Celtic & French Canadian Fiddle Music Performances

Fiddle Medley - Festival Performance

Pierre Jacques Pleau

Musician & Teaching Artist

Festivals • Celebrations • Events

Twin Cities Metro Area
East Central MN • Western WI • USA

Serving Youth & Families since 1996

French Canadian Music Performance
Q&A with Pierre Jacques Pleau

Q:  “How did you become interested in playing French Canadian fiddle music? – besides the obvious – your name!”
 
A:  “My first influence was a happy musical memory that my Father shared with me of when his Grandmother, my Great Grandmother, sang French songs for him when he was a youngster.  That story stayed with me and later, during my teens, when I heard a Fiddler playing at an Old-Time Festival, the music resonated with me and shortly I started delving into the Canadian fiddle music traditions.”

Q:  “Are you from Canada?”
 
A:  “Some of my ancestors, the Pleau’s, immigrated from France to Canada and then eventually to Minnesota, USA which is where I was born and it’s where I live – right here in the land of 10,000 lakes!” 
 
Q:  “In the medley that you just played, I recognize the quadrille as being French, but aren’t reels Irish or Scottish?”
 
A:  “That’s right!  And it was early pioneers from Ireland and Scotland who brought violins and their dance music to Canada.  There’s a rich heritage of violin/fiddle folk music in Canada thanks to immigrants from other countries as well – France, England, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Poland and Ukraine.  From sharing their music with each other, regional styles of fiddling developed into what is known today as Cape Breton, French Canadian, Métis and Old-Time Canadian Fiddle Music.”

Quick Links:

Concerts for Kids
Concerts for Senior Citizens
Pierre Jacques Pleau – Bio

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Service Area

East Central Minnesota • Twin Cities Metro Area • Western Wisconsin • USA