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 playing fiddle at the age of thirteen, inspired by his father’s playing. By the age of sixteen, Wilfred and his father were twin fiddling and “clogging” their feet. Wilfred played his whole life and was a favorite at the contest scene in northeast New England, often backed up on piano by his wife Aline.

“La Grondeuse” is a family of fiddle tunes most commonly played in the key of D with the fiddle tuned ADAE. There are generally two or more parts, one of which starts on the upper octave of the scale and winds it way down to the open D, the other of which is pitched on the lower octave, and prominently features the use of the low open-A string, often in 3/2 meter or mixed 2/2 and 3/2 meters.

You can hear Wilfred Guillette playing “La Grondeuse” on the Green Mountain Records LP Wilfred Guillette,Old Time Fiddlin’ (GMS 1061–out of print, I fear) and on the Media Generation documentary, New England Fiddles.

La Grondeuse (dance speed, mp3)[wpdm_file id=387]

La Grondeuse (sheet music, pdf) [wpdm_file id=387]