Acadian Music

As many Acadians live outside of New Brunswick, one of the best examples of traditional Acadian fiddle can be found with the Arsenault family of Prince Edward Island (not to be confused with La Famille Arseneault of New Brunswick). Led by partriarch Eddy Arsenault, a lobster fisherman, the music of his family can be heard on recordings by the group Barachois. Like the Robichaud Brothers, the Arsenaults perform a melange of tunes taken from Cape Breton/Ireland/Quebec/France with a powerful lift to the bow that is an aural signature of traditional Acadian fiddling. Some of the tunes on their seminal recording Party Acadien were composed by members of the family, others were borrowed from the repertoire of Cape Breton and there are indeed some tunes that represent an older repertoire. American musician Ken Perlman has done an excellent job summing up and transcribing the instrumental dance tune repertoire of PEI in his book, The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island and the two accompanying CDs of field recordings.

Though Nova Scotia was the ancestral home of the Acadians, traditional Acadian culture is only represented there in a few places. The island of Cape Breton, best known for its vibrant Scots fiddle traditions, is home to some Acadian communities and the fiddlers of these communities have, for the most part, adopted the Cape Breton style as their own. Joseph Cormier may be the best known Acadian fiddler in New Brunswick, and one of the most recorded. J.P. Cormier (not related) is a well-known Cape Breton fiddler from the Acadian community of Chéticamp who has branched beyond his island home to embrace the bluegrass music that many other Acadians have come to love.

The Magdalen Islands (Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine) are home to the least-known enclave of Acadians. These families, known as Madelinots, have held on to their heritage despite repeated deportations by the British in the 18th century and despite their isolated geography. Recently, the book Tête de Violon: 64 violoneux des Îles-de-la-Madeleine was released featuring photographs of local Magdalen fiddlers, and judging by the number of photos and the clear community support for fiddling, this is an area with an untapped wealth of tunes. The playing style of the Magdalen Islands veers unsurprisingly toward Cape Breton, but local tune repertoires and unique bowing hint at suprising differences. This unique fiddle style can best be heard in the playing of Bertrand Desraspe on the album Vent’Arriere. Desraspe is one of the best-known Madelinot fiddlers, having founded the famous folk group Suroît.

One of the more ironic developments in Acadian music is the return of Cajun music to Canada. Following years of wandering and privation caused by le Grand Dérangement, many Acadians wound up in the French-Catholic colony of Louisiana. They stayed after it became an American state and have retained their language and traditions to the present day, though the title of “Acadian” was shortened to “Cajun.” The music of the Cajuns was strongly influenced by their surrounding neighbors: Caribbean freed slaves, African-Americans, Native Americans, Spanish colonists and Anglo-Americans. It is a totally unique music style that has greatly diverged from the traditional Acadian music that houses its roots. This divergence is such that the only thing to be found in common is the songs. As the Acadians traveled with songs, many of the original songs that had first been brought from France can still be found in Louisiana. As Cajun music was discovered in America (no small thanks to pioneering folklorist Alan Lomax), so too was it discovered in Canada. Acadians in the Maritime Provinces claimed an affinity to the music and began adopting its unique rhythms and style to their own uses. Many folk rock bands in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia employ Cajun stylings, including well-known groups like Blou and Boréal Tordu.

Top 5 Acadian Albums

1. Eddy Arsenault and Family: “Party Acadien”
An excellent introduction to the infectious spirit of Acadian dance music. This recording is also a near-perfect capture of the traditional kitchen parties famed throughout the Maritime Provinces. A group of family and friends gather to make great music and express their heritage. It’s easy to hear how much lift and energy was borrowed by Cape Breton fiddlers from Acadian sources.

2. The Robichaud Brothers: “The Slippery Stick”
Gerry Robichaud actually lived much of his life in New England, and his Down East fiddle style influenced contra dance fiddlers and other fiddlers in America. This CD captures his lively fiddling as well as a geographically unique repertoire of family tunes. Though the Cape Breton and Don Messer influences are audible, the repertoire is so special that it makes you wonder how many tunes have been lost to the invading forces of bluegrass and country-western music in New Brunswick.

3. Joseph Cormier: “The Dances Down Home”
Joe Cormier’s fiddling is Cape Breton through and through. He’s a great fiddler, knows many tunes and plays them quite well on this recording. It goes to show how influential the Cape Breton style was and is in Nova Scotia.

4. Vishten: “Vishten”
A young super group of Acadian musicians from PEI. The fiddler, Pascal Miousse, hails from Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine and brings a unique sound to the group.

5. Various Artists: “The Prince Edward Island Style of Fiddling, Volume 1 & 2”
Recorded by American banjo whiz Ken Perlman, this two volume set of CDs with accompanying book of transcription does an excellent job of providing an overview of the PEI fiddle scene. One CD focuses on the Western PEI fiddle style, derived from Acadian sources and featuring swingy, uplifting rhythms and Acadian tunes. The other CD focuses on Easter PEI and the Scottish influence tunes of this region.