#6 Fiddle workshop: the folk and trad ball with Émilyn Stam

Who should attend :  Intermediate to advanced fiddlers. This workshop is for fiddlers who have experience in other traditional styles, but who are new to playing for dances in the folk ball canon and the bal trad. (For fiddlers who have a good command of their instrument and can learn a piece “by ear”.)

Descriptif:  In this workshop, we’ll explore the traditional repertoire of dances commonly found at bal trad and bal folk events across France and Europe (and now in Quebec and Canada!). We’ll learn the dance repertoire of Auvergne, Limousin and southwest France, focusing on dance style and cadence, ornamentation and bowing techniques specific to the fiddle. As well as learning repertoire and techniques, we’ll listen to field recordings of old fiddlers, hear modern bands, see how dances relate to tunes and maybe even try a few dance steps ourselves!

Introduction to the teacher : Emilyn  is a scholarly Canadian violinist who plays in the great violin tradition of the Auvergne and Limousin regions of France. She has a foot on both sides of the Atlantic, having spent most of her time between British Columbia, Ontario, the Netherlands and France. She has toured Europe several times, playing for folk ball events in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Italy, and co-founded the Balfolk Toronto organization in 2013. Since 2018, she has organized the annual Balfolk festival “The Big Branch”, which hosts music and dance workshops as well as night balls, featuring French groups who are masters of their traditions. Emilyn currently performs in the group Vinta, which has released nine EP recordings of their versions of traditional fiddle repertoire and a full-length album of their own compositions for ballroom folk dances entitled “Beacons”, which won a Canadian Folk Music Award for Composition in 2024.

MATERIAL PROVIDED :
Audio files sent by email upon registration.

LIEU / LOCATION:
Village Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu (address tbd)

SCHEDULE :

Thursday
9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Welcome of trainees
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Master class
12 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Lunch*
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Master class
6 p.m.: Dinner* with free sessions

Friday
9 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Breakfast*
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Master class
12 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Lunch*
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Master class

In addition to the core teaching program, trainees will have the opportunity to take part in optional public activities during the festival.