A Musical Trip ~ Athabascan Fiddle Music

I very much enjoyed taking this "musical trip" and learning about Athabascan Fiddle Music!

Athabascan Fiddle Music is its own style of music even though its beginning started when European fur traders came to Alaska 150 years ago by the Hudson Bay Company. These fur traders were from Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and Metis descent and introduced the music to the Athabascans, but today's Athabascan fiddle music, with it's influence from gold miners, American southern fiddling, and traditional Athabaskan music, has developed into its own genre from solo fiddle to folk ensembles.

Although, the fiddle was introduced to the Athabascans in 1847, the music was boosted by the Great Folk Fiddle Revival of the 1970's with country music influence. Before this revival, the turn of the century brought influences of Aboriginal songs and dances, and melodies of choruses of hymns sung by the Anglican and Catholic missionaries.

The independent development of the music is evident because there are two types of traditional Athabascan Fiddle Music, each with their own style. The "high music" is from the Gwitch'in and Han Athabaskans near the Alaska-Yukon border, communities of the upper Yukon River. Traditionally this music was the fiddle and guitar, with the mandolin, mouth organ, and accordion eventually being added. There was often a "prompt caller", and as influenced by their traditional indigenous drumming songs, the fiddlers would stomp one foot and roll the other, heel to toe. 

 About fifty years later, downstream music evolved during the Klondike Gold Rush. These were the Koyukon, Lower Tanana, and Deg Hit'an Athabascans. A large country and western music influence with larger ensembles and sometimes with vocals and piano.

Since the Athabascan Fiddle Festival began in 1983, the two styles of music have come together. The festival is an annual event that brings Athabascans of all generations together and it's a way to pass down the older music to the younger generation, but also is a time where evolution takes place and learning new songs and styles are embraced. Violins, dances, music, and stories are passed down through not only the festival, but through social gatherings, fish camps, potlatches, and holiday celebrations of the Athabascan people.

Modern day Athabascan Fiddle Festivals contain high energy music with fast tempos and have more of rock-and-roll and modern country music in them. But there are still the traditional fiddle songs and sounds of earlier times. I really like the older fiddle music that the elders play because you can hear repeating rhythms.

As I watched and listened to videos, you can tell that the elders want younger generations to keep playing however the music evolves, but that they would like for some of the traditional music and songs to be remembered.  This music is their history and they would like to preserve and  share their history with the younger Athabascans.

In this video (above) at the 1 minute and 6 minute mark you can hear the more traditional sound being played. Bill Stevens is recognized as the best Athabascan fiddle player and you can hear him play here.

Here is a more modern example of the songs that are now being played at the Athabascan Fiddle Festival.

"Red River Jig" first published in 1867 by Alexander Begg is a favorite song of the Athabaskan fiddle players and above is Bill Stevens and Lisa Jaeger performing the song at University of Alaska Fairbanks. 

I now will be on the lookout for Athabascan Fiddle concerts to further my exploration of this wonderful genre of music that is native to the place where I live. I have learned so much and hope you have as well!

Hughes, Art. “Tuesday, October 30, 2018 – Traditional Fiddle Music Takes an Athabascan Turn " Native America Calling.” Native America Calling, 31 Oct. 2018, www.nativeamericacalling.com/tuesday-october-30-2018-traditional-fiddle-music-takes-an-athabascan-turn/.

Fiddle: Most up-to-Date Encyclopedia, News & Reviews - Academic Accelerator, academic-accelerator.com/encyclopedia/fiddle. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023. 

Engelhard, Michael. “Athabascan Fiddle Music.” Alaska Magazine, 25 Sept. 2020, alaskamagazine.com/authentic-alaska/activities/athabascan-fiddle-music/. 

“Red River Jig.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Aug. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_River_Jig.