World Fiddle Day is an annual celebration of fiddle music, held on the third Saturday of May.[1][2] World Fiddle Day events are held around the world, in areas where fiddle music is popular.[3]
History
editWorld Fiddle Day was founded by County Donegal fiddler Caoimhin Mac Aoidh in 2012.[4][5] The May date was chosen to coincide with the 1737 death of Italian violin craftsman Antonio Stradivari.[6] The first Toronto celebration was held in 2013 and that year there was a celebration in Winnipeg as well.
In 2015, Canada declared World Fiddle Day to be National Fiddle Day as well.[7][8] There were celebrations in Owen Sound, Ontario,[9] St. John's, Newfoundland and Toronto.[10] The Ottawa Fiddle and Stepdancing Competition was held in Richmond, Ontario.[11]
In 2016 a World Fiddle Day celebration was held at Fort York in Toronto on May 21. Yosvani Castañeda Valdés demonstrated Cuban fiddling, while Dan MacDonald performed and presented a workshop about Cape Breton fiddling style.[12][13] Other events were held in Owen Sound, Ontario[7] and Scartaglen, County Kerry, Ireland.[3]
In 2019 Kincardine, Ontario, held its fifth annual World Fiddle Day celebration with a downtown open air fiddling show.[14] The Scartaglen celebration that year included lectures about the lives of local fiddlers Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford.[15]
References
edit- ^ "National Fiddle Day: The difference between a fiddle and a violin". CBC News, By Lisa Blackburn, May 21, 2016
- ^ "Fiddlers flock to celebrate World Fiddle Day in St. John's". The Telegram, May 20, 2017
- ^ a b "World Fiddle Day in Kerry village of Scartaglin pays tribute to Sliabh Luachra master Pádraig O’Keeffe". Irish Examiner, May 13, 2016 Pet O’Connell
- ^ "Cape Breton fiddler patron of World Fiddle Day". Cape Breton Post May 12, 2015. Laura Jean Grant
- ^ "Strike up the bows! C.B. musician named World Fiddle Day patron". Chronicle Herald, Andrew Rankin May 14, 2015
- ^ "1st World Fiddle Day". Manitoba Fiddling Association, 5/18/2013
- ^ a b "Fiddle playing food for the soul". By Scott Dunn, Sun Times, Owen Sound, May 21, 2016
- ^ "First Canadian fiddle day kicks off with tunes in St. John's" CBC News May 16, 2015
- ^ "For the love of the fiddle". By Denis Langlois, Sun Times, Owen Sound, May 17, 2015.
- ^ "World Fiddle Day embraced" CTV Toronto News.
- ^ "Fiddling, stepdancing event held in Richmond". Stittsville News, John Brummell. Jun 02, 2015
- ^ " World Fiddle Day Toronto at Fort York inspires musicians". Parkdale Villager, May 21, 2016. By Lisa Rainford
- ^ "A fine day for fiddling around: Fort York hosts a celebration of stringed joy". Toronto Star, Wendy Gillis May 21, 2016
- ^ "Cool, clear weather for World Fiddle Day in downtown Kincardine". Kincardine Record, By: Liz Dadson, May 26, 2019
- ^ "World Fiddle Day attracts hundreds to Sliabh Luachra capital". Radio Kerry News, 19th May 2019