Acadian Tune of the Month for March 2018: Claude Austin’s Jig (#2)
Here is a graceful jig from New Brunswick Acadian fiddler, Claude Austin, whom some of you had the pleasure of spending time with last summer along…
Québécois Tune of the Month for January 2016: Cos-reel de Pontbriand
Here is a great cross-tuned fiddle tune I learned from Henri Landry (1923-2001), a fiddler who lived in Pontbriand, Québec (near Thetford-Mines).…
Quebec Tune of the Month for December 2015: L’histoire de mon vieux coq
Here is an original composition from Gaspé-region fiddler Yvon Mimeault, still fiddling up a storm in his 80s! About Yvon: Born in 1928 in…
Québec Tune of the Month for October 2015: Le Batteux
Here's a wonderful tune for the harvest season: "Le Batteux" ("The Thresher"), from Louis "Pitou" Boudreault (1905-1988). Le Batteux is Mr.…
Quebec Tune of the Month for July 2015: Reel du bonhomme
Here is sheet music for a composition from button accordionist Adélard Thomassin of Sillery, Québec, who passed away June 4, 2015 at the age of 88.…
Quebec Tune of the Month for June 2015: Ladies’ Chain
Here is a Ladies' Chain, from button accordionist Keith Corrigan of St-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, QC. I chose it in honor of the Big Review (a four-week…
Québec Tune of the Month for May 2015: La gigue à Julie
Here's a three-part gigue (a step-dancing tune) I learned from Vermont Franco-American fiddler Louis Beaudoin (1921-1980) way back yonder a long…
Quebec Tune of the Month for January 2015: Le petit mouchoir
Bonne et heureuse année! Here is a charming fiddle tune I learned from Quebec City fiddler Viateur Garneau in the 1980s. I was a volunteer…
Quebec Tune of the Month for October 2014: Reel Antoinette
Here's a classic Quebec session tune from the repertory of fiddler Jos Bouchard, who named it in honor of his sister (though chances are he is not…
Quebec Tune of the Month for September 2014: La valse du coq
By popular request, here is (yet another!) version of a tune most closely associated with the dance, the varsovienne (a type of waltz, also called…
Quebec Tune of the Month for August 2014: La Grondeuse
Here's a tune from Franco-American fiddler Wilfred Guillette (1913-2004). Born in Massachusetts, Wilfred lived most of his life in Vermont. He began…
Quebec Tune of the Month for July 2014: Patrick at Perley Brook
Here is a tune of my own making. Patrick Ouellet was a dear friend from Fort Kent, Maine who lived on a homestead of his own building close to Perley…
Quebec Tune of the Month for March 2014: Reel Béatrice
"Reel Béatrice" is actually an Italian polka titled "Oggi nevica" or "Quando nevica" ("Today it is Snowing" or "When it Snows") which is still…
Quebec Tune of the Month for February 2014: La Marche Pomerleau
When I lived in Quebec, I used to go visit Henri Landry (1923-2001), a wonderful fiddler living in Pontbriand (near Thetford-Mines). He was a…
Quebecois Tune of the Month for July 2013: Hommage à Adrien Alain
In honor of this year's featured Quebecois fiddler at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Yvon Mimeault, here is one of his tunes. Yvon learned…
Quebec Tune of the Month for June 2013: Quadrille de l’oncle Ti-Bé
In anticipation of the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, which will feature Gaspé fiddler Yvon Mimeault, here is one of his tunes. Yvon learned…
Quebec Tune of the Month for March 2013: Tommy Rooney’s Jig
Here is a lighter-than-air step dance tune from the extraordinary Gaspé coast fiddler Erskine Morris of Douglastown, Quebec. I am indebted to…
Quebec Tune of the Month for February 2013: Reel de la p’tite misère
Here's a tune to drive dull care away from Adrien Fontaine of Bishopton in Quebec's Eastern Townships. Thanks to Éric Favreau and Claude Méthé for…
Quebec Tune of the Month for Jan. 2013: Cotillon de la patte de mouton
Here is a great tune to start la nouvelle année: "Le Cotillon de la patte de mouton" ("Sheep Hoof Cotillion," loosely translated!). Aimé Gagnon…
Quebec Tune of the Month for Dec. 2012: Valse du vieux Québec
Here's a charming version of a varsouvienne-type waltz which has circulated far and wide in Europe and North America since the mid 1800s. It…
Quebec Tune of the Month for November 2012: Gigue à Matilda
Quebec Tune of the Month for Nov. 2012: Gigue à Matilda. Here is a great tune from the repertory of Joseph "Tido" Beaudry of St-Côme. He was an…
Quebec Tune of the Month for Oct. 2012: Reel Saint-Paul
Here is a great old classic reel from Québec which is widely played by fiddlers and accordion players alike. En avant la musique! Reel Saint-Paul…
Quebecois Tune of the Month for Sept. 2012: Quadrille des ancêtres (2e partie)
Quadrille des ancêtres, 2e partie (mp3)[wpdm_file id=41] Quadrille des ancêtres, 2e partie (sheet music)[wpdm_file id=40] "Quadrille des…
Québécois Tune of the Month for August 2012: Le petit métier
Here is a fiddle tune I learned from Magdelan Island fiddler Avila LeBlanc (1914-2010). This is one of several tunes which Avila classified as…
Quebec tune of the month for July 2012: Casse Reel from Lotbinière
Here is one of my favorite cross-A Quebec dance tunes from Aimé Gagnon (1922-1997) of St-Louis-de-Lotbinière. Aimé Gagnon's grandfather, father,…