Places, Traditions and Discoveries · Drawing 28 of 40
The fiddle makes us dance
The fiddle accompanies many traditional music gatherings in Québec. Its bow rubs the strings to make sounds.
Look together
Can you imagine a lively or gentle tune?
An idea to try
Sitting comfortably, make a slow hand rhythm and then a faster one. Your child chooses one for their imaginary fiddle.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
The Canadian Encyclopedia presents fiddler and composer Isidore Soucy, born in Sainte-Blandine, near Rimouski, in 1899. After settling in Montréal in 1924, he began recording in 1926 and was heard on the radio for decades. Every fiddler has a personal style: the same instrument can sound different from one musician to another.
Observe the violin and bow, then imagine two kinds of music: calm and energetic. Your child can express them through a gesture or short rhythm. Knowing a traditional tune is not necessary to begin noticing movement, speed and expression.
Sources and illustration notes (1)
An imagined musician and instrument; no portrait of Isidore Soucy or particular piece of music is reproduced.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- L’Encyclopédie canadienne — Isidore SoucyVioloneux et compositeur né à Sainte-Blandine, près de Rimouski, en 1899; établi à Montréal en 1924, il enregistre à partir de 1926 et joue longtemps à la radio.
Source review: 2026-09-27. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.
