Music of Newfoundland and Labrador

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Music of Canada
Maritime Provinces (NS, PEI, NB)
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Yukon
Prairie Provinces (AB, MB, SK)
First Nations (Inuit, Dene, Innu)
Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec
Genres: Blues - Celtic - Classical - Folk - Hip hop - Jazz - Pop - Rock
Timeline and Samples
Awards	Junos, Félixes, Hall of Fame, ECMAs, WCMAs, CASBYs, CRMAs, CCMAs, MMVAs, CUMAs
Charts	Jam!, Chart, Exclaim!
Festivals	CMW, NXNE, Halifax Pop Explosion, VFMF, Caribana
Print media	CM, CMN, Chart, Exclaim!, The Record, RPM
Music television	Much, MMM, CMT Canada, MusiquePlus, MusiMax
National anthem	"O Canada"

Newfoundland and Labrador is an Atlantic Canadian province with a folk musical heritage based on the English, Irish and Scottish traditions that were brought to its shores centuries ago. Though similar in its Celtic influence to neighboring Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador are more Irish than Scottish, and have more elements imported from English and French music than those provinces. Much of the region's music focuses on the strong seafaring tradition in the area, and includes sea shanties and other sailing songs. Some modern traditional musicians include Great Big Sea, The Ennis Sisters, Shanneyganock and Ron Hynes.

[edit] History

A bone flute found at L'anse Amour in Labrador is the first evidence of the presence of music in Newfoundland and Labrador. At the time, native tribes (First Nations) lived in the area. Little is known of their musical heritage due to the lack of written records,. Labrador's Beothuk people are known to have sung and danced, though few details are known by modern historians. Inuit music, including percussion and so-called mouth-music, is still performed, although with modern influences. The Innu also maintain some historical musical practices.

England, Ireland and Scotland sent many settlers to eastern Canada, and they brought with them instrumental tunes, ballads and other musical traditions, which were passed down orally through the generations. During this time, traditional songs evolved, and some acquired new lyrics and melodies.

Marching and military bands were an important part of traditional Newfoundland and Labrador music. Youth groups like the Church Lads Brigade, fraternal organizations and other groups supported these bands.

Newfoundland's anthem "The Ode to Newfoundland", was composed by Governor Cavendish Boyle.

Christian music from Newfoundland and Labrador includes hymns and other liturgical music. Missionaries such as those with the Moravian Church used music to reach out towards native peoples, publishing a hymn book, for example, in Inuit in 1809.

During the 1800s, operas and musical theater became popular. Charles Hutton (musician), for example, rose to fame during this period during the 1880s. Some of these musicians, like Georgina Stirling, became renowned in Europe. In the early 20th century, vaudeville took the place of opera in Newfoundland. Satirist John Burke was a noted vaudeville composer and performer of that era.

Beginning in 1921, music from outside of the region became popular, especially after the advent of films with sound and the popularization of cowboy movies. Among the province's noted country musicians was Harry Martin.

Following World War II and confederation with Canada in 1949, big band jazz arrived in Newfoundland and Labrador, followed by R&B and rock and roll.

In the modern era, many people worked to preserve the province's musical heritage. They focused on traditional songs, but also popularized modern tunes in a traditional style, like Otto Kelland's 1947 composition "Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary's". The first hit from a native performer was 1943's "Squid Jiggin' Ground" by Art Scammell. Radio programs like the Irene B. Mellon and The Big Six, television shows like All Around the Circle (1964) and Ryan's Fancy, collections like the Gerald S. Doyle's Old Time Songs and Poetry of Newfoundland, musicians like accordionist Wilf Doyle, Omar Blondahl, John White and the McNulty Family, and scholars like Maude Karpeles also contributed to the preservation of Newfoundland and Labrador music, while expatriates in Ontario, like Harry Hibbs and Dick Nolan also became well-known. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a roots revival led by bands like Ryan's Fancy, Figgy Duff and The Wonderful Grand Band achieved mainstream success in Newfoundland. Other traditional performers to rise to prominence in this period included Anita Best, Kelly Russell, Jim Payne, Émile Benoit, Rufus Guinchard and Minnie White.

In the 1980s and 1990s, traditional Newfoundland music's popularity dwindled, though rock, punk, heavy metal, blues and other styles developed their own scenes in the region. The Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra rose to prominence in this period, and jazz performers like the Jeff Johnston Trio also gained international renown.

The advent of the East Coast Music Awards helped stimulate the Atlantic Canadian music scene, and was accompanied by the rise of Ron Hynes, Buddy Wasisname, The Irish Descendants, The Thomas Trio and The Red Albino, while Great Big Sea and The Punters have also become well-known for their mixture of traditional and popular music. A resurgence of traditional Newfoundland music is evidenced by the creation of several popular compilation CDs such as The Christmas Wish: Newfoundland Yuletide Favourites, the Downhomer Presents... series, and the Homebrew series (which has sold over 50,000 copies).

Modern Labrador musicians include Harry Martin, as well as folk group The Flummies, Byron "Fiddler" Chaulk and rock musician David Penashue of Tipatchimun (who sings Innu language rock).