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439 Pieces from Traditional Quebecois Tunes
To get the PDF of any songs at Le repertoire website:
When you click on a tune title, another window will open, just click on the "Compositeur Traditionel" icon to download the .pdf
To Get the Audio:
Many of the tunes comes with midi audio files but the file sounds more like an electronic keyboard than a fiddle! It is only useful to get a general idea of how the tune sounds like. Fortunately, many of these titles can be found on YouTube with better audio.
Partitions Danseurs et Musiciens, PDF and MP3
There are a few slowed down mp3 on this page so if you see "ralenti" this means it is a slower version. ACC means accelerated.
De nos Paroisses or From Our Parishes
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Thank you for starting this! 🤗
French-Canadian music, with the fiddle at the center, has influenced a lot of our music here in the USA - such a wealth of wonderful music!
Traditional French Canadian Music includes: Québécois, Acadian and Metis.
To start, here's a little background that includes suggested music for each of these from The Canadian Studies Center, The University of Washington:
Contra dance and Podorythmie foot tapping. Crooked Tunes, Step dancing. Gigues are not Jigs!
L’Acadie, was the first French colony in the New World - Nova Scotia, until they were displaced. Down East Style. Communities in our Northeast & South.
Metis music started with the intermarriage of French-Canadian trappers and Native American traders. Jigging! 'Old Time', 'Crooked Tunes' & 'Cross tuning' - even reaching down into our Northern border States.
I have only been snooping around French Canadian music since I started playing violin (so only 2 years) and loved cajun/creole music before that. I recently learned more about traditional Québécois, Metis & Down East Fiddlers from several workshops at the April 2021 Fiddle Hell.
This thread will give me the chance to explore more French Canadian fiddle music, old and new, so if I get something wrong - please let me know!
- Emily
@Cajun Fiddle -
Your "De nos paroisses" is a GREAT link for sheet music!
Btw, the "Partitions Scores" link doesn't work for me.
And try not to link directly to unsecure sites (le repertoire). Since there is still great info at unsecure music sites, I think you should still suggest it, e.g. - traditional Québécois can be found at mustrad.udenap.org. I would just warn against giving personal info or purchasing from there.
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Hey, you're welcome!
Btw, the "Partitions Scores" link doesn't work for me.
Oh do you mean, it doesn't work when you click on my link ? I tried it and it worked for me. Here's the link so you can copy and paste it in your browser
http://www.dmij.net/laval2020.html
And try not to link directly to unsecure sites (le repertoire). Since there is still great info at unsecure music sites, I think you should still suggest it, e.g. - traditional Québécois can be found at mustrad.udenap.org. I would just warn against giving personal info or purchasing from there.
Oh! Did you get any pop ups or publicity? Sorry if you if it was the case, it worked fine on my end, I mean I have no pop up or publicity. I am not sure what issue you had. I tried to edit my post but the forum doesn't let me do it. Sorry about this!
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@Cajun Fiddle -
Thank you.
Sorry, I could have been more clear:
When I click on the "Partitions Scores" link - page says "page not found".
When I click on "le repertoire" - page says "secure connection not available".
Hm... you may not have "edit" in your toolbar until you can also send Private Messages. Not sure.
- Emily
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Not sure what could be the issue, I just tried it and both worked fine! 🤔
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Here's a few traditional Québécois tunes, I like.
Here's a rolling score for another Québécois Reel I like - it's by Joseph Bouchard (fiddle castro). Katy Adelson plays a very nice version.
Reel Beatrice
Here's a nice Québécois Waltz tutorial, taught by André Brunet (FIDDLEVIDEO).
Hommage à Philippe Bruneau
Now, my New Favorite Québécois Waltz, is composed by Danielle Martineau! Here's a bit of a teaser by Pascal Gemme and then the version I'll probably learn it from. I haven't looked for sheet music for this.
Valse d'hiver - played by Pascal Gemme
La Bottine Souriante plays "Hommage à Philippe Bruneau" and "Valse d'hiver" as a set, on their "La traversée de l'Atlantique" album.
La traversée de l'Atlantique - Playlist
Another trad tune - Quadrille Acadien by Joseph Allard.
