Canadian Heritage Committee on Feb. 4th, 2015

[Alexander George]

Really, it just needs to be better known. I know a lot of people who don't even know what a fiddle is per se or what fiddling is in general. I think National Fiddle Day will really help promote fiddle music. I just think it really needs to be publicized more. Some people aren't going to like it, but I'm sure that a lot of people will like the freedom of the music a lot more if they just know about it.

[Jim Hillyer, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Sheppard, I assume you play the violin or the fiddle?

[Graham Sheppard]

Yes.

[Jim Hillyer, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

What's your experience? Did you take classical lessons first?

[Graham Sheppard]

That's an interesting story. I was a classically trained pianist and then later in life I lived in Cape Breton where I was the odd man out because I didn't play fiddle. Unlike Alexander's experience, there everybody seems to have an interest in it or plays it. So at age 40 I picked up the fiddle and I haven't turned back since.

I'll just add one more comment, though, to something Alexander said about the difference between violin and fiddle. Itzhak Perlman and maestro Pinchas Zukerman both refer to their instruments as the “fiddle” and they play beautifully the colloquial music of their own homeland.

[Jim Hillyer, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

That's true.

I think there are more classical violinists than fiddlers around. That's my experience, but I haven't been to Cape Breton. Do you think it is important to encourage classical violinists to get into the fiddle movement or do you think this Fiddle Day should encompass the violin as well?

[Graham Sheppard]

I'll refer to the example of playing guitar, which was mentioned earlier. There are great guitarists in every genre of guitar—Spanish, flamenco, rock and roll, whatever. In the fiddle and in the violin vein, it's the same thing.

I think you're right that we have to expand the music, but nobody says that it has to be narrowed into one particular area. Alexander is a perfect example. During the break we talked about his vibrato and we talked about his shifting. He said, “Oh, that's a classical shift”. I said that I recognized that, but it works very well on the fiddle.

[Jim Hillyer, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Thank you very much.

That wraps up our questioning.

We will now move to clause-by-clause, and our witnesses are welcome to stay for that.

First, the preamble and the short title will be postponed, pursuant to Standing Order 75(1).

I will move to the clause-by-clause.

(Clauses 2 and 3 agreed to)

Under the short title, shall clause 1 carry?

(Clause 1 agreed to)

Shall the preamble carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Shall the title carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Shall the bill carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Shall I report the bill to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

The bill will be reported back to the House a week from Tuesday.

Thank you very much. Great job.

[Voices]

Hear, hear!

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Thank you to our witnesses.

The meeting is adjourned.