What do a cellist freed from orchestral shackles, a foggy Hogtown boy and a Métis fiddler have in common? All have had some connection with the Sunshine Coast's Celtic Music School, a fertile learning centre for fiddle, accordion and cello music that is run by the Coast String Fiddlers' Association.
Every July, the school is jammed with students of all ages who have sparked an unprecedented local interest in lively Celtic music, particularly fiddle music.
When master fiddler Alasdair Fraser performed in Gibsons a few weeks ago he said how happy he was to be welcomed into such a "fiddle friendly zone." For his performance, he was surrounded by many young members of the Coast String Fiddlers, including Fiddlers in the Middle. Fraser chose to play with Celtic Music School instructor and cellist Natalie Haas because he believes the cello is the right instrument to accompany the fiddle and that it needs to be free from its "orchestral shackles." Certainly, Haas and Fraser generated a magical set together, prompting Coast String Fiddler artistic directors Ann Law and Heather Beckmyer to break into a lively spontaneous dance.
Law says there are several other such performances in the near future. The group is looking forward to a Métis fiddler, John Arcand, who will appear at St. Bartholomew's Church in Gibsons on March 3. Arcand will give the student fiddlers a lesson in the afternoon, then open his concert to the public at 7:30 p.m.
"They might also do some clogging or jigging," Law says.
Métis fiddle music is a style developed in western Canada with influences from the music of early fur traders. Arcand, who lives in Saskatchewan, started fiddling at the age of six and was playing for dances by the age of 12. He's made 11 recordings, some of which have included the Métis tunes of his grandfather. The artist was awarded the Aboriginal Achievement Award in 2003 and the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal in 2005. Every August, he hosts the John Arcand Fiddlefest on his acreage. The Coast String Fiddlers are excited about his visit because they have included a couple of his tunes on their CD and in their performances.
Chris Coole, guitarist and vocalist for The Foggy Hogtown Boys, has also been an instructor at the Celtic Music School and will be teaching guitar and banjo again this year. The five-member band is from Toronto, as the nickname implies, and they will bring their unique sound to the Roberts Creek Hall on Tuesday, March 7.
The "Foggies" demonstrate another style of fiddle music: bluegrass. They are superb exponents of a fast-paced bluegrass sound featuring a talented violinist, John Showman, skilled in east coast and Irish music.Born in the American south of the 1940s, bluegrass music blends older string band styles with traditional Celtic and blues. The Foggies latest CD, Northern White Clouds, is great music for dancing, both fast and slow, since one of the group's original compositions is an old-fashioned, tuneful waltz. Coole has also produced a CD featuring his primary instrument, the clawhammer banjo. Opening for the Foggy Hogtown Boys on March 7 will be as many of the young Coast String Fiddlers as are available on a Tuesday school night.Tickets for John Arcand, Métis fiddler, on March 3 are on sale at Hallmark, MediChair, Coast Books, Roberts Creek General Store and at the door of St. Bart's. Tickets for the Foggy Hogtown Boys on March 7 will be available for $15 at the door of the Roberts Creek Hall. Information about the Celtic Music School, running this July 10 through 14, can be found at www.coaststringfiddlers.com.
