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). He was a spirited player whose brisk, rock-steady tempos reflected his long career as a dance musician. Henri played fiddle for community dances and house parties for most of his life. After a long career as a truck driver in the mines, he spent an incredibly joyful retirement playing fiddle at local galas, contests, and house parties. He and his wife Fernande were immensely hospitable and kind, and they hosted many the memorable party, where good food and music and company filled the house to overflowing.

In addition to playing the standard local repertory, Henri had a repertory of tunes which he learned as a young boy from left-handed fiddler Thomas Pomerleau, a poor, reclusive and eccentric old man who lived in a tiny hut abutting the Pomerleau family farm. Although Thomas Pomerleau was known locally as “Quêteux” (beggar) Pomerleau and lived a marginal, hand-to-mouth existence, his fiddle playing was in demand at local weddings and dances. This is one of his tunes.

Cos-reel de Pontbriand (mp3)

Cos-reel de Pontbriand (mp3)

1 file(s) 1.24 MB

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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 Mont-Louise, Quebec, Yvon is the seventh of a dozen children. A “preemie” baby, Yovn’s small stature precluded his following his family farming practice. Yvon discovered his passion for fiddling at the age of 21 while working as a handyman in a lumber camp. When he came home eight months later, he put his woodworking and creative skills to work and made himself a fiddle. At the same time, he went to school to become an électricien. A few months later, Yvon was playing in a radio band in Matane; from 1949 to 1954 he played for local dances on the week-ends after a 60 hour work week.

Yvon married in 1956 and he and his wife raised six children. Music went on the back burner for the next 20 years or so, but in 1977, Yvon dusted off his fiddle and started playing again. He has a huge repertory of tunes learned from family, from the radio, and from recordings, as well as a number of his own compositions. Yvon is an immensely sociable musician who loves a good laugh. He is also a very skillful woodcarver who makes wonderful animal sculptures.

About the tune: The title of this tune in English would be ‘The Story of My Old Rooster.” Here’s Eric Lortie reporting the information he gathered from Yvon about this tune:
Act 1 (or Part A, for the musicians)

A farm in Gaspesia, as young boy Yvon walks accross the yard he is attacked by the old rooster — a big grey Plymouth Rock weighing in at about 12 pounds. Yvon, with injured leg and pride, pulls out his slingshot and faces the rooster (just like in a Sergio Leone movie!). As the beast turns its head sideways to look him in the eye — roosters turn sideways for a face to face — Yvon takes a shot. The bird, hit in the head, falls to the ground. Yvon, after making sure nobody saw him, leans it against a fence where he can discretely keep an eye on it. After a while, the rooster, who was only knocked out, gets up and staggers back to the henhouse, to the relief of Yvon.

Act 2 (Part B)
The next morning, as usual, the old rooster hopped on a fence to wake up the whole farm, but he was now singing out of tune.

L’histoire de mon vieux coq, recording (mp3)

L'histoire de mon vieux coq (mp3)

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