...want to learn more about new Québécois Fiddle talent, too!
- Emily
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I'm still trying to get the differences between Québécois, Metis and Acadian music squared away in my head.
So, I'm laying a little more foundation to help.
Btw, there's strong Acadian Culture in our Northeast as well as in the South!
Here's a set of Acadian tunes played by Lisa Ornstein, Pascal Gemme & Yann Falquet. "Rabestan: Le petit métier", "Rabestan: L'avarie", "Cotillon", and "Rabestan" (ThreeTimesThrough).
The Magdelan Island Set - Acadian
"The Fiddle is the main instrument in Acadia" - Vishtèn pays homage to Acadian music (Library of Congress). ...pretty sure I posted this somewhere, probably a year or so ago - no clue now. Vishtèn - Prince Edward Island.
Patti Kusturok Fiddle Tutorial of a Don Messer tune. Don Messer's name is synonymous with "Down East Style" Acadian fiddling.
@ABitRusty -
Don't you have some favorite PEI fiddle music?
- Emily
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The Metis Fiddling is usually described as 'Old Time', but I think some lines get blurred here, like in a lot of Fiddle music - especially as people move around, they are influenced by other styles.
Trent Freeman explains in this video what sets Metis Fiddle apart from other Fiddle styles. He talks about 'crooked' tunes and the cross tuning EADG → C#AEA (learnmichif).
Quick history - the origin of the Metis Fiddle (Rupertsland Centre for Teaching and Learning).
The Metis take Jigging seriously - and the fiddle music goes hand-in-hand with it (Docus to Watch).
Patti Kusturok Fiddle Tutorial of "Louis Riel Reel" - an Em tune by Andy de Jarlis. Andy de Jarlis was a GREAT Metis Fiddler.
Now, I always get confused here because I think Andy de Jarlis ended up being influenced by Don Messer's music, much of it sounds like 'Down East Style' to me - not Metis (to me)!
- Emily
← Artwork by Metis artist, Ayla Bouvette.
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Cajun Fiddle said
439 Pieces from Traditional Quebecois TunesTo get the PDF of any songs at Le repertoire website:
When you click on a tune title, another window will open, just click on the "Compositeur Traditionel" icon to download the .pdf
To Get the Audio:
Many of the tunes comes with midi audio files but the file sounds more like an electronic keyboard than a fiddle! It is only useful to get a general idea of how the tune sounds like. Fortunately, many of these titles can be found on YouTube with better audio.
Partitions Danseurs et Musiciens, PDF and MP3
There are a few slowed down mp3 on this page so if you see "ralenti" this means it is a slower version. ACC means accelerated.
De nos Paroisses or From Our Parishes
Thanks for the lnfo Cajun fiddler and a very late welcome to the forum!
@elcbk I dont recall hearing any quebecois style i dont like to be honest.. Andre Brunet taught the Hommage Phillippe Bruneau in the April fiddlehell.. its a good starter here is another thats really fun. the first link is a littel slower and then transitions to something else..the second link is a partial of the lesson on fiddlevideo. youd like it.
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@ABitRusty -
Thanks! Like it.
🤔... must've missed André Brunet's workshop for "Hommage à Philippe Bruneau" - why would he do a Fiddle Hell workshop on it, when he already has the Tutorial at FIDDLEVIDEO?
I mainly remember his "Reel des Trois-Rivières" workshop and Lisa Ornstein's "Le rêve de Quêteux Tremblay" workshop.
Don't think anyone has posted this reference site, yet?
Traditional Prince Edward Island Fiddling - "a blend of Scottish, Irish and Acadian French influences", rich traditions & styles - 74 tunes with several variations recorded at this site!
Bowing Down Home - Prince Edward Island Fiddling Traditions
This clears things up for me a little, about Don Messer's "Down East" style:
"Messer's musical legacy has for all intents and purposes merged with Maritime fiddling, a contest-based style that has developed in New Brunswick and mainland Nova Scotia."
Great Tunes!
- Emily
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why would he do a Fiddle Hell workshop on it, when he already has the Tutorial at FIDDLEVIDEO?
ummm.. dunno?
