Calvin Vollrath
Encyclopedia
Calvin Vollrath is a Canadian fiddler
and composer
. He is one of the best fiddlers in the world. He is also one of the few European-Canadian fiddle players playing professionally in the Métis
style. He lives in Alberta.
He won the Grand North American Old Tyme Fiddle Championship in 1985. In more recent years, he's been a judge for the Canadian Grand Masters fiddle competition, and was awarded a Life Time Achievement Award from them in 2005. He participates in Emma Lake Fiddle Camp. He has played with various other musicians including John Arcand
. Some of his music is jazz-like, some from the Métis
tradition. He is an inspiration and a mentor to many Canadian fiddlers, including April Verch
, Patti Lamoureux, and Samantha Robichaud. Jerry Holland
has composed a tune in Calvin's honour, named "Calvin, Fiddler’s Idol". Calvin has represented Canadian music internationally, such as at the World Music Expo in Berlin in 2000. He became the first fiddler to play at an NHL
hockey game when the Edmonton Oilers
invited him to play during the Stanley Cup Finals in 1988
. He has made recordings with musicians such as Ian Tyson
, George Fox
, Colleen Peterson
, and Laura Vinson. CBC
's documentary show hosted by Adrienne Clarkson
aired a show about Métis fiddling that featured Calvin Vollrath and John Arcand
.
He composed and performed a piece for the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
.
And many more, including live sessions from the Emma Lake Fiddle Camp and recordings with other musicians.
Fiddler
A fiddler is a person who plays a fiddle or violin.Fiddler may also refer to:*Fabrangen Fiddlers, an American musical group founded in 1971*Tupolev Tu-28 "Fiddler", a fighter aircraft*Fiddler , a DC Comics villain...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He is one of the best fiddlers in the world. He is also one of the few European-Canadian fiddle players playing professionally in the Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
style. He lives in Alberta.
He won the Grand North American Old Tyme Fiddle Championship in 1985. In more recent years, he's been a judge for the Canadian Grand Masters fiddle competition, and was awarded a Life Time Achievement Award from them in 2005. He participates in Emma Lake Fiddle Camp. He has played with various other musicians including John Arcand
John Arcand
Jean-Baptiste Arcand, born July 19, 1942 at Winter Lake, Saskatchewan, is a Canadian fiddler. Arcand has been writing and performing since childhood, having learned the traditional Red River Métis tunes from his father Victor and his grandfather Jean-Baptiste...
. Some of his music is jazz-like, some from the Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
tradition. He is an inspiration and a mentor to many Canadian fiddlers, including April Verch
April Verch
April Verch is a Canadian fiddler and step dancer born and raised in the small community of Rankin, Ontario, located approximately 15 km southwest from Pembroke, Ontario. She attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston before embarking on her professional career...
, Patti Lamoureux, and Samantha Robichaud. Jerry Holland
Jerry Holland (fiddler)
Jerry Holland was a fiddler who lived on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada.He was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, United States to Canadian parents - his father was from New Brunswick and his mother was from Quebec. During his childhood, Jerry was exposed to the music of the large Cape...
has composed a tune in Calvin's honour, named "Calvin, Fiddler’s Idol". Calvin has represented Canadian music internationally, such as at the World Music Expo in Berlin in 2000. He became the first fiddler to play at an NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
hockey game when the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
invited him to play during the Stanley Cup Finals in 1988
1998 Stanley Cup Finals
- Detroit Red Wings - 1998 Stanley Cup Champions :- Stanley Cup engravings :* Wally Crossman was oldest person engraved on the Stanley Cup at age 87....
. He has made recordings with musicians such as Ian Tyson
Ian Tyson
Ian Tyson CM, AOE is a Canadian singer-songwriter, best known for his song "Four Strong Winds". He was also one half of the duo Ian & Sylvia.-Career:Tyson was born to British immigrants in Victoria in 1933, and grew up in Duncan B.C...
, George Fox
George Fox (musician)
George Fox is a country/western music singer/songwriter raised in Cochrane, Alberta, the son of cattle ranchers Bert and Gert Fox.His debut single “Angelina” reached #8 on Canadian country music charts...
, Colleen Peterson
Colleen Peterson
Colleen Susan Peterson was a Canadian country and folk singer, who performed both as a solo artist and as a member of the band Quartette.-Career:...
, and Laura Vinson. CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
's documentary show hosted by Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Louise Clarkson is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 26th since Canadian Confederation....
aired a show about Métis fiddling that featured Calvin Vollrath and John Arcand
John Arcand
Jean-Baptiste Arcand, born July 19, 1942 at Winter Lake, Saskatchewan, is a Canadian fiddler. Arcand has been writing and performing since childhood, having learned the traditional Red River Métis tunes from his father Victor and his grandfather Jean-Baptiste...
.
He composed and performed a piece for the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics was held on February 12, 2010 beginning at 6:00 pm PST at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This was the first Olympic opening ceremony to be held indoors...
.
Discography
- Fiddle (2008)
- Looking Back, 25 Years of Recording (2007)
- The Big C (2006)
- The Big C02 (2006)
- Air Mail Special (2005)
- Strings of Pearl (2005)
- Métis Style Fiddle (2005)
- Car Tunes (2004)
- Just for the Swing of It (2004)
- New Fiddle Classics (2003)
- Maple Sugar and Other Old Time Favorites (2003)
- Friendship (2002)
- Calvin Vollrath Waltzes (2002)
- Fiddle According to Cal (2002)
- Autumn in Vermont (2001)
- Uncommon Sense (2001)
- Fiddling My Way (2001)
- This Old Tune (2001)
- Live, From Our Place (2001)
- Fiddillennium, Volume 1 (2000)
- Fiddillennium, Volume 2 (2000)
- Steppin' Out (2000)
- Precious Melodies (2000)
- UFO Sessions 99 (1999)
- Bonjour comment ça va (1999)
- Let it Jig, Let it Jig, Let it Jig (1999)
- Thanks to Emma (1998)
- Jiggin' at the OK Corral (1998)
- Tamarack'r Down (1997)
- 20 of my Favorites (1996)
- Instrumentally Yours: Somethin' Different (1995)
- Live From Calvin's Kitchen (1995)
- Métis Old Time Dance Tunes (1995)
- Red River Trails (1995)
- Cracklin' Fire (1994)
- Too Close For Comfort (1994)
- Wild Alberta Rose (1993)
- Cat Gut Boogie (1993)
- New & Used (1989)
- Fiddlin' Again (1984)
- Red River Jig & Other Old Time Fiddle Favorites (1983)
- The Reel Thing (1981)
And many more, including live sessions from the Emma Lake Fiddle Camp and recordings with other musicians.