More recently, swing has significantly influenced accompaniment styles and techniques. Fiddle and accordion are the most common lead instruments, while piano and guitar often provide accompaniment. The songs generally draw more from the French tradition, whereas the dance tunes are more closely related to Celtic traditions.
There are strong ties between traditional Québécois music and the music of Brittany, Ireland, Scotland and the Maritimes. Genticorum, a traditional and Celtic band performing at a Solstice Festival, 18 June 2011 This is especially prevalent in the communities around North Sydney and Sydney Mines due to the influence of immigrants of Newfoundland Irish descent. Irish traditional music is also very popular on the island, particularly Irish folk songs. Mary Jane Lamond has attracted attention to the Island's Gaelic song traditions of Milling Frolics (waulking songs in Scotland), Piurt à Beul (mouth music), spinning songs and more. Recently, Highland style guitar has received some attention due to the work of Dave MacIsaac and Scott MacMillan among others. In addition to the fiddle music, there is a parallel style of solo dance bagpiping and a rhythmic syncopated Celtic piano style. The island has produced traditional music-based popular performers like John Allan Cameron, The Rankin Family, Natalie MacMaster, Buddy MacMaster, The Barra MacNeils, Rita MacNeil, Ashley MacIsaac and others. Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island Celtic musicĬape Breton is internationally known for unusual styles of Cape Breton fiddling, which is derived from Scottish techniques.
Newfoundland musicians and musical groups Instrumental tune styles include jigs, reels, two steps, and polkas. Many songs chronicle the history of this unique people. Other folk instruments such as the mandolin and bouzouki are common especially among Newfoundland bands with an Irish leaning.īecause Newfoundland is an island in the North Atlantic, many of the songs focus on the fishery and seafaring. Many Newfoundland traditional bands also include bass guitar and drum kit. The instrumentation in Newfoundland music includes the button accordion, guitar, violin, tin whistle and more recently the bodhrán. There are very strong connections between Newfoundland folk music and Irish music, however elements of English folk music and French-Canadian and Acadian music can be heard within the style.Ī very traditional strain of Irish music exists in Newfoundland, especially in the primarily Irish-Catholic communities along the southern shore. Main article: Music of Newfoundland and Labrador