I think he said it was a good starter tune maybe. cant really remember and he never really mentioned fiddlevideo that I recall. its probably like angeline the baker... pretty common tune to start with across alot of styles so maybe its like that. but i do know he taught it. the title of the workshop wasnt specific for it though...just the tune he picked.
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@Cajun Fiddle -
Sorry, didn't mean to take over your thread with so much traditional trivia - I get carried away. 🤭 I hope more people will take an interest in all the styles of French Canadian Fiddle music.
@ABitRusty -
Hey, careful with the 'C' word! I have a mental block against playing too many 'common' tunes, but there's another 'C' word (keeping it clean). (lol)
Oops, CRITTER tunes got moved to their own thread! (edited)
- Emily
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"Thanks for the lnfo Cajun fiddler and a very late welcome to the forum!"
Hey, you're welcome and welcome to the thread as well. I like the videos you posted, Andre Brunet is a good fiddler and an excellent foot tapper, he can't keep still for one second. Most French Canadian violinists can tap their feet for hours and never seem to get tired.
"Sorry, didn't mean to take over your thread with so much traditional trivia - I get carried away. I hope more people will take an interest in all the styles of French Canadian Fiddle music."
You are welcome to posts as many as you want, that's the idea of the topic. Also, the more the merrier, anyone who has a tune, jig, reel to submit is also welcome to the thread.
I did not know Patti Kusturok, I just saw her videos and she is an excellent fiddler! Thank you for posting. I might post a little less for the next three weeks in the forum for I am all excited about my new violin and want to practice more with it (in the limited time allowed here at home) but I will have a peek from time to time and take the time to add to the thread when time allows. There many awesome performers I haven't share yet so I am sure this thread will stay alive for a long time.
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@Cajun Fiddle -
Patti Kusturok has some really great video tutorials available, she keeps traditional Canadian fiddle tunes alive - recording a wonderful video archive. She has a new series "Patti Kusturok Plays Manitoba Fiddle Tunes", where she's been trying to present some more obscure tunes.
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I LOVE 'Crooked' tunes!
Here's 3 famous 'crooked' tunes by Québécois Fiddler, André Alain, played by Laura Risk, Alana Youssefian, William Skeen, and Peter Maund - all on Baroque instruments!
All three tunes are “crooked,” meaning that their phrases are not the standard 4 or 8 bars in length. The melodic contour of the second tune is similar to that of a number of Scottish and Irish tunes. The third tune could be played “en vielle,” with the lower two strings of the violin tuned up from G and D to A and E.
Tunes in this video:
Deux reels en sol d'Andrè Alain
Le Reel des voyageurs
—Laura Risk
I absolutely must learn this tune from La Bottine Souriante!
I think this may be a 'crooked' tune, but not completely sure, because I was enjoying it so much I keep losing my counting!
Anyway, La Bottine Souriante always has a great take on traditional French Canadian music. This is a three part Reel!
Here's the sheet music at thesession.org - but, still doesn't quite sound like the La Bottine Souriante version. I'll have to take a closer look - because at 1:00, 1:04, 1:09 & 1:13 minute, I notice they change the A part (& each A part there after) - at least 1 note and the syncopation, not indicated on the sheet music, but is VITAL to making this such a cool tune!
Chris Haigh talks about Crooked tunes in Metis and Québécois music - being a common occurrence.
Crooked Tunes. What are they, and why do they survive?
Not easy to count?
🤔... maybe that's a sign of a crooked tune.
- Emily
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@ABitRusty -
Lisa Ornstein taught workshops at the April 2021 Fiddle Hell - found out she played with La Bottine Souriante, for 12 years! So listened to more of their music. Going to have to ask her a few questions about "Nuit Sauvage" at the November Fiddle Hell! (lol)
André Brunet is not only a great Québécois Fiddler, but also teaches through FIDDLEVIDEO.com, was one of the instructors at last April's Fiddle Hell Festival, and he's also a member (since 2018?) of Le Vent du Nord - some REALLY GREAT MUSIC!
