Dionne Reel - Music

The STEP Fiddlers Are A Group Of 20 Talented Young Musicians Aged 9 To 19 Who Specialize In The Traditional Dance Music Of Newfoundland And Labrador. Fiddling In The Fog Is Their Second CD A Delightful Collection Of Rare Jigs Reels And Waltzes Paying Homage To Their Musical Forebears From Fiddle Giants Rufus Guinchard And Emile Benoit To Present-Day Composer Dave Panting. The Pieces Range From The Haunting Song Melody “I’ll Hang My Harp” To The Fiery “Coady’s Triple” A Challenge To The Most Light-Footed Of Step-Dancers. It’s Hard To Sit Still While Listening To The Infectious Energy Of These Young Players! The Group Has Existed For 28 Years Under The Direction Of Legendary St. John’s Fiddler Christina Smith Who Over That Time Has Taught More Than 200 Young Newfoundlanders To Play Their Own Province’s Music. The STEP Fiddlers’ First Album Galing For A Storm Was Released In 2000 And STEP Fiddlers Alumni From That Era Have Become Highly-Regarded Fiddlers And Teachers Spreading Their Legacy Throughout Canada. A Whole New Generation Has Taken Up The Mantle And Continues To Preserve And Pass On The Tunes That Make Newfoundland Music Unique In The World. STEP Stands For Suzuki Talent Education Program. The Fiddlers Are All Members Of The STEP School Of Violin And Cello Where They Have Been Learning From Preschool-Age To Play The Finest Classical Music. Now They Turn Their Flying Fingers To A Different Sound Dance Tunes Passed Down To The Group Via The Aural Tradition Arranged By Christina Smith For Fiddle Bodhran Dobro Cello And Guitar. Stars Of The Local Folk-Music Scene Dave Panting Jean Hewson Rick West And John Clarke Have Kindly Lent Their Talents To Arranging And Playing Along. The STEP Fiddlers Perform At Concerts Festivals Benefits And Events In The St. John's Area For Audiences Ranging From Preschoolers To Royalty. For Many Years The Group Has Played At The Canada Day Celebrations And The Newfoundland And Labrador Folk Festival In St. John’s. In 2008 They Were Featured Performers At The North Atlantic Fiddle Convention And At The Canadian Folk Music Awards Gala. Since 2009 They Have Been Cultural Ambassadors Performing To Welcome Passengers From The Many Cruise Ships Arriving In St. John’s Harbour. read less