On Saturday, April 2nd, Hemmingford Elementary was the site of the town’s fourth annual Fiddler’s Fancy. Sponsored by Archives Hemmingford, the musical event hosted eighteen musicians who lit up the stage with not only their talent, but their enthusiasm. Featuring old-time instrumentals and songs well appreciated by the audience, the sound of fiddles could be heard throughout the neighbourhood, creating a truly merry event for locals and visitors alike.
Organized by Ormstown’s Kevin Bickes, the event was emceed by Hinchinbrooke’s David Brisebois, while local Brenda Elder took care of the sound logistics. Working alongside local musician Adrien Doucette, Bickes, who also opened Ormstown’s music venue Gigzz Musique-Resto in 2015, has been organizing the event for the past two years. “What I love most about this event,’ said Mary Ducharme, president of the Hemmingford Archives, ‘is the generous spirit of the of people who make it happen. The music, the personalities of the performers, the humour, the appreciation of the audience and the work of our volunteers—it is what community is all about. »
Participating musicians included Leia Ball, Georges Boucher, Eugene Boulerice, Serge Brunet, Joe Byrde and Garth Priest, Diane Carson, Chris Crilly, Bob Davis, Rita Duquette, Brenda Elder, Gerard Giroux, Stewart Grand-Louis, Clifford Houle, Claude Lafleur, Randall Merlin and Kent Sutton. Last but not least, organizer and musician Kevin Bickes took the stage alongside several of his fellow musicians.
As most things do, the idea for the Fiddler’s Fancy began as a conversation. HA president Mary Ducharme was having an honest chat with the late Edmund Priest when she happened to mention that she missed fiddle music, and felt that the “old-time music culture that was embedded in the DNA of immigrants transported on 17th century immigrant ships” did not have a presence in rural Quebec. Priest was quick to explain that fiddle music was alive and well, and could be found in several flavours, including Scottish, Irish, French and American (to mention a few). The tradition that has become the Fiddler’s Fancy was born in that moment, and has evolved into the beloved fundraiser that it is today, providing the Archives with the much-needed funds to continue their work of preserving Hemmingford’s local history.
The Hemmingford Archives
A charitable organization, the Hemmingford Archives has been run completely by volunteers since 1992. Dedicated to preserving the heritage of this region, the Archives will soon be the owners of a permanent facility on Champlain Avenue in Hemmingford, and will be raising funds to renovate and furnish the former church hall (donated by the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Congregation). The new Archives will be a venue for heritage-related events in the future, including concerts, displays, history research resources, and conferences.