I went crazy over the music on their "Territories" album - just ordered it from their leventdunord.com website! I definitely plan on learning to play some of these - just can't decide where to start!
Now, while I'm working on "Nuit Sauvage" & "Valse D'hiver", figured I should share a couple of André Brunet essential Québécois fiddle lessons (FIDDLEVIDEO) for people new to French Canadian Fiddle music!
All About Québécois Fiddle - Free Master Class by André Brunet
Québécois Bowing and Shuffle - FREE Fiddle Lesson by André Brunet
@Cajun Fiddle -
Hope you are having fun with your new Fiddle! 🤗
- Emily
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@elcbk heres a critter one
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Maudmaud shared her video of "Le Jour De L'an", here.
https://fiddlerman.com/forum/s.....becs-tune/
"Le Jour De L'an" (New Year's Day), was written by Madame Édouard Bolduc (Mary Travers) - originally from Newport, Québéc, she played accordion, fiddle & more, but became famous as a singer/song-writer in the 1930's - after she moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. She made friends with folks who played in "Conrad Gauthier's troupe, the Veillées du bon vieux temps (meaning 'an evening with the good old days') and was 'discovered' when she was asked to fill in for an absent folk violinist."
I can't find the sheet music, but I put out some requests for help.
"The queen of Canadian folksingers"
The story of Mary Travers Bolduc is a rags-to-riches tale of a Quebec housewife who rose from impoverished obscurity to become a major 1930s recording phenomenon. This ordinary, traditional woman became a most extraordinary musical spokesperson for her time and her people, earning the title, "Queen of Canadian folksingers". A postage stamp was issued on the 100th anniversary of her birth (1994) as part of the Great Canadians series.
More info here:
https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/.....c-bio.aspx
I have to rely on Google Translate for this info is ALL in French:
Found some more great Québécois tunes for New Year's!
Tune list:
C'est dans l'temps du jour de l'an - at 0:00
La parenté - at 3:11
La bastringue - at 5:22
Arthémise Marie le Bedeau - at 8:35
Mademoiselle dites-moi donc - at 10:41
Le bal chez Boulé - at 13:59
Le réel de Carl - at 15:34
Bien vite c'est le jour de l'an - at 18:36
Le temps du jour de l'an - at 21:57
La cuisinière - at 25:22
Le rapide blanc - at 28:28
Sur la grande côte - at 31:13
Le Quadrille - at 33:13
- Emily
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I suppose it's inevitable I'd find more Christmas music after Christmas. (lol)
When it comes to Holiday music - unless I'm in a rare mood to sing, I'd much rather play the 5-string violin and listen to instrumentals.
I found a nice Québécois/French Canadian Noël album with about half instrumentals & the other half vocals. The title, "Noël chez Isadore", had me 1st thinking the music was from a place in Ontario, but this album was put out by 'La Famille Soucy' - and 'Isadore Soucy' was a famous fiddler and head of the family Soucy!
Weird coincidence, but Isadore had also "performed in Conrad Gauthier's Veillées du bon vieux temps at the Monument national" (see previous post)!
Here's more info on Isadore and his family, from the Canadian Encyclopedia:
https://www.thecanadianencyclo.....-soucy-emc
Here's a few tunes I wouldn't mind putting on my list to learn, from the "Noël chez Isadore" album!
"Gigue des bûcherons".
"Breakdown des maçons".
I've found some tunes shared equally on French Canadian Noël and Cajun Christmas albums!
Nice to play any time of the year!
- Emily
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I've slowly been grasping the inseparable bond between the Cajun/Acadian music of Canada and Southern Louisiana here in the USA.
One Canadian group I really enjoy is "Salebarbes" - they play Acadian, Cajun, Blues and Rock! "...the Acadian group delivers an album of traditional and modern Francophone songs, where violins are in the spotlight and invite to dance".
"La danse du Mardi gras" - this is a tune I MUST LEARN!
Here's another I think is pretty iconic - "Gagner sa vie" (Louisiana Man).
And this version of Chuck Berry's, "C'est la vie" (You Never Can Tell)!
...still trying to figure out how to best group some of this 'Francophone' music together in a Genre.
- Emily
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