will be moving to St. John's, Newfoundland to start a Masters degree in Ethnomusicology where I will be pursuing the Gaspe fiddle project full-time.

Although it will be tough to leave the Montreal-area and all my wonderful Gaspesian friends who live here, I know that acquiring some new skills and having the opportunity to pursue this project through academia will be a great way to promote and document Gaspesian music.

I wanted to thank everyone who has helped Brian and I throughout the past few years with this project.  All the folks in Douglastown, Gaspe, Shigawake, and Montreal, your generosity has made everything possible.

I will be back in Gaspe at the end of July for a few weeks to visit friends, relax on the beach, and help out at the Irish Days (July 30-Aug 4).

See you around this summer.

Pat Feeney's Reel - Another Version and Teaching Files

Readers,

In one of our recent posts, we looked at Erskine playing another French Canadian sounding tune with an Irish title, "Pat Feeney's Reel".

Here is Erskine playing this tune in February 1978.  You can really hear his crisp bow attack and footwork on this one.

Pat Feeney's Reel

I've been playing this tune a lot lately.  Its not too tricky and uses the ubiquitous "hook" bowing technique that Cyril Devouge taught me.

Here is a link to the folder with the teaching files.

Hope you enjoy the tune.